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View Full Version : The BEST darn Chocolate Chip Cookies


KValley
10-07-2004, 09:33 AM
I have ever made. I won't go so far as to say they are the best CC cookie ever, because that is such a subjective judgment! But boy oh boy, they'd surely give any recipe a run for its money.

I did a search and didn't find this recipe on the BB- my apologies if it's already been discussed. It's a Nigella Lawson recipe, posted in the New York Times Wednesday food section last February.

The texture is such fun- chock full of the crunchy whole peanuts and and chocolate morsels nestled in soft, moist, buttery dough; I particularly love the contrast of the salty peanuts, the rich dough and the chocolate.

It's a one-bowl, made entirely by hand cookie- no need for an electric mixer (I think mixing by hand helps keep the cookies so tender). Takes longer to drop the dough onto cookie sheets than it does to assemble the ingredients and mix the dough. Last night was the first time I'd made them using a gas oven; cooking time was a bit longer, 18 minutes instead of 15. I consistently get a yield of two dozen.

To die for.

My Favorite Cookies
Nigella Lawson, NY Times, 2/18/04

6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter)
1 packed cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
1 cup salted peanuts

1. Using a microwave oven or an small saucepan, melt butter. Allow it to cool for about 5 minutes. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer or by hand, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat in vanilla, eggs, flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Fold in chocolate morsels and peanuts.

2. Refrigerate the bowl of cookie dough for 20 minutes (and stop eating the dough!) ;) . Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet (or two) with a nonstick liner or parchment paper.

3. Shape chilled dough into fat disks about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick (slightly less than 3 tablespoons of dough for each cookie.) Place cookies on baking sheet 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until golden brown around edges and cracked and chewy in middle, about 15 minutes. If using two sheets, switch position of sheets halfway through baking. Remove cookies from oven while they are still soft in center or they will loose their chewiness as they cool.

4. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for about 3 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool. When completely cool, store in an airtight container.

Yield: about 20 cookies.

nester
10-07-2004, 09:54 AM
Thanks for the review! I cut this recipe when it appeared in the Times, but forgot about it 'till now. I'll be sure to try it after your rave!

Laura

Varaile
10-07-2004, 10:02 AM
Thanks for posting!

Question though: I don't do peanuts; would a salty pecan or walnut work instead?

Thanks!

KValley
10-07-2004, 10:14 AM
Originally posted by Varaile
Thanks for posting!

Question though: I don't do peanuts; would a salty pecan or walnut work instead?

Thanks!

Varaile- I think the key is the salty nuts- pecans, almonds, walnut, hazelnuts, macadamias, heck- SOY nuts. It's the mix of salty/sweet-crunchy/chewy that makes these so good! I'd even go for white chocolate morsels- oh, white chocolate and macadamia nuts would be amazing!

White chocolate, macadamia, and dried cranberries...:eek: :D

kima
10-07-2004, 10:34 AM
Thanks for this great looking recipe Julie!!
Kim is coming home for Thanksgiving tomorrow and these would make the perfect welcome home gift!

Off to the store....:)

MiMo
10-07-2004, 12:04 PM
YUM!!! I just may have to make these this weekend. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

KValley
10-07-2004, 12:05 PM
Originally posted by kima
Thanks for this great looking recipe Julie!!
Kim is coming home for Thanksgiving tomorrow and these would make the perfect welcome home gift!

Off to the store....:)

Happy Thanksgiving! Glad Nigella and I can contribute to the festivities :) Enjoy your time with Kim!

Schmee
10-07-2004, 12:10 PM
MMMMMMMM,they sound wonderful.
I have not baked at all lately and a one bowl recipe sounds really easy and perfect.
Thanks for this.

kima
12-07-2004, 03:24 PM
I finally made these and hope to freeze them for Xmas (they are disappearing quickly so i may have to make another batch!). Julie, as usual your description is bang on! It is the mingling of so many wonderful tastes that make this CC cookies special.
Thank you again for posting it. I wish I had made them for Thanksgiving but better late than never!:)

Lys
12-07-2004, 05:24 PM
Just adding my two cents, I LOVED this recipe... I used macadamias and mixed ghirardelli semi sweet and double chocolate chips. MMMMMM.... delish!!!

