At long last ... cookie success!

[tholbrook]

Just have to share:

We have a friend coming over tonight to hang drywall for our latest remodeling project (DH was in a motorcycle accident this past March and can't do it now) - and I have the day off today. So what better time to try baking cookies? My previous attempts have met with complete and utter failure (most notably, Chewy Chocolate-Chip Cookies from CL Jan/Feb 1998). But armed with my new Sil-Pat baking sheet liner and Alton Brown's recipe for the "The Chewy (http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_13617,00.html) ", I have finally achieved chocolate chip cookie success. They are moist, chewy, and very chocolatey. And better than cookies from the bakery, IMO.

Encouraged by this success, I then made Cinnamon Chip Pecan Snickerdoodles (posted by Linda in MO here (http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=63954) - thanks, Linda!) which are also very, very good.

Anyway, I highly recommend both of these recipes.

I am now sitting at home looking at 4 dozen cookies (okay, I admit - there are only 45 now!). This could become quite the dangerous hobby. I'm trying to exercise my self-control, but I feel weaker by the moment...

[doggerham]

Congrats!

Now, put them in the freezer.

And/or

Pack some up to take to your office, DH's co-workers, your child's school, the gang at your local fire department, your drycleaner, a neighbor, etc etc.

Just move them along!

[bobmark226]

Originally posted by doggerham
Pack some up to take to your office, DH's co-workers, your child's school, the gang at your local fire department, your drycleaner, a neighbor, etc etc.

How could you forget savejeanne.com ? ;)

Bob

[Pony]

We are making some cookies for a BBQ this weekend. DH wants to make them, so I picked out the recipe. We are using the Gourmet CC cookies claire797 posted. I've already got my notes to put the dough in the fridge before making and make sure the melted butter is cool. :) Hoping for success!

Glad yours turned out well.

Michelle

[claire797]

Michelle, I hope the Gourmet cookies work out for you. I've made them several times and love the texture. A few people have complained they are too flat. Mine weren't flat, but they were thinner than the Alton Brown cookies.

I was going to make a batch of the Gourmet cookies this morning, but I decided I wanted peanut butter cookies so I made a batch of the ones Rosechef posted and they are VERY good.

Chocolate Chunk Peanut Cookies

Recipe By :rosechef
Serving Size :0 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Cookies Desserts


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 cup butter -- softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsps. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
1 chocolate chunks -- (11.5 ounce bag)

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; add peanut butter and sugars, beating well. Add eggs, beating until blended.

Combine four and next four ingredients. Add to butter mixture, beating well.

Stir in the peanuts and chocolate chunks.

Shape dough into 2 inch balls (about 2 tablespoons per cookie). Flatten slightly, and place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on pan 1-2 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Yield: 48 cookies.

[tholbrook]

Originally posted by doggerham
Congrats!

Now, put them in the freezer.

And/or

Pack some up to take to your office, DH's co-workers, your child's school, the gang at your local fire department, your drycleaner, a neighbor, etc etc.

Just move them along! I think that is a darn good idea or I'm likely to make them disappear myself. I've packed them up for various people (although DH has refused to "authorize them for export") and we're only keeping about 8 :(.
Bob, what is savejeanne.com? I couldn't get your link to work.

[bobmark226]

Originally posted by tholbrook
Bob, what is savejeanne.com? I couldn't get your link to work.

JeAnne posted it in a SPAM thread plugging a cookbook that was deleted earlier. It's a made-up URL for donations of cash, chocolate and cookies (not necessarily in that order!) for when she becomes house poor.

Sorry for the confusion!

Bob

[tholbrook]

Originally posted by bobmark226


JeAnne posted it in a SPAM thread plugging a cookbook that was deleted earlier. It's a made-up URL for donations of cash, chocolate and cookies (not necessarily in that order!) for when she becomes house poor.

Sorry for the confusion!

Bob

Got it! Must have missed that thread. Too bad it was made up - I'm giving away cookies today!

[greysangel]

Ana did you ever try the CC cookies that are in Rosie's Bakery book? I wondered how they compared with others you have tried. I have the book here at work if you want me to type up the recipe.

J

[claire797]

Originally posted by greysangel
Ana did you ever try the CC cookies that are in Rosie's Bakery book? I wondered how they compared with others you have tried. I have the book here at work if you want me to type up the recipe.

