The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Chatty Kathy

Stella says I’ve baked too much bread for them and she’s gained about 40 pounds (in total I think she weighs 40 pounds!). She did, however, think chocolate chip cookies would be a good idea.

The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Makes 26 HUGE cookies (or 52 regular size!)

½ pound butter, softened (2 sticks)
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 ¼ cups flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch cinnamon
2 cups Nestle Tollhouse semi-sweet chocolate chips (or sub 1/2 with cranberries)
1 3/4 cups chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 300

Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes.

Add eggs, vanilla and lemon juice, blending with mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then medium speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy, scraping down bowl.

With mixer on low speed, add flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, blending for about 45 seconds. Don’t overmix.

Remove bowl from mixer and stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.

Portion dough with a scoop (about 3 tablespoons) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper about 2 inches apart for extra large cookies – I prefer to get more cookies to share and make them smaller – to fit 12 on a cookie sheet.

Preheat oven to 300°F. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.

Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for about 1 hour.

Cook’s note: You can freeze the unbaked cookies, and there’s no need to thaw. Preheat oven to 300°F and place frozen cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.

I found this the perfect size for home eating – 12 to a cookie sheet.

Good thing I have 4 cookie sheets, otherwise it might have taken all day to allow them to completely cool on the baking sheet. As it is, I did move them after about 30 minutes.

A plate of these crispy edged, chewy interior cookies is a good idea any time of day.

There are moments of sharing during this 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, and this recipe is one of them. Apparently a famous recipe from DoubleTree hotels, it is their signature cookie, and I’m not the only one to love this cookie. No, I haven’t stayed there, so I’ve never had one of these warm on arrival, but they are delicious out of your own oven. I reduced the chocolate slightly – the original calls for 2 2/3 cups of chocolate chips but I found that a bit overpowering. Yes, you can have too many chocolate chips.

Snickerdoodles

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Chatty Kathy

The ultimate Snickerdoodle, courtesy of Heather, these ones made by her daughter Emily. Just thin enough to be tender and chewy.

Have you ever noticed how many recipes are out there for Snickerdoodles? They are everywhere, and I’ve tried a lot of them. Some get quite complicated with refrigeration time required, shaping instructions, and the list goes on. Ultimately, what I’m looking for just isn’t that complicated. This recipe is perfect, and make the best cookies, so quit looking for another snickerdoodle cookie recipe and get baking. You won’t be sorry.

Whisk together:

1/4 cup white sugar
4 tsp cinnamon

Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350

Whisk until well blended:

2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

(alternatively you could omit the cream of tartar & baking soda, just use 3 tsp of baking powder)

Beat in a large bowl:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar

When light and fluffy, beat in:

2 large eggs

Stir in the dry ingredients until cookies are well blended. Form cookies into balls (about 1 1/4 inch), roll in cinnamon & sugar mixture and place on parchment lined baking sheet, about 2 1/2 inches apart. Give them LOTS of space as they do spread.

Bake one sheet of cookies at a time.

Bake for 12-14 minutes, just until very lightly browned at the edges. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before removing and placing on a cooling rack.

I put these ones too close together, and they kind of all ran into each other ….. I might fail shape class but they were still delicious.

Our friend Heather makes the most beautiful cookies, they are seriously works of art. Needless to say, when struggling with trying to find a recipe, I turned to her. She provided this one, with the news that it came from Joy of Cooking!

Heather’s daughter Emily will no doubt be as skilled with cookies as Heather is.

nts

Baking with my girls is the best – they are getting so good at measuring – love Stella’s attention to the scale to make sure all the cookies are the same size. (no, you don’t need to do that, but it sure kept her busy)

nts

Really, it doesn’t seem that long ago I was baking with these two little cuties. Now they have little cuties of their own, and I’m baking with the next generation too.

Candy Cane Sugar Cookies

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Chatty Kathy

Just in time for Christmas! I bought a small bag of crushed candy canes at Bulk Barn, probably about $2.00 worth …. thinking it would be great for decorating the sugar cookies we make every year. Well, Sloan had a different idea and decided they should go in the cookies, so that’s what we did. What a hit!

3/4 cup soft butter
1 cup white sugar
2 beaten eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup crushed candy canes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream together butter and sugar. When light and fluffy add in eggs and vanilla and beat until creamy and smooth.

Sift dry ingredients together and stir into butter mixture. It will be a stiff mixture, so you may end up using your hands, we usually do.

Last, stir in the crushed candy cane.

Knead lightly until you have a workable dough, then cover tightly and put in the fridge for at least an hour. (you can do this days ahead or even freeze it at this stage)

Roll out dough on lightly floured board and cut into desired shapes.

