food
Baking: 6 Tips for Making the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
mom • meal time • recipes • food
Baking—Would you consider chocolate chip cookies controversial? Many regard them as the Holy Grail of baking. Do a quick Google search and you will get not only hundreds of recipes but also tons of articles on the topic. There are just about as many ways to make chocolate chip cookies as there are people.
Now it’s easy enough to buy ready-made chocolate chip cookies from your local supermarket. Or if you want the “homemade feel” without the “homemade fuss”, grab a log of refrigerated cookie dough, slice, bake, and voila!
But few things come close to the satisfaction of a homemade chocolate chip cookie just out of the oven. That first bite, while it’s still warm and gooey, is pure nirvana. And even after they have cooled and sat in the cookie jar for a day or two, they are still pretty heavenly.
The next time you have a chocolate chip cookie craving, skip the ready-made stuff and give the following tips for making your own at home a try.
Tips for Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies
Use chopped premium dark (60%) chocolate instead of bagged chips.
While convenient, the chocolate chips you find in the baking aisle have stabilizers that help them keep their form. Take the extra few minutes to chop a bar of chocolate. The result will be a cookie with chocolate that will melt better for the ultimate gooey factor.
Don’t be afraid to add other flavorings, like citrus zest or nuts.
Who says there is only room for chocolate? Be your own chef. Some of my favorite recipes include walnuts, coconut and even orange zest.
Refrigerate your dough before baking.
Similar to how we marinate meats and other foods before cooking, refrigerating your cookie dough helps its flavors develop. Using cold dough also keeps the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
Portion out dough with a small ice cream scoop.
This will ensure that all the cookies are the same size and bake evenly.
Rotate your baking sheet half way through baking.
Every oven is different and many tend to be warmer in the back. Rotating your baking sheet half-way through the baking time will help your cookies bake evenly and keep them from burning.
Season with salt.
Yes, we are still talking about cookies. Think of this as ying and yang. Sweet treats need a little salt to help them taste better, which is why most baking recipes always include salt in the ingredient list. With chocolate, a little extra sprinkle of sea salt as soon as they come out of the oven will boost the chocolate flavor.
What is your favorite type of cookie? What is the best tip you know when it comes to baking cookies?
Eliana Ramos is living the sweet life as author of A Chica Bakes – a blog that explores her baking adventures sprinkled with a little bit of life and Latin Flair. A self-taught baker, Eliana loves sharing tips and tricks to help her readers live the sweet life too. You can find her online at A Chica Bakes and @AChicaBakes.
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