Sweet Endings

Now who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie?  Everyone has their favorite recipe and if they don’t have a special one they defer to the one on the back of the bag of Nestle’s Toll House chocolate chips.  It is a good recipe, but I think there is a better one.
After a lot of trial and testing of different ingredients I have arrived at what I think is a most delicious chocolate chip cookie.  Not that there is really any such thing as a bad chocolate chip cookie, but still, there are some that are great and this is one of those.  I prefer a softer cookie with crisp edges and that is what this recipe produces.

It is a different recipe, in that you use only brown sugar, no white sugar, and in addition to all purpose flour you also use bread flour.  These may seem  like odd changes to the recipe you are used to, but there is a reason for these ingredients.  Using all dark brown sugar ensures an extra moist cookie.  What makes the brown sugar brown is molasses, and it is the molasses that creates the moisture in the cookie.  The bread flour contains more gluten than all purpose flour and is what makes bread soft and chewy….it works in cookies too.  Lastly, adding a light sprinkle of kosher salt to the warm cookies straight from the oven, will be a special addition that actually enhances the taste and sweetness of your cookie.  It sounds odd but try it…I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

At your next dinner party or gathering these simple and delicious morsels, either by themselves or served alongside a dish of ice cream, could be just the right thing to end your meal.   Or make a batch and keep them in your cookie jar to grab anytime you need a snack or have one before bed to ensure a “sweet ending” to any day 🙂

There can be no doubt a really good chocolate chip cookie can go along way towards ensuring an abundant life !

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 3 1/2 dozen

1 cup of butter
2 cups dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup bread flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 eggs
12 oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Kosher salt for sprinkling

Soften butter in the microwave just until it begins to melt.  Add brown sugar and vanilla and mix together.  Next, mix all the dry ingredients together and add to butter and brown sugar and vanilla.  The  mixture will look a bit dry and crumbly.
Now add in the two eggs and mix, just until the dough comes together.  Add chocolate chips and mix again.  Scoop dough in a small scoop onto parchment paper, lining a baking sheet.

Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 9 – 10 minutes or just until they begin to be very, very slightly browned. (If you are using a larger scoop increase time to 10-12 minutes).  Remove from oven and give a very light sprinkle with kosher salt.  Cool on wire rack.  Now pour a glass of cold milk or a cup of fresh coffee and enjoy!