We always decorate our cookies before baking them, in place of the added sugar you get with decorating with icing.

I used to use raw egg, but find I get better results using evaporated milk and gel food colouring. Just put a little milk in a cup and stir in enough food colouring to get the colour you want.

Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes, watching carefully – every oven is different.

Get your kids involved! Sloan is 9 and has been rolling and cutting dough for years now.

So many fun sugars and sprinkles available now for decorating the tops.

We do a cooking class on Fridays – these four work so well together, and we have a great time with Pearl and Leo joining Sloan and Stella.

Each of the kids made their own dough & we baked up two batches – each family got to take one batch home for baking another day.

Pearl has this tray ready to go in the oven, love all the vibrant colors.

The most important part is taste testing ….

Stay tuned – more cooking classes to come!

Gram’s Shortbread Cookies

Posted on January 12, 2019 by Chatty Kathy

Sprinkle with a little coloured sugar, or mini decorations, to fit the season, but don’t overload these delicate little gems. They really don’t need much of anything.

This is an age old recipe, probably handed down for generations, and all from a box of cornstarch. I started looking for this recipe as a way to honour Gram Shirley Goldie, and posting it today, on the first anniversary of her passing, seems fitting. What I didn’t expect in my search through recipes to find her special recipe, is that it was also my mom’s recipe, another much loved and very much missed Gram. Our very dear Auntie Elsie used the same recipe. This year when I made the cookies, I felt the need to work the dough by hand, no mixer needed here. As I watched my hands in the dough, I saw the hands of my mother. I saw the hands of my mother in law Shirley, and I saw Auntie Elsie’s hands. I’m posting the recipe to honour them all, and in the hopes that for generations to come, this will be the “go to” Christmas shortbread recipe.

1 cup Canada corn starch (really, you can use any corn starch)
1 cup icing sugar
2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups butter (softened)

Sift cornstarch, flour & icing sugar together. Use your fingers and work in the butter until a soft dough is formed.

Maybe it was the Christmas season, but I found myself lost in watching my hands and thinking of the hands that taught me so much in the kitchen.

Once the dough is held together nicely it should be soft and supple. Either put in the fridge to rest at this point, or carry on with simple dough balls.

Shape into 1 inch balls and place on an uncreased cookie sheet. Flatten lightly with a fork in a crosshatch pattern.

shortbread 3

Bake the cookies at 325 for 10 min or so – watch them, every oven is different. Remove them the minute they show any colour. They are very soft when they come out, so I recommend allowing them to cool on the pan so they don’t break.

It is possible to allow the dough to set up in the fridge after forming it into a ball, and use it to roll out and cut shapes. This is a pretty delicate dough though, so don’t expect it to be as easy as sugar cookie dough.

How easy is this?

Fresh Cranberry Lemon Drop Cookies

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Chatty Kathy

These buttery little morsels are a great combination of shortbread richness with the tart hint of cranberry and lemon. When I had the first one I thought …. Hmmmm, okay, they are good but maybe not my favourite cookie – however, next thing I knew I was reaching for a second cookie and now I just can’t stop.

Cranberry Lemon cookies 1

INGREDIENTS

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup white sugar
2 Tbsp lemon zest
1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup fresh cranberries, diced finely

LEMON GLAZE

1/3 cup powdered icing sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice

In a medium size bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl rub the lemon zest into the sugar until moist and fragrant. Add the butter to the lemon sugar and beat until light and fluffy, go for at least 3-5 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla, mixing until smooth and creamy.

Add the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Fold in the cranberries by hand.

Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Gently form the dough into small balls and bake for 13-15 minutes on parchment lined cookie sheets. They spread out a little but not too much so you can put quite a few on each cookie sheet.

Diced fresh cranberries give these little lemon balls a pretty pop of colour.

Let cookies cool slightly before moving them to a rack to cool completely.

To make the glaze, mix the powdered sugar and lemon juice together and drizzle over completely cooled cookies. I used a pastry brush for this step to allow the whole top to get a shiny finish. Watch your glaze mixture carefully, you just want it loose enough to brush or drizzle with either clumping or just running off the cookie.

Orange Gingerbread Cookies

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Chatty Kathy

The first time I tasted these orange ginger cookies, I knew we needed the recipe! Thanks Courtney for supplying that courtesy of Nana Patti Collins ….. just wait until you try these.

Orange Ginger 1

Preheat oven to 365 F.

1 cup soft butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
4 tsp orange peel
2 tbsp corn syrup
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cloves

Cream butter & sugar until light and fluffy, add egg, orange peel & corn syrup.

Sift dry ingredients together and add gradually to creamed mixture.