JLS
12-08-2004, 06:51 PM
The Cooks Illustrated Choc Chip cookie recipe is almost identical (sans the peanuts)!

I made these last night, using Nigella's recipe. They were very very good, to my disappointment though, the peanuts I had on hand were unsalted :(, definately think the salt is going to kick them up to fantabulous! I love the idea of melting the butter, it makes them a snap to make!

Goin' Coastal
12-08-2004, 09:06 PM
Only 20 cookies?? Are they exceptionally large? Could they be made smaller?

KValley
12-09-2004, 08:53 AM
Originally posted by Goin' Coastal
Only 20 cookies?? Are they exceptionally large? Could they be made smaller?

Darlin', they'll be as large as you make them ;) I'm guessing Nigella was going after the type of cookie you get at your favorite bakery- big, soft, chunky. Keep in mind that the peanuts are whole and the chocolate is in chunks, so if the cookies were too small they'd be all peanuts and choco chunks and not much dough. That's not necessarily a bad thing...

JLS I think the smashing key to this recipe is the salty-sweet contrast, so you haven't had the full cookie experience...yet!

Maureen- Did any cookies make it to the freezer?

So glad y'all like these -I'm thinking I'd still like to do a holiday version with white chocolate, cranberries, hazelnuts or macadamias.

tigermorris
12-09-2004, 09:29 AM
Thanks for psoting this recipe!

How do they compare to Alton Brown's Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie?
They are currently my favorite.

I think I'll have to try these.
Thanks again

tigermorris
12-10-2004, 08:57 AM
BUMPING

valchemist
12-10-2004, 09:06 AM
Originally posted by tigermorris
Thanks for psoting this recipe!

How do they compare to Alton Brown's Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie?
They are currently my favorite.

I think I'll have to try these.
Thanks again

Terri, I emailed you.

tigermorris
12-10-2004, 10:25 AM
Thanks Val!!!!!

Terri

Delanl
02-25-2005, 12:38 PM
I've been on a chocolate chip cookie kick lately. Last week I made Alton Brown's #10's and they were delish. This week though, I made these bad boys and they are to die for!!! The addition of the peanuts is superb!! My DBF was grabbing two at a time!:D

I will definitely be making these again! Thanks so much for sharing!

Leigh

souffoue
02-25-2005, 12:42 PM
Thanks for sharing!

pattyp.
02-26-2005, 05:26 PM
Could they be any better than the Alton Brown #10???:confused: :confused:

stacy7272
02-26-2005, 05:32 PM
Originally posted by tigermorris
How do they compare to Alton Brown's Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie?
They are currently my favorite.


Could you post the recipe for AB's Chewy CC Cookie? Or steer me to where it is posted? I've searched this board but haven't found it posted anywhere! Also, that #10 - is that a different recipe as well or is that the same as The Chewy? I've been reading so much about these on this board I'm very curious to try them! Thanks!

SusanL
02-26-2005, 05:49 PM
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Hardware:
Ice cream scooper (#20 disher, to be exact)
Parchment paper
Baking sheets
Mixer


Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.

Pour the melted butter in the mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Chill the dough, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

valchemist
02-26-2005, 06:38 PM
here is the thread that has the recipe plus a lot of reviews and a picture of the AB #10. http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=69590&highlight=alton+brown+chocolate
I have tried both of AB's cookies and loved them. I preferred them to this recipe that calls for peanuts.

stacy7272
02-27-2005, 01:28 PM
Thank you SusanL and Valchemist for posting the recipe and the link! Wonderful. I'm really looking forward to making both of the recipes.