The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Out There

Ahhh, the chocolate chip cookie. The all-time american favorite. No matter who you are, you probably have eaten a chocolate chip cookie (even the raw cookie dough) once in your lifetime, right? I mean, who can resist? It's an irresistible, sweet vanilla flavored batter, that is enhanced by the addition of CHOCOLATE!! My fav!! From dark, to milk, to even white chocolate, it all seems to work in a chocolate chip cookie. Whatever your prefer, the vanilla flavored batter is just a vehicle for the chocolate. Chocolate chip cookies are so popular today that a variety of brands compete with their own version of a chocolate chip cookie. However, none of those pre-packaged cookies compare to a chocolate chip cookie that is made from scratch with the best ingredients you can find. Not even pre-made cookie dough in the refrigerator section of your grocery store can compare. There's just something about starting out with various ingredients, mixing them together and creating a cookie you can call your own and have the knowledge of what exactly is in it.

There are many recipes for a chocolate chip cookie and I believe that I have the best one. I have tweaked my recipe so much that I believe it is definitely the best chocolate chip cookie out there. In a chocolate chip cookie, I look for a nice chew, a cookie that has some height to it, the right amount of sweetness and vanilla flavor in the batter and just enough chocolate to enhance the cookie and bring it to the next level without overpowering the cookie to the point where I think I'm eating a chocolate bar instead of a cookie. I first started off with a recipe from Tyler Florence that I used for 4 years. However, there was something off about them. It didn't have that chewy aspect that I desired in a cookie. They were more "cake-like" rather than "cookie-like". They did have a nice flavor though. Then about 2 years ago, I discovered an even better recipe that I now have been using. With this recipe, I have adapted it by changing the measurements of flour, sugar and vanilla so now it's something that I'm proud to give to people. These cookies, have that height, the chew, the flavor and the right amount of chocolate to make what I think is the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie. That's why mine are the best :) I have to say, I kind of had to skimp on the chocolate since I ran out X). They still tasted great nonetheless.

If you would like to try the cookie recipe of Tyler Florence, here it is:

My Big, Fat Chocolate Chip Cookie
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 (8-ounce) block dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.

Place the butter, sugar, and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer; cream together on medium speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the vanilla and eggs. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and continue to mix until a smooth batter forms. Turn off the mixer and fold in the chocolate chunks using the spatula.

To form the cookies, scoop about 1/4 cup of cookie dough into your hands and roll it around into a ball; place them about 3-inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets; you should get about 4 cookies on each pan. Press down the tops of the dough slightly and bake until the cookies are light brown, 12 minutes for chewy cookies, or about 15 minutes for crispy cookies.

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough/cookie sheets.

Makes 1 dozen (5-inch) cookies

As for my own recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies, that will remain a secret until that day when I become famous :P As for now, enjoy the cookie of Tyler Florence because that was the first ever recipe I used and the very first recipe that started off my baking passion.


-Aaron John
My Food Outings: AJ's Food Adventure
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