Chocolate Chip Cookies

One of the most simple pleasures in life, the route of so many childhood songs, “who took the cookie from the co-co-cookie jar” and my favorite guilty pleasure, chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate chip cookies are simple, sweet and most likely one of the first recipes beginner bakers attempt. There’s nothing better than a warm chocolate chip cookie, which is probably the reason parents still drag on the tradition of leaving cookies for Santa, which we all know means they pig out after wrapping presents and begging their bratty kids to go to bed.

For a chocolate chip cookie lover like myself, there is nothing worse than shoving 2 cookies in your mouth at a party and excusing yourself to the bathroom to spit them in the trash. Not only is the excitement of this delectable treat crushed, but it is also extremely awkward. What is more awkward than that? I’ll tell you what’s more awkward than eating a bad cookie, serving a bad cookie.To save myself and others from those gut wrenching disappointments and awkward moments I have created the guide to the perfect chocolate cookie.

One of the biggest issues with chocolate chip cookies is the fact that most women spend the 13 minutes it takes to cook them fighting with their husbands or kids instead of watching the clock. No, stop that! Your partner is going to shut their mouth the second those cookies come out of the oven, so don’t waste your time. Instead of fighting, watch the clock. A gooey cookie should always be your goal, take the cookies out of the oven about 4 minutes before the timer goes off. Taking the cookies out of the oven early ensures that they do not overcook, because the pan is still hot, the cookies will continue to cook outside the oven so by taking them out early you are making sure they do not overcook.

Before you can even bake the cookies you must have the perfect butter. Not only does the butter add moisture to the cookies but it also gives texture and volume to the cookies. The first mistake made is using unsalted butter…first of all why? Using unsalted butter for anything is first of all wrong and second of all takes all the fun out of the dish. If the food is not going to threaten a heart attack, its boring. The second mistake is leaving it solid or melting it. In order for a soft but stable cookie, melt the butter half way in the oven while it is preheating.

The heart and soul of the chocolate chip cookies is obviously the chocolate chips. The chocolate chips are preference based but if your preferences are catastrophic ask your kids because if your baking is really this bad they have definitely gone elsewhere for a sweet treat. If your kids for some reason are uncultured in chocolate (weird) than using chocolate chunks can give a different texture and originality to your cookie. Another chocolate trick is using two types of chips or even peanut butter chips to animate your dish.

If you have made it this far and taken your cookies out early, halfway melted your butter, and switched up your chips and your cookies still manage to suck, I have one more tip for you. Buy them at the grocery store.