Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Chocolate Chunk Cookies (0010) by Meeta K. Wolff  

Let’s put aside the carrot and celery sticks, brussel sprouts and the cranberry juice for a moment. Human misery has never been cheered up with a plate of raw vegetables. No - true misery can only be cured by generous servings of sugar, chocolate, butter and a satisfaction that will never be found in anything really healthy.  

A handful of cookies and a glass of cold milk have got to be the most timeless treats ever. Comforting, fulfilling and just plain good, there is nothing better than dunking a good cookie into a tall glass of milk to achieve that perfect degree of sogginess. Of course, there is nothing more tragic than that cookie drifting to the bottom of the glass if held in the milk for just a second too long.

After a hard day at school or a tough day at work, both Soeren and I usually look forward to coming home and getting rid of the days discomfort with a generous serving of chocolate chip cookies, fresh and warm from the oven. We weigh flour, cube butter and chop chocolate, while we discuss “what was good and bad” in the day.

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The oven emits a cosy warmth with a sugary scent and soon the distress begins to dissolve. We hungrily grab the first of the warm cookies straight out of the oven, blowing impatiently to cool them enough to take the first big bite. Soft, chewy, chunky and the chocolate makes little streamers after that first bite. Wash it down a gulp of cold milk!

Sugar, chocolate and milk. Add to it a sympathetic hug, a few giggles over something silly, a few more cookies and soon the beastly day is a thing of the past. Gone and forgotten. Expelled to its proper place under the "not so important category" of human history.

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We like our cookies chunky, as coarse chunks of deep, dark chocolate delivers a more superior cookie compared to the inferior manufactured chip. We also like playing around adding peanut butter, macadamia nuts, or a handful dried cherries - but in the end we always come back to the pure and simple chocolate chunk cookies.

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A while back I happened to stumble over Signe’s (Scandilicious) Twitter quest for the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Always curious to hear what tips and tricks people suggest, I eavesdropped a little. Soon afterwards, Signe posted the results of her chocolate chip cookie quest. The journey took her through several books and tweets, allowing her to incorporate her research into the cookie experiments.

I love experiments and often spend hours in the kitchen working on recipes and ideas. Sometimes, however it’s nice to have someone else do the legwork! Thanks Sig!

The recipe below is adapted from Signe’s blog, the minor changes I made were using organic whole wheat flour, dark muscovado sugar and instead of vanilla extract, I scraped out a vanilla bean.

Recipe: Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Printable version of recipe here

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Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 300g whole-wheat flour
  • 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1/2- 3/4 tsp sea salt
  • 180g unsalted butter, melted
  • 200g dark brown muscovado sugar
  • 100g golden caster sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 vanilla bean, insides scraped
  • 150g dark chocolate, coarsely chopped into chunks

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees C. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment and set aside.

  2. In a medium bowl sieve the flour, bicarbonate of soda and sea salt together. Stir a few times to distribute the raising agent.

  3. Whisk together the melted butter with the sugars until creamy, then add the large egg, extra yolk and vanilla innards to the mixture. Whisk again and then add the flour. Continue whisking the mixture for a few minutes to stretch the gluten strands.

  4. Add the chocolate chips and fold in. The cookie dough should feel almost dry now and look like a solid lump. Make sure the chocolate chunks do not all cluster in one part of the dough.

  5. Using a ice cream scoop, scoop small chunks of dough on the baking sheets, spacing them about 5 cm apart. To be on the safe side, space them further than 5cm as the cookies have a tendency to merge together while baking.

  6. Bake on the upper-middle shelf of the oven for 15-18 minutes until the cookies are golden, the sides feel firm to the touch but the centre is still quite soft.

  7. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets (helps keep their chewy consistency) and then remove with a pallet knife or very flat spatula. Store in a cookie tin.

Notes: Opinion varies on whether to chill the dough first before baking or just spooning it on the baking sheets and baking. I do not usually chill my cookies as there is never the time to do so. If you do decide to cool them, place them in the refrigerator once you have scooped the cookies for about 30 minutes.

Verdict

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I am not preaching giving up crunchy vegetables for sugary cookies, but let’s face the truth - sometimes only a really good chocolate chunk cookie can be so truly gratifying.

The whole-wheat flour makes this slightly nuttier and provides a wonderful crispy exterior and a perfectly chewy center. The chocolate chunks are scattered liberally and are pure pleasure to bite into. This experiment passed the toughest of judges - the 8 year old gave it an all thumbs up.

Milk and cookies anyone? Which cookie makes you crumble?

Have a fantastic week and weekend folks - make sure it’s sweet, crumbly, chocolaty and always with a glass of cold milk!

Cookie craze on WFLH:

Sugar and Spice Cookies with Cardamom, Lavender, Pistachio and Sprinkles Almond and Pink Praline Spekulatius Milan Cookies

 


All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2011 Meeta Khurana Wolff unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

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48 comments:

  1. ahh !! choc chip are my fav , though these are similar too. love the old container you've used to keep the cookies :) its sweet that your son helps you out ! those little moments are the best. the cookies look huge :D

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  2. In love with those cookies and liking that look of light in the pictures.....making the pictures look different...

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  3. you know i'm a cookie girl. and *nothing* as you said, beats a classic chocolate chip cookie, especially soft and chewy (and no nuts ! i do like adding pretzels, but that's another story...). warm from the oven and with a tall glass of milk - there simply is no other way. oh wait, with ice cream too, yum ! looks like there's going to be some more cookie baking in zürich soon... thanks for the recipe, m !

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  4. OOh I so agree with you...nothing can melt my heart...except a dark chocolatey cookie warm from the oven...beautiful clicks Meeta..esp love the flowers ;-)

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  5. Very addictive and attractive cookies,feel like munching some..

