Tuesday, August 9, 2011

"The Chewy" Chocolate Chip cookie

Growing up I remember eating flat, dry chocolate chip cookies, the ones who's recipes come along with the bag of chips at the grocery store.  They weren't bad, but in the back of my mind I was craving something with more body, more moisture.   After what feels like an eternity of brushing off this american staple I finally found a recipe from Alton Brown that has both.  "The Chewy"!


Ingredients

  • 8 ounces unsalted butter
  • 12 ounces bread flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 ounces granulated sugar
  • 8 ounces light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  •                                                       1 large egg yolk
  •                                                       1 ounce whole milk
  •                                                       1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  •                                                      12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Melt the butter in a 2-quart saucepan over low heat. Set aside to cool slightly.
Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda onto a paper plate. Pour the butter into your stand mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar and beat with the paddle attachment on medium speed for 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk together the whole egg, the egg yolk, milk and vanilla extract in a measuring cup. Reduce the mixer speed and slowly add the egg mixture. Mix until thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds.
Using the paper plate as a slide, gradually integrate the dry ingredients, stopping a couple of times to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Once the flour is worked in, drop the speed to "stir" and add the chocolate chips. Chill the dough for 1 hour *.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and place racks in the top third and bottom third of the oven.
Scoop the dough into 1 1/2-ounce portions onto parchment-lined half sheet pans, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake 2 sheets at a time for 15 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Remove from the oven, slide the parchment with the cookies onto a cooling rack and wait at least 5 minutes before devouring.



* Each time I've made these cookies I've found them to have better texture if the dough chills of at least 3 or more hours, or overnight if possible.