J

I check the Rosie's Bakery cookie book (the jam-packed, chocolate filled etc. one) out from the library all the time, but I don't think I've made her chocolate chip recipe. The recipes from her book that I have tried were incredible.

[greysangel]

yah, I've only tried a couple of her recipes and they have been all excellent. I make the bread pudding all the time and the cakes are impressive as well.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

This adaptation is crisp around the edges and chewy in the middle. To achieve that consistency, it's crucial that you take the cookies out of the oven when the centers are light colored and puffy and the edges are golden. The slightly underdone centers will drop when they cool and become chewy.

2 cups plus 1 TBSP ap flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temp.
1 cup plus 1 TBSP lightly packed lightly brown sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 TBSP granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs, at room temp
1 1/2 cups semi sweet chips

1. Preheat oven to 375. Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper or grease them lightly with butter or veg oil.

2. Sift the flour, soda and salt into a small bowl and set aside.

3. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream the butter, sugars and vanilla together in a medium sized bowl until lightly and fluffy, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Stop the mixer twice to scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula.

4. Add the eggs and beat on medium speed until they are blended, about 30 secs. Scrape the bowl.

5. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low for 15 secs. Scrape bowl.

6. Add chips and blend until they are mixed in.

7. Drop the dough by generously rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared sheets.

8. Bake the cookies until the edges are dark golden and the center is light and lightly puffed up, 11 to 12 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the sheets. These are best eaten the same day they are baked. (24 large cookies)

Note: Dough also works beautifully when refrigerated a minimum of 4 hours; it tends to produce a thicker, chewier cookie that is crisp around the edges.

[doggerham]

Originally posted by tholbrook


Got it! Must have missed that thread. Too bad it was made up - I'm giving away cookies today!

Please mail to:

Amy S.
4801 Woodway, Suite 200W
Houston, TX 77056


:D :D :D;)

[claire797]

Amy, that would be funny if you received a bunch of cookies in the mail. :).

J, thanks for typing up that chocolate chip cookie recipe. Using CL's most excellent search function, I tried to find any reference to my making that particular recipe (my memory isn't so good these days!) and couldn't. I really love that Rosie's book and should probably go buy it off half.com. My favorite recipe in the book is the Pumpkin Whoopie Pies.

I need to start taking better notes on which chocolate chip cookie recipes I like best. I did for awhile, then got away from it.

[badunnin]

Anyone want to adopt my classroom for cookie baking? ;)

[colleency]

Originally posted by claire797 My favorite recipe in the book is the Pumpkin Whoopie Pies. [/B]

Do those have marshmallow in them?

[claire797]

Here's the recipe. They do have a marshmallow filling, but the filling doesn't really taste like marshmallow at all. I think the marshmallow fluff is in there just to aerate the filling a bit.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon of cake flour
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
9 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar
7 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons molasses
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree
1/4 cup buttermilk

Marshmallow Filling

8 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
5 heaping tablespoons marshmallow fluff
1 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 400. Grease cookie sheet
2. Sift together all dry ingredients except sugars and spices and set aside.
3. With mixer, cream butter, sugars and spices. Stir in vanilla.
4. Add eggs one at a time then add pumpkin, molasses and buttermilk.
5. Fold in flour and mix until batter is smooth
6. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheet
7. Bake cookies until they are risen and firm. About 12 minutes.
8. Let cool. Make filling.
9. Beat all filling ingredients until light and fluffy.
10. When cookies are cool, spoon filling on bottom of cookies and sandwich together

[claire797]

Here's another recipe I pulled off a Texas recipe group I belong to. These sound really good, but I haven't made them yet.

White Chocolate Orange Dream Cookies

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tbsp grated orange rind
2 tsp orange extract
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups (12 oz) white chocolate morsels or broken white chocolate

Beat butter, brown sugar and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until mixture is creamy. Add egg, orange rind, and orange extract, beating until blended. Combine flour, baking soda and slat; gradually add to sugar mixture, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in chocolate morsels. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 3 1/2 dozen

[tholbrook]

Oh, those White Chocolate Orange Dream Cookies look SO good. I love anything with the "orange creamsicle" theme. Adding to MasterCook right now ...

[claire797]

Originally posted by tholbrook
Oh, those White Chocolate Orange Dream Cookies look SO good. I love anything with the "orange creamsicle" theme. Adding to MasterCook right now ...

