Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a type of drop cookie, the simplest and most versatile cookie variety available.  They are called drop cookies because the cookie dough is soft enough to drop off a spoon (perhaps with a bit of assistance) and onto a baking sheet.

The basic chocolate chip cookie batter consists of butter and sugar, which are beaten together until the batter is light and fluffy.  Eggs and vanilla extract are added and beaten in, followed by flour combined with baking soda and salt.  Next comes the raison d'etre!  Chocolate chips and other textural ingredients, such as chopped nuts, are mixed into the batter.

Using the spoon size specified in your chocolate chip cookie recipe, drop spoonfuls of cookie dough onto a baking sheet.  Use a second small spoon to help push the cookie dough mixture off the spoon, or simply use a cookie scoop instead of a spoon to easily make uniform size cookies.  Space the cookies evenly on the baking sheet, according to the recipe's instructions, and bake the cookies in a moderate temperature oven.  To produce soft, cakey cookies, leave the mixture well mounded on the baking sheet.  For delicious cookies with soft, chewy centers and crisp edges, remove them from the oven as soon as their edges turn golden brown, and while their middles are still soft and light brown.  For crisper cookies, spread out the cookie drops a little with the back of a spoon before baking them.  As a rule, cookies that are even in color and firm to the touch will tend to be crisper.

Try this easy chocolate chip cookie recipe and browse through the chocolate chip cookie gift shops listed below.  Learn the history of Toll House cookies, and find chocolate chip cookie recipes for every taste.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Cookie Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Cookie Preparation and Baking Steps

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt, ideally with a wire whisk, and set it aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, and white granulated sugar with an electric mixer to form a granular paste.  Add eggs and vanilla extract, and mix at medium speed until thoroughly mixed.
4. Blend in the flour mixture, then the chocolate chips (and optional walnuts), at low speed until the ingredients are well distributed.
5. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets.
6. Bake for 17 to 19 minutes, until golden brown.  Let stand for a minute or so, then remove to wire racks or other cool surface with a spatula.
7. Enjoy!

Shop for Chocolate Chip Cookies

• David's Cookies
  
  Fresh-baked cookies, gift baskets, brownies & crumb cake, specialty gifts.
  www.DavidsCookies.com
• Mrs. Fields Cookies
  
  Mrs. Fields Original Cookies.  Holiday gifts for friends, family, and business associates.
  www.MrsFields.com
• Blue Chip Cookies
  
  A wide variety of gourmet cookies made fresh daily from quality ingredients.
  www.BlueChipCookies.com

Toll House Cookies History

• Toll House Cookies
  
  Fascinating story about the invention of Toll House Cookies by Ruth Wakefield in 1930.
  www.IdeaFinder.com

Other Chocolate Chip Cookie Resources

• Joy of Baking
  
  Find baking information and the story behind Nestle's chocolate chips, as well as a chocolate chip cookie recipe and video.
  www.JoyOfBaking.com
• Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies
  
  Here is the original recipe for Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Published by Nestle.
  www.VeryBestBaking.com

Chocolate Chip Cookies - Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe