Being born with a sweet tooth, I have found myself snacking on all sorts of amazing desserts throughout my life. For me, nothing beats a warm chocolate chip cookie straight from the oven. Whether it's the melting chocolate, gooey center, or just the aroma of butter, vanilla, and sugar... something about chocolate chip cookies makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Unlike the trends you see on social media where you try every chocolate chip cookie on the internet to find the best, I have spent my life working on fixing up one recipe to make what I would consider the best (or at least my favorite) chocolate chip cookie. Today, I am going to share how to avoid the nightmare of poorly baked cookies with some simple pieces of advice on what really makes a great cookie.
Ingredients are Key
The quality of the ingredients used in your cookie recipe can make or break the final product. Not all chocolate is the same! Sure a store brand might lure you in with the promise of saving a few dollars overall, but is it the same quality of some of the higher end options at their store? Perhaps, but tread carefully. Purchasing low quality chocolate for a chocolate chip cookies will completely alter the flavor. Second to the chocolate is the vanilla. Cheap vanilla extract will taste nothing like vanilla in your final product. In my house, we use Watkin's double strength vanilla and the results are amazing.
This is not to say that the rest of the ingredients don't matter, but you won't see much of a difference in the end product if you change the brand of flour, sugar, salt, or eggs. Some might contend that butter makes a huge difference and I can say that I have noticed a small difference in flavor when using more expensive butter but I can't say for sure if this was because I knew it was more expensive or because it actually tasted better.
Mixing Technique Matters
The allure of stand mixers doing all the heavy lifting may seem too tempting to avoid; however, mixing is a critical component to achieving the best possible results when making cookies. Mixing too much will yield denser cookies that just feel and look off. Instead of viciously beating your dough into submission, mix your dough until the flour has disappeared and gently fold in the chocolate chips.
Looking for a thicker and chewier cookie? Give you dough an hour to chill before baking it to help prevent your dough from spreading while still getting a delicious golden brown edge. We also suggest playing around with your ratios of baking soda and powder. The easiest way to remember what each will do: (S)oda (S)preads and (P)owder (P)uffs. S's and P's.
Bake Time and Temperature
Baking is a science and you're a scientist causing chemical reactions by mixing ingredients and adding energy (heat). Your attempt at alchemy is actually a very precise process called the Maillard reaction where your sugars are caramelizing, causing that brown coloration in your dough. The further along you take this, the darker your sugars get until they burn. At each step of the interaction, you're changing the flavor and texture of your cookie. Experimenting with different times and temperatures is key to ensure your recipe comes out perfect. For my cookies, I typically do 350F in a convection over for 10-12 minutes with chilled 1 inch round dough balls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. That is my recipe for success.
Presentation is Everything
Finally, presentation is everything when it comes to creating the perfect cookie. We eat first with our eyes, then our nose, and finally the mouth. If your cookies look or smell off, they won’t taste right regardless of how perfect they are. After baking, allow your cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This will allow them to set properly and avoid breaking. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.
Creating the perfect chocolate chip cookie is a delicious challenge that requires attention to detail and patience. By using high-quality ingredients, mastering mixing techniques, and baking at the right temperature, you can achieve the perfect cookie every time. So, next time you find yourself disappointed by a lackluster cookie, remember these tips, and you'll be well on your way to chocolate chip bliss.