Are you longing for a flawless chocolate chip cookie recipe? There’s nothing like the perfect chocolate chip cookie. But baking requires precision and getting it right takes practice. Here are some tips to save time on trial and error, so you have a batch of cookies just as you like them.
Add Dark Chocolate Chips
Dark chocolate chips have a more complex flavor than semi-sweet ones. Milk chocolate chips can sometimes have a waxy texture. But if you like the taste of milk chocolate and crave dark chocolate too, you can mix different types of chips.
The different tastes, shapes, and sizes can make your cookie interesting. Also, consider strategically placing chips, for example, by removing some from the dough and placing them on top. This helps get that chunky, chocolatey look.
Ditch the Chips for Chopped Chocolate
Chocolate chips are easy to find and convenient to use. But if you have extra time, find a chocolate bar of your favorite type and cut it into chunks of any size you want. They can all be similar or you can mix different shapes and sizes. This is the way to go if you like variety and pools of luscious chocolate inside.
Use More Brown than White Sugar
Some recipes call for different ratios. However, a two-to-one ratio of brown sugar to white sugar gives your cookies a malt and caramel undertone. The brown sugar reacts with baking soda, making the cookie chewy and moist. It’s also a quick way to improve texture and give the cookie more spread.
Brown the Butter
To brown the butter, melt it in a skillet on medium heat. Watch closely as the butter starts to melt and foam; the color will quickly change from yellow to tan to golden brown. Let the butter cool for ten minutes before adding it to the dough. This adds some time while working with your chocolate chip cookie recipe but gives your cookies a nutty flavor.
Eggs at Room Temperature
Let the egg sit for an hour until it reaches room temperature (some people also prefer to add the butter this way). Beat the egg only slightly and add sugar and butter. If you’re striving for more chewy chocolate chip cookies, this yields a softer end product.
Weigh Every Ingredient
Precision is critical in baking. If the quantity of any ingredient is off or you don’t follow the recommended process exactly, the results will be much different than expected. One key detail to look for is units of measure. The recipe should tell you how many ounces or grams to use. For greater accuracy, weigh the ingredient in question rather than using a measuring cup.
Also, look for instructions on how long to blend dry and wet ingredients, stir things together, or incorporate certain items. Analyze each step and look up any words or details you’re unfamiliar with.
Add Flour to the Dough
Cookie dough tends to stick stubbornly to the sides of the bowl. Mixing flour into the dough, especially if melted butter was added, can help pull the dough away from the sides. Just a spoonful of flour will do. If the dough is still stuck and feels wet, add more until the mixture softens and is dry to the touch. It should eventually pull into a large dough ball in the center.
Scoop Before Refrigerating the Dough
Many a chocolate chip cookie recipe calls for resting the dough in the fridge or freezer for a couple of days. But after chilling, it won’t be as easy to work with.
Instead, cut or scoop the cookie dough onto a baking sheet first. It’s much more malleable at this point. You can even shape it by hand. Then place each piece on a baking sheet (lined with parchment paper). Don’t worry if the separate dough pieces are touching; you can move them apart later before baking.
It’s tempting to take the cookies out of the oven just when they’re ready. But doing so can leave them overbaked in the center. And, cookies continue to cook a little once you take them out. To ensure they’re just perfect, look for barely browned spots on top, so you have chocolate chip cookies that have crispy edges and chewy centers.
If you don’t mind making a little noise while baking, this can be a good thing. Wait until the center of each cookie is slightly puffy. Then lift the baking sheet and let it fall against the oven rack to deflate the cookies. Their edges will set, resulting in crinkled edges and a soft center.
You don’t need a fancy cookie sheet to perfect your chocolate chip cookie recipe. Any small, non-stick baking sheet will do. You can make your cookies any way you like, whether you want them small, large, flattened, or rolled into balls. A cookie dough scoop is a handy tool, but there’s nothing wrong with shaping the dough by hand to get the shape you want.
We have hundreds of unique, nutritious, and delicious recipes. You can also find just what you need at our stores to perfect your chocolate chip cookie recipe. Gelson’s Markets has been providing customers with a high-quality shopping experience since 1951. Based in Encino, we have stores throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. Visit us for your grocery shopping or order online for pickup or delivery today.
Sources:
1. Cupcakes & Cashmere: 12 Highly Specific Tips for the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
2. Pinch of Yum: Tips for Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies