Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
If desired, use a small ice-cream scoop for uniform-size cookies. To make a cookie tart, press 3 cups of this dough into a buttered and sugared 9-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom or a 9-inch pie tin lined with buttered, sugared parchment. Bake at 325°F until the edges are golden and the center is almost set, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool at least 20 minutes, and remove from the pan. (Bake the remaining dough as cookies at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes.)
Recipe information
Yield
Makes about 36
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand.
Step 2
Drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Step 3
Bake until the cookies are golden around the edges but still soft in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let cool on the baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.
Add-Ins
Step 4
Create variations on chocolate chip cookies with the following ingredients. Use one or two—or several.
Nuts
Step 5
Add 1 cup coarsely chopped nuts—walnuts, pecans, macadamias—with the chips.
Espresso
Step 6
Add 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder to the dry ingredients; replace 1 cup flour with unsweetened cocoa powder for a mocha flavor.
Shredded Coconut
Step 7
Stir in 1 1/2 cups shredded sweetened coconut with the chips.
Cocoa
Step 8
Replace 1 cup flour with unsweetened cocoa powder to make double chocolate chip cookies.
Dried Fruit
Step 9
Combine 1 cup chopped dried cherries or other dried fruit with the chips.
Ginger
Step 10
Mix 1/2 cup finely chopped candied ginger or up to 1 teaspoon ground ginger into the dry ingredients.
Candy Bits
Step 11
Substitute 1 cup chips with chopped chocolate candies, such as malt balls.
Oatmeal
Step 12
For hearty cookies, stir in 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats along with the chips.
Peanut Butter
Step 13
To make a chocolate–peanut butter combo, reduce the butter to 3/4 cup, and mix in 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter with the butter and sugars.