Orange Ginger 2

Wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Orange Ginger 3

Roll between sheets of parchment paper (to 1/4″ thickness”) and cut. (or form into a log and chill to slice and bake) These cookies do spread out quite a bit so leave lots of room between each one.

Bake at 365 for 9 minutes.

Oatmeal Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Chatty Kathy

I think these might be my new favourite cookie. I usually go for a crisper cookie, but these are soft and chewy and absolutely delicious.

Deliciously soft and chewy

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup quick rolled oats
1/2 cup fine coconut flakes
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup dark chocolate
(We really like a fine bit of chocolate throughout, so we grated it, but if you like it a bit chunkier, just roughly chop it)
1 cup pecans, chopped
large flake sea salt for garnish

Preheat the oven to 350

Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl … Flour, oats, coconut, baking powder, cinnamon and kosher salt. Stir well to combine.

In large mixing bowl cream butter with the 2 sugars. When this is light and fluffy add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla.

Add the dry mixture to the egg mixture until well combined. Stir in pecans and chocolate.

Roll into 2″ balls and place on cookie sheet, about 2″ apart. Gently press down slightly.

Bake at 350 for 13-15 minutes.

The minute they come out of the oven, quickly toss on a bit of sea salt for garnish.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Oatmeal Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Chatty Kathy

1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups rolled (old-fashioned) oats
½ cup coarsely chopped pecans (I like to lightly toast & cool them first)
½ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup coconut flakes
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup lightly packed light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
¼ cup maple syrup (can sub honey)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Set 2 racks in the middle and upper thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, oats, pecans, cranberries and coconut flakes together with a whisk or fork.
In a large bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together for 30 seconds until blended. Beat in the egg until smooth and barely fluffy. With mixer running on medium high, drizzle in the maple syrup, and vanilla until incorporated. Turn the mixer down to its lowest setting and gradually add the flour-oatmeal mixture
Drop walnut-sized balls of dough onto a nonstick or parchment-lined cookie sheet at 3-inch intervals. With moistened fingers, flatten and round out the cookies a little. Bake for 10 minutes, turning the pan once for even baking, then bake approximately another 7-10 minutes. They will not spread out or change in shape …
The cookies are done when they are lightly browned on top. Set the cookie sheets on a rack to cool.

Breakfast Cookies

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Chatty Kathy

1 ¼ cup flour (or any combination of whole wheat and white flours)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
2 TBSP unsalted butter
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 egg
1 medium carrot, grated
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup coconut
1/3 cup raisins, or any dried fruit
1/3 cup walnut pieces, lightly toasted in a dry skillet for 2 minutes, until fragrant and chopped (or any nut – chopped and toasted)

Place rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Whisk together flours, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Combine butter, oil and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high speed, scraping down sides if necessary, until sugars have dissolved and mixture is light in color, about 1 minute. Add egg, carrot, and vanilla and beat an additional 30 seconds. Add flour mixture and beat an additional 30 seconds. Add oats, coconut, raisins and walnuts and mix over low speed just until incorporated. Dough will be slightly sticky and less cohesive than traditional cookie dough. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Use a tsp to drop cookie batter on cookie sheet, or if you prefer a large cookie use a tablespoon between 3 to 4 tablespoons of batter, using the tsp you will get about 30-32 cookies. Repeat with remaining batter, leaving about 3 inches between cookies. Wet hands and use palm of hand to flatten cookies until about 1/4-inch thick. These cookies will not spread out, nor change shape so if you want a perfect cookie, create that shape before you bake it.

Bake for 12 minutes, until cookies are fragrant but still soft. Let cookies cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

This is a great recipe to adapt to your own preferences – I used blueberry craisins in my latest version, and will try adding zucchini next time ….

Mexican Chocolate Snow Caps

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

These delicious little bites were waiting for Hayley, Sloan, Stella and I when we arrived at big sister Meghan’s house – you can’t have just one! She made them as peppermint, and they are fabulous. Gluten free too!

8 oz semi sweet chocolate, chopped

2 tbsp butter

1 1/4 cup ground almonds

1/4 tsp salt

2 large eggs (room temperature)

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tsp ancho chile powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Sifted icing sugar to roll cookies

In a heatproof bowl (over pan of gently simmering water) melt chocolate and butter, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in almonds and salt.

in a mixing bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until pale and thickened, about 2 minutes. Add in chocolate mixture and spices. Fold until well blended. Cover and put in the fridge until very firm – about 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Form dough into 1 1/4″ balls. Roll balls in icing sugar.

Place 2″ apart on trays. Bake until puffed, starting to crack on top and the edges are firm – about 12 minutes.

So easy to switch these up and make them into Peppermint Caps – substitute the chile powder and cinnamon for 1 tsp peppermint extract.

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