This is the best chocolate chip cookie I have found in all my years of baking! My kids love them, my hubby loves them, and even all the picky picky picky customers at my restaurant love them! When the public loves it, you know you win! So I won’t keep you waiting till the end, here’s the recipe!
Now in all my years of baking, I have found there are more ways than we care to mention on how we can screw up a good cookie! So here is a list of all the ways I could think of to help you create the best cookie every time!
1. Read the Recipe First: Always start by reading the recipe thoroughly to ensure you have all the ingredients and understand the steps. If you need to substitute ingrdients thats ok but let’s be prepared.
2. Room Temperature Ingredients: Use room eggs for a smoother batter and even baking. Butters need to be cold to room temperature, NOT MELTED.
3. Measure Accurately: Use measuring cups and spoons for dry ingredients and a liquid measuring cup for liquids. Too much flour, too much baking soda, etc etc can ruin a good cookie.
4. Sift Dry Ingredients: Sifting flour and other dry ingredients helps to avoid lumps and incorporate air for lighter cookies. Did you know recipes are made for sifted (or fluffed) flour, not packed, right out of the bag flour?
5. Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough can improve the texture and flavor of the cookies. This was a hard one for me because I am impatient and wanted to job done, but I learned to use that chill time to clean up my mess and handle other small chores, or even cook dinner, while the dough chilled.
6. Don’t add in ingredients without thinking about the rest: You can add in other chocolates, other candies, anything like that without issues. However you can not go adding extra liquids without adding in the appropriate flours to keep the dough right.
7. Avoid Overmixing: Mix until just combined to keep cookies tender.
8. Uniform Size: Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized cookies that will bake uniformly. This is one of my favorite baking hacks!
9. Parchment Paper is Key: Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even browning.
10. Oven Thermometer: Use an oven thermometer to ensure accurate baking temperatures. Not neccessary but never hurts!
11. Rotate Baking Sheets: Halfway through baking, rotate the sheets for even cooking.
12. Cooling is Crucial: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
13. Experiment with Add-Ins: Try different mix-ins like nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit. The trend lately is adding pretzles to cookie dough!
14. Check Your Leaveners: Ensure baking powder and soda haven’t expired for proper rise.
15. Do Not Overcrowd: Leave enough space between dough balls for cookies to spread.
16. Keep Dough Cool: If baking in batches, keep the remaining dough in the fridge.
17. Underbaking Slightly: For chewier cookies, remove them from the oven when they’re just slightly underbaked.
18. Use a Silpat Mat: A silicone baking mat can be used for even heat distribution if you are not a fan of parchment paper.
19. Flavor Extracts: Experiment with different extracts like vanilla, almond, or lemon for varied flavors. People are preferring vanilla paste over vanilla extract here recently.
20. Brown vs. White Sugar: Brown sugar yields moister and denser cookies, while white sugar makes them crisper. I switched to brown sugar years ago and I won’t go back!
21. Check Your Oven Hot Spots: Knowing your oven’s hot spots can help place the cookie sheet for even baking.
22. Salt Matters: A pinch of salt enhances the flavors in your cookie.
23. Rest the Dough: Resting the dough before baking can deepen the flavors. Another reason we chill the dough.
24. Hand Mixing Option: For denser cookies, mix the dough by hand instead of using a mixer.
25. Spice It Up: Don’t be afraid to add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg for a flavor boost. If you ask me, cinnamon goes in everything!
26. Golden Brown Rule: Bake until just golden brown for the perfect texture.
27. Cool Sheets Between Batches: Allow baking sheets to cool between batches to prevent spreading.
28. Storage Technique: Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh. My nanny always told me to keep a heal of bread in there with them so they don’t get hard! And Nanny s never wrong!
29. Freeze Extra Dough: Cookie dough can often be frozen for future use.
30. Have Fun: Don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun with your cookie recipes! Get the kids involved! I promise you the mess will be big but the memories will be bigger!
For more insights on budget-friendly dinner ideas, easy dinner recipes, meal plans, and the abundance of health benefits offered by natural foods, don’t forget to follow Homemaker Recipes. I’m here to help busy moms, health enthusiasts, and everyone in between discover the joys and benefits of home cooking! Home is where the best things are made!
No comments:
Post a Comment