Not Another Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Not Another Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

While one of the contractors called these cookies “the devil” because they were so addictive, do you really need the recipe?

I’m serious. I Googled “chocolate chip cookie recipe” (in quotes) and got 168,000 hits. Remove the quotes and the number jumps to 770,000.  How can I compete with numbers like that? I can’t. And I really wonder if I should.

This delicious but traditional recipe uses butter, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, flour, baking soda, vanilla, semi-sweet chocolate chips and walnuts.  Unless you’re vegan or on a gluten-free diet, 96.42% of your standard chocolate chip cookie recipes use these ingredients. Sure you can substitute different nuts, alter the type of chips or get fancy by adding orange rind. But have you ever met an honest-to-goodness chocolate chip cookie recipe you didn’t like?

There’s a version floating about the Internet where you leave the cookie dough in your fridge for 3 days before baking. Apparently it rewards the patient baker with purified karma and an out-of-body experience. While I’m tempted to try this, I know I’m incapable of waiting 3 minutes let alone 3 days for cookies, and fear they really will be that good. And then where would I be?

Instead of posting a recipe today, I’m going to hand to blog over to you. Post a link to the best chocolate chip cookie on the web and tell me what makes it different or why you like it best. Or if you feel this topic has been exhausted, post a link to the cookie that should take its place. In a couple of weeks, when the reno is over, I’ll use the recipe from most convincing comment as my inaugural recipe for the new oven.

28 Comments
  • Cheryl Arkison
    Posted at 15:20h, 16 March

    I would love to say that I have the best recipe, but frankly it isn’t my own. Well, I have two. One I know I got from Best of Bridge:
    http://naptimequilter.blogspot.com/2007/09/cookie-monster.html
    It is my go too lazy cookie.
    And the other one is actually Julie Van Rosendaal’s cookie, in any format. It just works so well, is low fat but you wouldn’t know it, and makes the most excellent cookie dough.
    http://dinnerwithjulie.com/2009/04/18/maple-chocolate-chip-cookies/
    .-= Cheryl Arkison´s last blog ..Bean Burgers Yum! =-.

  • Suzy
    Posted at 16:40h, 16 March

    This is my version of the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. Trust me, it’s the best. I won a blue ribbon at the County Fair when I was a kid with this!

    Enjoy

    http://www.suzysgoodies.com/post/Classic-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies.aspx

  • Judith Rutty Godfrey
    Posted at 17:27h, 16 March

    I’m with Suzy. That is EXACTLY the same recipe I have been using for more years than I want to talk about. No others can rival the super crunchy outside and the delicious taste and texture of a brown sugary inside. Oh, and did I mention butter? What’s not to like about that? Notice–no nuts allowed!

  • Anh
    Posted at 18:48h, 16 March

    That’s it. I am making some of these this weekend. Suzi, thanks for the recipe~!

  • Robin Smart
    Posted at 22:13h, 16 March

    Mom always said to feed your workmen. If you fed me these I would do the reno myself, and pay you. They are like my recipe (I got from Leslie C.), but we too leave out the nuts. Again, by the time I get there Friday will there be any left??? I thought not.
    Love,
    Robin

  • Suzy
    Posted at 09:22h, 17 March

    I’m with you…no nuts in my cookies!!!

  • Leslie
    Posted at 13:47h, 17 March

    It must be a choc. chip cookie day. I just made 2 batches of Ad Hoc cookies for the utility and tree workers that are trying to get power back to all of us that have lost it in Southern CT. I ate so much cookie dough that I can’t jusge these cookies right now. I guess my fav recipe is which ever cookie I happen to be eating at the moment.

    http://www.foodgal.com/2009/06/tantalizing-preview-ad-hoc-chocolate-chip-cookie-recipe-by-thomas-keller/

  • Cari Snell
    Posted at 19:39h, 17 March

    Oh Charmian! You can never have too many chocolate chip cookie recipes! That’s like saying you have too many different bottles of wine to choose from…

    While I do have a great choc chip cookie recipe from my childhood years (http://www.caricooks.com/2010/01/chocolate-chip-cookies.html) I am going to give you this as well. The best, and I mean THE BEST, oatmeal cookie recipe that has ever passed my lips. These suckers are amazing!!! They’re so good, they’re famous!!http://www.canigettherecipe.com/2010/02/week-7-vol-ii-february-5-2010.html
    .-= Cari Snell´s last blog ..Week 11, Vol II, March 12, 2010 =-.

  • Sophie
    Posted at 13:56h, 18 March

    Hello my friend!

    these cooikies look so good,…so tasty & lovely!!

    Yummie with a fresh cup of coffee latte!

