Monday, May 24, 2010

Alton Browns Chocolate Chip Cookies - The Chewy


Whoo hoo! Another chocolate chip cookie recipe. I feel like I cannot make the same recipe twice because then the effort would be a waste because I cannot post it again on my blog. So I'm constantly on the lookout for new chocolate chip cookie recipes. They really all start looking the same. I've lost track of which recipes are the best or what method works better than another. I actually like them all. I like thick, thin, crunchy, chewy, doughy, cakey, milk chocolate, semi sweet...just as long as they don't include nuts.
This recipe is from the Food Network and it's Alton Brown's chewy version. The flour used in this recipe is all bread flour. I could really tell a difference in the consistency of the dough. It seemed more elastic like. I did make 2 changes in this recipe, although minor, I changed the oven temp to 350 instead of 375 and I did not chill the dough - I didn't have time. But they came out wonderful. I used a really small scoop and so it made many many cookies and the cookies baked quickly. They are pop in your mouth size. The cookies definitely are chewy, not even the edges are crunchy on them. This recipe has near perfect reviews on the Food Network website. It definitely has a following. One of the unique methods in this recipe is that it starts with melted butter rather than just softened. That just makes the mixing of all the ingredients so very easy & quick. Everything incorporates so smoothly.




I've heard that Whole Foods brand of chocolate chips are excellent and very highly rated. They surprisingly were not expensive. $2.00 a bag. The chips were smaller than Nestle semi sweet and had a nice dark flavor. They were good but I don't often go to Whole Foods (aka Whole Paycheck) so I don't know how often I will seek these out. I will probably stick with my Guittard.









The Chewy

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Ingredients
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 2 1/4 cups bread flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.

Pour the melted butter in the mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Chill the dough, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

2 comments:

Katherine said...

I've heard non-stop talk about these cookies, looks like they live up to their reputation!

~ Chef Louise said...

Girl, 3 boys? Where do you find the time to blog so much... I get the cooking part- gotta cook everyday but blogging? I can't imagine giving up my tried and true recipe for choc chip cookies- I can't try another...