Epic Cookie Battle #5

The last batch of cookies that I made for the Epic Cookie Battle was from the Nestle Toll House recipe.  These cookies were smaller in size than some of the other ones that I have made, and the recipe was pretty basic.  They are really good cookies, which means that deciding on a favourite is going to be even more difficult than I expected it to be. I have enjoyed all of the cookies!

Nestle Toll House Inspired Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Adapted slightly from this recipe) Makes 12-15 smaller cookies

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 cup + 2 T flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream butter with the sugars.  Add vanilla and egg and mix.  In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients and add them to the wet, mixing until combined.  Stir in the chocolate until incorporated (or mix on low for about 10 seconds).  Bake for 9 minutes @375. 

 

 

 

Off to do some final taste testing!  It's a tough job, but someone has to do it!

What cookie from the epic cookie battle looks best to you? 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 (this post)
What do you have planned for the weekend?

Epic Cookie Battle #4

The fourth batch of cookies that I made in my epic cookie battle were from a New York Times recipe. 

These cookies were similar to the third batch I made, as both were adapted from a Jacques Torres recipe, although the measurements and instructions are different and they turned out differently as well. 

The cookie on the left is the recipe in this post, and the one on the right is from yesterday's post.

 

New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Slightly adapted from this recipe) - Makes 20 large cookies

1 1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 T sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups (minus 2 T) cake flour
1 2/3 cup bread flour
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 cups or so chocolate chips or chopped bittersweet chocolate

Cream butter and sugars together.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Sift dry ingredients and add, mixing until just combined.  Add chocolate and mix by hand or on low.  Form large balls of dough (like over-sized golf balls) and press down slightly.  Bake on a parchment lined sheet (4 per sheet only) for 16-18 minutes @ 350.

* The original recipe calls for chilling the dough, which I did, however I don't think I would do it again.  The balls were difficult to form as the dough was too cold, and I think chilling it make the cookies crumblier than they would have been otherwise.

 

 

 

The cookies turned came out very large and quite nice looking, but a little crumbly on the bottom.  I didn't like the crumbliness, but others loved it, so I suppose it is a personal preference thing.

The inside was moist and chocolaty.  Next time I would use chopped chocolate as it melts better than chocolate chips and would be fantastic in this cookie.

The final chocolate chip cookie in my Epic Cookie Battle will make it's appearance tomorrow!

Do you use chocolate chips or chunks of chocolate in your cookies?
How is your week going so far?

Epic Cookie Battle #3

The third chocolate chip cookie recipe in my epic cookie battle is awesome!  The cookies turned out beautifully, not ugly like the last ones.  They are HUGE!

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Adapted from: Tender Crumb) Makes 8 Giant Cookies

1/2 cup unsalted butter
Just under 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup + 1 T light brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup + 1.5 tsp pastry flour
3/4 cup bread flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup - 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Cream together the butter and sugars.  Add the egg and vanilla, mix.  Add all the dry ingredients except chips and mix just until combined.  Add the chocolate chips and mix on low or by hand until incorporated.  Form into 8 large balls and flatten slightly.  Bake on parchment lined pans for 16 minutes @ 350.

 

 

 

 

I couldn't finish a whole one, so I nibbled on a quarter of it and left the rest in the container.  Come over and you're bound to find partially eaten baked goods around the house :-) 

Waaaaaant some?

Epic Cookie Battle #2

If you missed my last post, I am having a chocolate chip cookie battle to see which of five cookie recipes is the best.  

When I made these cookies from Bon Appetit, they were so ugly looking that I thought I had ruined them.

Then, I looked back at the original picture and realized that, nope, I didn't ruin them ... they are supposed to be ugly.

I took a bite and came to the realization that ugly can be very, very tasty.  They are crisp on the outside, but soft in the middle - a very pleasing texture.

Crisp and Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Adapted slightly from: Bon Appetit)

3/4 cup unsalted butter

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup + 2 T flour

3/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream the butter with both sugars.  Add the egg and vanilla, mix.  Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder and add to the wet ingredients.  Mix on low until just combined.  Add the chocolate chips and mix on low until incorporated.  Bake 6-8 minutes @ 425.

Choosing a winning recipe in this battle is going to be difficult.  Especially when you see what I have for you tomorrow ...

Do you make anything that is ugly but tastes ohhhh so good?