  • Dana McCauley
    Posted at 11:48h, 19 March

    You always need another chocolate chip cookie recipe! I’m actually surprised that you didn’t find more entries when you did your internet search. I would have guessed millions.

    One time I found online a fantastic chart that showed 10 or 12 different chocolate chip cookie recipes, each with slightly different proportions. Wish I had saved it now…

  • Peter
    Posted at 10:27h, 29 March

    See this page for a CC cookie bakeoff to find best of a dozen or so cookies:

    http://www.TheGrinningGourmet.com

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 11:35h, 31 March

    @Peter, thanks so much! I’ve read the results and am now tempted to try the Torres. I had been leaning toward Alton Brown but this one sounds wonderful, too!

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 11:37h, 31 March

    @Dana McCauley, I was a bit surprised the number wasn’t over a million, but than again, it was pretty impressive given the narrow search term. Imagine if I’d added the word “nuts”?

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 11:37h, 31 March

    @Robin Smart, of course there are none left. But I’ll make more.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 11:38h, 31 March

    @Leslie, thanks for the link. I must confess I am a batter nibbler, too. So much so I’m surprised there;s any dough left to bake.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 11:39h, 31 March

    @Cari Snell, my family prefers oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to the regular kind, so thanks for the extra link. I’ll make these for them for sure!!

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 11:40h, 31 March

    @Sophie, a fresh latte goes with almost anything, but chocolate cookies are a perfect match. Good idea! I’ll make sure I have fresh beans and lots of milk on hand when I start baking.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 11:45h, 31 March

    @Suzy, how’d I miss the comment? A blue ribbon! I gotta try these! Thanks so much for the link.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 11:47h, 31 March

    @Suzy, no nuts? Really? I adore walnuts or pecans in mine. However, it’s an easy fix. Make chocolate chip only for half a batch and toss in nuts with the second. Wish all things in life had such a simple solution!

  • Peter
    Posted at 13:24h, 30 April

    I’ve tried the Alton Brown (chewy) and the Cook Illustrated Thick and Chewy and they were both very ordinary. The Torres and the David Lebovitch are much tastier. I want to try the Keller next. If you find anything really special, please let me know.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 12:24h, 04 May

    @Peter, thanks for the heads up. I tried the Alton Brown recipe and found it a bit cake-like. Nice enough but it didn’t drop me to my knees.

    I love David Lebovitz and am tempted by the Torres version. Right now I’m thinking that keeping it simple is best. What do you do with that extra egg white? And is bread flour really necessary? My pantry is currently non-existent so I’m not thrilled to find special requirement.

    I’ll keep you posted.

  • Peter
    Posted at 13:27h, 04 May

    Charmian,

    I’m not big on the two flour system either. I tried all purpose to see if it changed the cookie much but made a mistake when I halved the recipe and so I used too much butter. I may try again sometime.

    The Lebovitz is really great and simple, and has a really nice chew.

    Will let you know if I ever find a CC cookie that drop me on my knees.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 16:06h, 04 May

    I’m a big fan of a chewy cookie so will try David Lebovitz’s next. Thanks for that note.

    Maybe by the time this reno is over I’ll have found the ultimate cookie? Or will I have gained 5 pounds for nothing?

  • Peter
    Posted at 15:20h, 23 June

    It’s not for nothing,

    btw, my recipe iPhone / iPod Touch App is out, checkout http://www.RareTreatsApp.com when you have a minute.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 10:28h, 28 June

    No cookie research is ever wasted! I’m hoping to do more experiments when the humidity dies down.

  • Kristin Thomas
    Posted at 21:22h, 04 May

    This is our favorite go to recipe~ Num
    Kid’s Fav Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

    1 cup butter
    1 cup sugar
    1 cup brown sugar
    2 eggs
    1 Tbsp vanilla
    2 cups flour
    2 1/2 cups oatmeal flour (put oats in blender or processor)
    1/2 tsp salt
    1 tsp baking powder
    1 tsp baking soda
    2 cups mini choc chips ( i used cut up Reeses PB eggs for this last batch and my son Alex said they were awesome)
    Bake at 350 for 8-11 minutes – until just light brown on the bottom – Let cool on pan and move to cooling rack.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 09:01h, 05 May

    Oatmeal and chocolate is one of those combinations I never get tired of. Processing the oatmeal is a neat trick. Can you leave some flakes whole for the crunch? Thanks for sharing your recipe. I am now craving cookies.

  • Kristin Thomas
    Posted at 17:26h, 05 May

    yes! i leave it sort of flaky and always used old fashioned oats – not the quick oats. enjoy!