Friday, February 20, 2009

Achieving Cookie Nirvana...


When I saw the recipe for these cookies, I was intrigued. It said for perfect chocolate chip cookies that stay moist and chewy, you need to melt the butter first before you mix it with the sugar and eggs:

"...when butter is melted, free water and fat are separated from each other. When this melted butter is combined with flour, the proteins in the flour grab the water and each other to immediately form elastic sheets of gluten. This creates a product with a chewy texture. At the same time, the sugars and fats are working to inhibit gluten formation, which prevents the cookies from getting too tough."

Ok, science is fun! The other tips were to add an extra egg yolk, and - very important - let them cool completely on the cookie sheet - do NOT move to a wire rack!

I used sucanat (dehydrated cane juice) in place of all the sugar, and used a quarter cup less than what was called for (some of the reviews said the cookies were too sweet,) other than that I followed the recipe to the letter. (If you use sucanat, note that it doesn't mix as creamy as regular brown sugar.)

Being the good foodie that I am, I want the best ingredients I can find. That's not important to everyone, but I'm pretty sure I've said before on this blog that I'd cut back on electricity before I cut back on the quality of my food. It's one of my passions...


If you've never used real vanilla, spend the extra few bucks and try it. You'll never go back to imitation.

Melting the butter. Yes, that's the old Visions cookware. I love it! They don't make it anymore, but I find it on ebay or at Goodwill.

Cookie dough bliss!!!



Letting them cool on the sheet. As promised, they stayed soft and chewy and are the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever tasted anywhere in my life. Cookie Nirvana has been achieved!

Cookie-face here was an accident. I think the oven mitt brushed against a hot chip or something. You can see the sucanat. It looks rustic. Or, in this case, like freckles. I couldn't stand the way this cookie was giving me the stink-eye. He was the first to go.

Here is the entire recipe, pretty straightforward, maybe a little more vanilla than the norm, but that's another plus. Chewy and Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies If anyone tries this recipe, or even tries the tips (melting the butter and leaving the cookies on the sheet to cool) with their old standby choc chip recipe, let me know how it turns out!

19 comments:

Totally Timmy said...

oh they look so good..I just made some for my fiance..but I cheated..just pulled them out of the bag and into the oven..I may try that recipe though!

artbyakiko said...

This looks really good!! I might have to try it.

Julia Guthrie said...

*Drools*

For some reason I seem to be great at baking 'savoury' items or plain ol cakes, but cookies/brownies I've never had much luck with.
I might be tempted to give this a go however...hehehe

Jennifer MacNeill said...

OMG, I'm so hungry for those cookies now! They would be really good with my coffee:)

Caroline said...

Yum!! Pity I'm dieting at the moment! Will have to save your recipe for the future though!

Sarah Sullivan said...

OOOOOO - I have chocolate chips - gonna go make some!!! Thanks for the recipe!!!! Yummmmmm

CT said...

Okay...now I'm hungry! LOL - CT
http://www.ctjewelrydesign.com

Bijou said...

Ohhh those look yummy! My mom LOVES cookies. She could be the Cookie Monster she loves them so much. Cookies are her fav. Maybe she'll make some of these chocolate chip cookies and leave out the chocolate chips in part of the dough so me and Banjo can have some too.

Did I mention how much my mom loves cookies?

Wags & wiggles,

Bijou

Gail H. Ragsdale said...

Oh, yum!!! My weakness!!

WATERBABY CHRISTINE said...

Scuse me while I wipe the drool off my chin.

Robin Pedrero said...

They look great...haven't used that sweetner yet...must research about it with diabetes

artbykarieann said...

You've made me drool, I'm off to look in my cupboards now to see if I have anything to eat!!!

Kelly Schulz said...

Oh my gosh! Those look divine! And I love all the great ingredients you used.

Danielle Barlow said...

That last cookie is hilarious! That is an interesting tip about melting the butter first. I make oat and cinnamon cookies all the time, but they can get a bit hard sometimes. I think I'll try that way ( I hate beating butter and sugar anyway - my butter is always too cold)

Nikki Martin said...

YUM!

Train Wreck said...

Look you even create art in your cooking! lol. I will have to try this recipe, it sounds fun. THanks for sharing. I am almost inspired to start painting again? I rearranged my "studio" I am feeling the urge... I still love your table!

r garriott said...

I came for your beautiful artwork...but had to stay until the cookies were out of the oven. Thanks for posting this intriguing recipe, especially the succanat tip. I've been a mostly healthy eater all my life, but baking is hard to give up.

Sandy Sandy Art said...

Hey Kathleen! Glad to connect to another kindred spirit here. We really do have a lot in common don't we?! Thanks for following my web log. I am now a follower here as well! Thanks for connecting! Your art is wonderful and your cookies look just as good as mine! (or better!)

Ingrid said...

Oh my goodness...ME WANT COOKIE!
=0) Ingrid