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  6. Divine cookies! They look so devilishly good.

    I really love this series of pictures! The shot of the tulips is just amazing.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  7. Excuse me, but I need to go right now...to bake myself a batch....cant wait....loooooooooooooooooooved it!!

    Hmmmmmm
    andy

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  8. Wow, they are chunky indeed! Just how I like my cookies.

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  9. So totally agree with your line "there is nothing more tragic than that cookie drifting to the bottom of the glass if held in the milk for just a second too long". In India we often used to have store bought "glucose biscuits" and a cup of chai. It has been a while since I tried cookies and milk, and your pics makes me want some!!!

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  10. they look fabulous and aptly named

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  11. These look marvelous, Meeta! I am a traditionalist and have also had a special place in my heart for a really good chocolate chunk cookie. I couldn't agree more that chunks are far superior to the chip. Can't wait to give this a go!

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  12. I can never get enough of cookies like these. Chocolate chunks cookies and not chocolate chips have always been my favorite. Comforting indeed!
    Magda

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  13. Agreed, the chocolate chunk cookies are my favorite, especially when freshly baked, still warm and moist.
    I'm looking for a great cookie brand to carry on my gourmet gift boutique. I wish I could carry yours Meeta :)

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  14. You can't beat a good chunky Choc cookie.

    I wondered what the flowers were. Interested to see they are tulips. They are beautiful.

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  15. I love choco chip cookies.These are very addictive. Excellent Meeta

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  16. sweet classics, indeed! i, too, love the feeling that a warm oven emits when it is pregnant with cookies…

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  17. You had me at chocolate... but the chunk & cookies (&, I have to admit - the whole wheat) sealed the deal. Beautiful photos, too!

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  18. Oh..love those crisp and chocolaty cookies! And wholewheat makes it more tempting to give a try soon.

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  19. You sure have me convinced. These look amazing.and the whole wheat flour makes them a health food, doesn't it?

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  20. Haha, these sure sound like the perfect treat for when you really need one! Love how chunky they look - perfect with that cold glass of milk!

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  21. only if my daughter got these after school:) Loving the texture of the cookies.

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  22. The whole wheat flour makes it nuttier but also healthier = less guilt, no? This is my theory and I'm sticking to it. Love your twist on this classic treat.

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  23. Yes, these cookies will make anything better. Beautiful!

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  24. those cookies would make such a great midnight snack! ;)

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  25. Like the wholewheat element to add flavour (andn slightly assuage the guilttoo!) Chocolate is not my first port of call for comfort - to which my teens disagree with gusto. I've found a ginger and chocolate chip cookie which keeps us both happy (recipe over at MCP). Will give it a whirl with wholewheat too.

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  26. Beautifully photographed. Makes these cookies even more appealing.
    :-) Mandy

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  27. I always get around the chilling issue by not baking all the cookies at once. I bake what I need each evening until all the cookie batter is gone. Nicely, the cookies just get better and better each night!

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  28. I'm so glad I read this post while actually eating my lunch, it would have made me SO hungry! although hm, I still want a chocolate cookie...!!

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  29. I am in love with this cookie! Whole wheat, muscovado sugar, vanilla bean, chocolate chunks...I do have a question. What is golden caster sugar? Is that like powdered brown sugar? This is the first time I visit your blog, I think I found you on Twitter thanks to Jamie from @lifesafeast. Nice to "meet" you :)
    -Yuri

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  30. If someone bakes cookies for you when you're down, you know they only want the best for you. These cookies look thick and chocolate-packed!

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  31. Oh how right you are! Warm, thick, chunky cookies are the best cure for anything, the ultimate comfort food and these must be the best cookies I have ever seen! How do you get them so plump? Trying this recipe! Gorgeous, simply, utterly, indulgently gorgeous!

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  32. I've been on an eternal chocolate chip cookie quest myself, so I'm excited to try these and compare them to all the ones I've made in the past.

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  33. Divine my dear! I totally agree about dunking cookies in milk...the perfect marriage!

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  34. Hi Meeta,
    How r u doing dear ... Choc chip Cookies sounds delicious !!

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  35. What a yummy post! I suppose this dish is very good for our health. I do hope also that consuming this food can stay us healthy and fit. Thanks! :)

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  36. Thank you so much everyone for all your lovely comments! I knew you all were the cookie & milk kind and even more some of you are like me - the dunking kind ;o)

    Hope you enjoy them?

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  37. I agree, sometimes only some chocolate or a cookie (or both!) will help! What a lovely tradition of baking with your child while reflecting on the day...thanks for the idea :) And the recipe! :)

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  38. What a perfect after school treat. I remember my mom always baking something sweet for when we came home. Those are great memories.

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  39. Chocolate chips/chunks are my all time favorite. will be giving these a try for sure.

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  40. I completely agree with you, Meeta - sometimes only a good chocolate chip will do. These are precious! I love how packed with chocolate they are. Sinful!

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  41. A very nice chocolate chip cookie recipe. I love chunks of chocolate, the more the merrier. Nice way to end a busy day, thanks for sharing.

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  42. Looking at this cookie, makes me know why chocolate chippers are always in style and always loved.

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  43. These cookies look amazing...I want to make them this weekend! Thanks for sharing!

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  44. Hi, will definitely try making these for my daughter who loves chocolate chip cookies ....just want to skip the eggs though :)

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  45. Thanks for this chocolate chunk cookies recipe. They look like a wonderful sweet treat.

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Thank you for visiting What's For Lunch, Honey? and taking time to browse through my recipes, listen to my ramblings and enjoy my photographs. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. I will answer your questions to my best knowledge and respond to your comments as soon as possible.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy your stay here and that I was able to make this an experience for your senses.

Hugs
Meeta