Tuesday, February 09, 2016

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies


These are my new favorite chocolate chip cookies.  I decided that I liked them better than my own chocolate chip cookie recipe.  My kids don't agree and tell me they still like mine best.  I love the crunch of this cookie - no chewy factor. It has a good dose of chocolate provided by a combination of chopped chocolate and chocolate chips.  The make-ahead slice & bake option is very nice.

Double Chocolate Chip Cookie
adapted from the Dining & Wine section of the New York Times, June 18, 2013

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda 
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla 
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
8 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Sift together flour and baking soda and set aside. In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl and paddle. Add sugar, brown sugar and salt. Continue creaming mixture on medium speed until it is smooth and lump free, about 1 minute. Stop mixer and scrape down sides of bowl and paddle.
Add egg and vanilla and beat on low speed for 15-30 seconds, or until they are fully incorporated. Do not over-beat. Scrape down sides of bowl and paddle.
On low speed, add sifted flour mixture. Beat slowly until all of the flour is incorporated. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add chocolate chunks and chocolate chips and mix in.
Heat oven to 350 degrees with the rack positioned in the lower third of the oven. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Spoon heaping teaspoons of dough 2 inches apart onto baking sheets. If not baking right away, remove small handfuls or spoonfuls of dough from mixer and plop them down on the middle of a sheet of parchment or wax paper, creating a log about 1 1/2 inches wide and 12 inches long. Fold parchment over cookie log. Chill for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight. Using a serrated knife, slice chilled dough into 1/3-inch-thick rounds and place them 2 inches apart, in staggered rows, on parchment-lined sheets and proceed. (Dough will keep, tightly wrapped, in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw frozen dough at room temperature for 30 minutes before slicing.)
Bake one sheet at a time, middle of the oven, for 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned, rotating the baking sheet front to back halfway through. Remove from heat and slide parchment off baking sheet and onto counter. Allow cookies to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. They will keep for up to 3 days at room temperature.