Monday, March 14, 2011

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies With a Kick

So, my latest order from King Arthur Flour arrived last week and I finally got to put one of my new ingredients to good use.  I've had my Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe for forever... they are a staple in our house.  But, everyone has their own version of chocolate chip cookies, so I never posted mine.

This weekend, I made them again, with a bit of a new ingredient and wowie were they yummy!  As you can see from the decadent photos, the cookies are big and perfect for ice cream cookie sammies.  I hope you like them as much as we do!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies With a Kick!

Note:  This is a BIG batch of cookies to match my large KitchenAid mixer.  I typically bake half of the dough and freeze the rest for later to avoid having stale cookies.  Or, you can halve the recipe if you prefer.
Makes about 6 1/2 dozen 3 inch cookies

Ingredients:
  • 1 pound (4 sticks) of unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. plus 1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract (yeah, it's a lot!)
  • 4 Large Eggs
  • 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 3 cups chocolate chips
  • 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped (optional - but if you do not use, do not increase choc. chips)
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl, sift flour, espresso powder, salt and baking soda and set aside.
  3. In stand mixer, combine butter and sugars until fluffy.
  4. Add vanilla and combine.  Add eggs and combine.
  5. Add flour mixture in two parts to avoid flour/dust cloud and combine.
  6. Add chocolate chips and pecans until just combined.
  7. Take heaping tablespoons and plop on cookie sheets about 3 inches apart.
  8. If immediately making ice cream sammies (which is pretty darn tasty I must say), take out ice cream.
  9. Place cookies in the oven for 6 minutes, turn cookie sheets and bake 5 additional minutes.
  10. Let cookies cool 1-2 minutes.  (If not continuing on, place cookies on cooling rack and repeat steps 1-10)
  11. Choose two similarly sized cookies to make ice cream sandwiches.  Place cookie face-side down, add ice cream, add 2nd cookie face-side up taking care not to break cookie.  Listen to the oooh's and aaah's of your dessert loving recipients and enjoy!