Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have two words for you:

browned butter

It is the most amazing thing known to mankind. Just the aroma alone made me want to eat all the dough before I baked these cookies. If you have never tried it, I strongly urge you to – and these cookies are the perfect chance to try it (come on, who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies!)

I have tried a lot of chocolate chip cookie recipes, and this one is by far my favorite – they are slightly crispy on the outside, but deliciously chewy on the inside and the browned butter give them a slight toffee flavor. I chose to leave out the nuts in my cookies (they are like speed bumps in desserts, they keep me from the good stuff) but if you like them, then by all means add them. It may seem like a lot of extra steps to make such a regular cookie, but trust me, they are all worth it!

Also…I highly recommend not using a nonstick pan to make the browned butter – I have tried it before another time while trying to brown butter and it was a disaster. So be safe and use a stainless pan :)

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Printable Recipe

*Note* Avoid using a nonstick skillet to brown the butter; the dark color of the nonstick coating makes it difficult to gauge when the butter is browned. Use fresh, moist brown sugar instead of hardened brown sugar, which will make the cookies dry. This recipe works with light brown sugar, but the cookies will be less full-flavored. This recipe makes about 16 cookies.

Ingredients:

1 ¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour (8 3/4 ounces)

½ teaspoon baking soda

14 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 3/4 sticks)

½ cup granulated sugar (3 1/2 ounces)

¾ cups packed dark brown sugar (5 1/4 ounces) (see note)

1 teaspoon table salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1 ¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks

¾ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted (optional)

 

Directions:

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large (18- by 12-inch) baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.

 

Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using heatproof spatula, transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.

 

Add both sugars, salt, and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth, and shiny. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (if using), giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.

 

Divide dough into 16 portions, each about 3 tablespoons (or use #24 cookie scoop). Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets, 8 dough balls per sheet. (Smaller baking sheets can be used, but will require 3 batches.)

 

Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10 to 14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving.

Recipe from Cooks Illustrated