I like Dreamsicle flavor too! One thing I just noticed was that this particular recipe has no vanilla extract -- only orange. It may not make a huge difference, but I'll probably add at least a half teaspoon of vanilla to the recipe. Hopefully, that won't mess it up. It just seems like vanilla added to orange is what makes it "dream" rather than just "orange".

[Pony]

Originally posted by claire797
Michelle, I hope the Gourmet cookies work out for you. I've made them several times and love the texture. A few people have complained they are too flat. Mine weren't flat, but they were thinner than the Alton Brown cookies.

I was going to make a batch of the Gourmet cookies this morning, but I decided I wanted peanut butter cookies so I made a batch of the ones Rosechef posted and they are VERY good.



Ana, I hope they work out too. DH made the dough last night and it is in the fridge. I can't wait to try them :D Those recipes you posted sound wonderful!

This recipe by slknight is one of my favorite. Loved them!


* Exported from MasterCook *

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 14 Preparation Time :0:00
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons water
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease two cookie sheets; set aside.

In a small bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and
salt; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, peanut butter, and granulated and
brown sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla extract, and water;
beat until blended. Stir in flour mixture and chocolate chips.

Scoop 1/4-cupfuls of dough onto prepared cookie sheets. Using the palm of
your hand, flatten each cookie into a 4-inch circle.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until golden. Cool 2 minutes, then transfer to a
wire rack. Makes 14 giant cookies, or 2 dozen regular-size cookies.


Source:
"CL BB slknight"
Ratings : Excellent 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Nutr. Assoc. : 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26964 0 0 0 0 0 0

[doggerham]

Originally posted by badunnin
Anyone want to adopt my classroom for cookie baking? ;)

I actually would consider it, but I have a feeling TX is a little bit far away...

Thankfully, my DH's comrades at work are always eager and happy when I'm on a baking jag.

[valchemist]

Originally posted by claire797


I like Dreamsicle flavor too! One thing I just noticed was that this particular recipe has no vanilla extract -- only orange. It may not make a huge difference, but I'll probably add at least a half teaspoon of vanilla to the recipe. Hopefully, that won't mess it up. It just seems like vanilla added to orange is what makes it "dream" rather than just "orange".

I hate to be picky, but orange dreamsicle doesn't have a white chocolate flavor to it. so if you really wanted a dreamsicle flavor, I think the white chocolate would put you off track. I know some people don't like vanilla chips (I am not a big fan, myself), but if you want a true creamsicle flavor, I think that is the way to go. the cookies would of course be better with real white chocolate, but they would be less like a creamsicle.

I made the cookies today (with white chips) and they are really good and dreamsicle-y. I used 1/2 tsp of pure orange oil instead of the 2 tsp orange extract called for in the recipe. Oh, I also used vanilla.

[MISSINDI]

Originally posted by badunnin
Anyone want to adopt my classroom for cookie baking? ;)

If you're serious, I'd be happy to send your kids a CARE package. :D

[valchemist]

I made the orange cookies again. I wasn't satisfied with the texture and wanted to see if I could perfect them. I thought they were a tad greasy. Also, even though there was some crispness around the edges along with a chewy middle, I tend to like more of a crisp/chewy contrast than what the original recipe provided. I like when cookies are crisp all over the outside (not just the edges) and chewy inside.

I thought I could solve both of these problems by using half shortening and half butter. I was successful and now the cookies are perfect. so good, that I added them to my list of all time favorite baked goods (that list I posted on the SLBB).

here is the recipe I settled on. I changed a couple of the ingredients, the size of the cookies, and the name of the cookies. I am calling them dreamsicle cookies since I am using the vanilla chips.

Dreamsicle Cookies

1/2 c butter -- softened
1/2 c shortening
2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tbsp grated orange rind
2 tsp orange extract -- or 1/2 tsp pure orange oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 c vanilla or white chips

Beat butter, shortening, brown sugar and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until mixture is creamy. Add egg, orange rind, orange extract, and vanilla, beating until blended. Combine flour, baking soda and slat; gradually add to sugar mixture, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in chocolate morsels. Put golf ball sized balls of dough on parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 22 large cookies


NOTES :

excellent cookies -- they are indeed dreamsicle-y in flavor.
crisp all over the outside and chewy and dense inside. love the texture. the cookies keep very well, and maintain their crisp/chewy texture when stored in an airtight container.