Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies from Cook’s Illustrated
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While people often talk about the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies these ones really are! Browned butter and brown sugar add a delicious caramel note to these soft on the inside but crisp on the edge chocolate chip cookies. This recipe originally posted February 2012.
For years anytime I want something sweet to eat I’ve made cookies. While there are other types of cookies that I make the one that I keep coming back to is the chocolate chip cookie.
My traditional recipe is the Toll House cookie one. I think it’s the one that most people start with and if I don’t have time to look up a recipe it’s the one I use because I know it by heart. I’ve tweaked it over the years but the basic recipe is always the same.
However, I’m always open to new cookie recipes. Ten years ago I came across the recipe for Cook’s Illustrated Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie. Since I started reading Cook’s Illustrated I’ve never had a recipe that hasn’t worked so I knew I had to try this one too.
Ingredients:
- flour
- baking soda
- butter
- sugar
- brown sugar
- salt
- vanilla
- eggs
- chocolate chips
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour and baking soda, set aside.
3. In a medium sized skillet heat the butter over medium high heat. Swirl the butter around in the pan until it has melted and has started to brown. Remove from heat and pour into a large heatproof mixing bowl.
4. Add the sugar and brown sugar to the butter and mix well. Whisk in the salt and vanilla.
5. Add both eggs and whisk for 1 minutes. Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes.
6. Whisk for another minute or until the mixture is shiny and smooth.
7. Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and stir well until completely combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
8. Scoop onto a cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes.
I’d had my eye on this recipe since I first saw it one Christmas when my husband bought me Cook’s Illustrated. I clipped it and put it in my box of recipes to make later but it was only when I saw a photo of it on social media that I remembered it and decided to try it out.
We love cookie and baked goods that have brown butter in them. It gives the cookies a nutty and salty flavor that works so well against the chocolate chips.
While the batter looked a lot like my other chocolate chip cookie dough recipes, it was a little shinier and it smelled better. I was excited to put them in the oven and try them out.
Do I need to use both granulated and brown sugar?
No, you don’t need to use both but I would recommend it. If you only have one or the other that’s fine. Note that all brown sugar will yield a crispier cookie and all granulated sugar will yield a softer cookie.
Do I have to brown the butter? I don’t have a lot of time.
No you don’t have to but that’s what really makes this recipe. You can just put in softened butter but then this is like every other chocolate chip cookie recipe. The brown butter adds a nutty, caramel flavor that can’t be beat.
How do I know when my butter is perfectly browned?
It takes a little practice to do this but whenever the butter begins foaming and sizzling around the edges you really need to watch it. Keep stirring and your butter will begin to turn golden brown. The foam will subside and the milk solids on the bottom will toast and turn brown. It will smell buttery and nutty. Keep a close eye on it because you can easily burn it. At this point remove it from the heat immediately.
Can I make these cookies bigger or smaller?
Of course you can. If you make them smaller check them at 8-10 minutes of baking. If you make them larger check them between 14-16 minutes. It really depends on how large you make them.
Can I add different types of chips to this recipe?
You sure can! Butterscotch chips or cinnamon chips are amazing in this recipe. I’ve tried both and love them. While I haven’t tried them, I would think dark chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or even espresso chips would be tasty in these cookies.
When I pulled them out of the oven they looked perfect. I grabbed one for myself and handed one to my husband. As my husband bit into it he immediately knew it wasn’t my usual cookie recipe. He looked at me and asked if it had brown butter in it. We both agreed that this was our new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.
The cookies are larger then the ones I normally make. They are just crisp on the edges then soft and chewy on the inside. The cookies are buttery and filled with chocolate goodness.
I officially changed my “go to” chocolate chip cookie recipe to this one ten years ago and I’m happy to report it’s still my favorite one!
More Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes:
- Bailey’s Irish Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Salted Caramel Swirl Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Sugar Cone Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies for 2
- Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
If youโve tried my Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies or any other recipe on Hezzi-Dโs Books and Cooks please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can FOLLOW ME on:
Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies from Cook's Illustrated
Ingredients
- 1 ยพ c. flour
- ยฝ teaspoon baking soda
- 14 Tablespoons salted butter
- ยฝ c. sugar
- ยพ c. packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 ยฝ c. chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour and baking soda, set aside.
- In a medium sized skillet heat the butter over medium high heat.ย Swirl the butter in the pan until it has melted and has started to brown.ย The butter will have a nutty smell.ย Remove from heat and pour into a large heatproof mixing bowl.
- Add the sugar and brown sugar to the butter and mix well.ย Whisk in the salt and vanilla.ย
- Add both eggs and whisk for 1 minute.ย
- Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes then whisk for another minute or until the mixture is shiny and smooth.
- Pour the flour mixture into the butter mixture and stir well until completely combined.ย
- Fold in the chocolate chips.ย
- Drop by heaping tablespoon onto the baking sheets.ย The batter should make about 18 large cookies.
- Bake the cookies one cookie sheet at a time for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown but the centers still look soft.ย
- Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 2-3 minutes then remove to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling.
Notes
Holiday Cookie Exchange Recipes
- Chocolate Ginger Crinkle Cookies from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Coconut Almond Cookies from Magical Ingredients
- Cook’s Illustrated Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Embossed Gingerbread Cookies from Inger Wilkerson
- Stained Glass Window Cookies from That Recipe
- Tropical Breeze Cookies from Palatable Pastime
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The brown butter and brown sugar flavors sound super yum! This is a best cookie for sure! I am making it today.
These look perfectly chewy and delicious! Chocolate chip is third on my list, but these might push them to number one!
I’ve been seeing these everywhere but now you’ve really convinced me I need to try them!
Great recipe..looking perfect!
Making cookie now delicous yumm yumm yumm these are some top notch cookies especially in my tummy
They look perfect indeed…great recipe!
Wow the cookies look absolutely delicious, what a great choice for SRC! ๐
I love how you melted the butter in a skillet! I bet these cookies taste good!!
This dessert looks great! I would love it if you linked up this recipe to my blog hop for a chance to win a cookbook prize package: http://bit.ly/wJSl1h
Lots of cookie recipes in Group B this month! Iโd love if you check our my new site seasonalpotluck.com February is oranges month so if you have any orange recipes, weโd love if youโd link up! http://bit.ly/zDoNfx
She does have a great blog, doesn’t she! These look great! Browned butter makes such a difference!
Gotta love a great chocolate chip cookie recipe and I’ll have to give it a try as I know the flavor of the browned butter must add so much.
If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to check out my Group ‘A’ SRC entry: Crunchy Fudgy Heart Bites
Lisa~~
Cook Lisa Cook
I do love a good chocolate chip cookie and yours look beautiful!
I’ve heard so much good about the CI chocolate chip cookies. They sound pretty life-changing, that’s for sure!