Alton’s “The Chewy” Chocolate Chip Cookies
Before I get into talking about this special treat I wanted to ask what you all thought about my new look? With the help of Lindsay at Purr Design, I have made the Blogger to WordPress transition and I am loving it! I still have to reformat a few things but I am really loving the new look and feel of the blog. If any of you want to spice up your look or make a similar transition, reach out to Purr. Lindsay was absolutely amazing and the transition went through very quickly without a hitch!
One other note – I have decided to extend my cookbook raffle to August 31st to give everyone a chance to participate. So check it out and don’t miss out on the opportunity to win some awesome cookbooks.
The Holy Grail of American Baking – The Chocolate Chip Cookie. There are tons of recipes out there for them and many of them claim to be “the best”. I have featured quite a few of them on A Chica Bakes. And initially I too wanted to find “the best chocolate chip cookie recipe”. But with so many different variations, it’s impossible to find the best. So I’ve set out to test a bunch and let you know what I think.
As I mentioned last week, I made these for my husband to celebrate our anniversary. He is seriously obsessed with chocolate chip cookies and would be thrilled if my blog featured only them. I obliged and made him a batch but only if I could try out a new recipe. So today I bring you the oh-so-famous recipe from Alton Brown – The Chewy.
What makes this recipe different from any other one I’ve used is the use of bread flour, which does indeed make the cookie softer than any other I have featured on A Chica Bakes in the past. They also don’t spread as much as others during the baking process. As always, I used chopped up premium dark chocolate to maximize the chocolate flavor.
The verdict – the hubs LOVED them. Me – I really liked them but I prefer my cookies with a little crunch to them.
If chewy chocolate chip cookies make you swoon, then you definitely want to make this recipe a part of your life.
The Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie
Ingredients:
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter
12 ounces bread flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 ounces granulated sugar
8 ounces light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 tablespoons whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12 ounces 70% dark chocolate chunksDirections:
Melt butter over low heat and set aside to cool slightly. Sift together flour, salt and baking soda and set aside.
Pour butter along with sugars into the bowl of a stand mixer and beat with paddle attachment on medium speed for 2 minutes. Meanwhile whisk together whole egg, egg yolk, milk and vanilla extract. Reduce the mixer speed and slowly add the egg mixture to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix until thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds. Gradually add the flour mixture making sure to scrap down the sides of the bowl a few times. Reduce speed to stir and add chocolate chunks.
Chill dough for an hour or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop dough onto a parchment or silplat lined baking sheet. Bake cookies for 14 minutes, rotating the pan halfway to ensure even baking. Allow cookies to cool on a cooling rack for a few minutes before eating.
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Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum — August 23, 2010 @ 9:58 am
I took one look at the picture and I believe my head might have even tilted sideways and my face took on a longing expression…. ahhh… I love a good cookie.
Marisa — August 23, 2010 @ 10:27 am
I do believe there’s a conspiracy on the interwebz. I am tormented with delicious looking choc-chip cookies everywhere I go! This being no exception of course. Send me some of those, would ya?
Joanne — August 23, 2010 @ 1:45 pm
I’m a chewy girl. Chewy CCCs. Creamy peanut butter. Something about crunch obviously irritates me. I have no idea what though.
I’ve heard really good things about these babies. Have to try them. And I LOVE the new look!!
Brian @ A Thought For Food — August 23, 2010 @ 2:56 pm
I love these! And I bet they’d go great with a mug of warm milk on this nasty rainy day.
food librarian — August 23, 2010 @ 3:02 pm
Must make! I have some bread flour leftover and these are calling my name!
5 Star Foodie — August 23, 2010 @ 3:15 pm
Yummy yummy cookies!!!
naomi — August 23, 2010 @ 3:22 pm
Okay, chewy cookies make me swoon! I have not tried these so this is a must-make, especially since this look divine and I love Alton Brown.
Biz — August 23, 2010 @ 5:21 pm
Love how the new site looks! I think you’ll like wordpress – I really have no idea what I am doing, so it helps that all the code is written for me!
Happy Monday!
dinners & dreams — August 23, 2010 @ 7:29 pm
These look amazing, my dear. I wish I could have some right now. Well done!
Julie — August 23, 2010 @ 8:30 pm
I’ve always wanted to do a chocolate chip cookie taste test. My hips thank you for doing it for me! I love Alton and chewy cookies.
Shandy — August 23, 2010 @ 10:33 pm
First, LOVE your new blog! You are always a shining star here and this just seems to fit you perfectly . . . cheerful and sweet!
The cookie picture ~ WOW! How you keep getting those perfect shots where a person just wants to reach into the monitor and pull out the best cookie EVER is amazing.
I was wondering how you are doing and I was hoping you are still doing great with your training? I told my Mom, sisters and hubby how proud I am of you and how up-beat you always sound. I don’t know how you do it but I am proud of you! From one internet baking buddy to another – HUGS!
Tracy — August 24, 2010 @ 9:22 am
I still haven’t tried these cookies and definitely need to! I love chewy chocolate chip cookies!
Amy — August 24, 2010 @ 10:11 am
Love the site – it’s boootieful. I discovered a new CCC recipe a year ago where dry pudding mix is added. It had the same effect as the bread flour you mention – so incredibly soft. I definitely prefer a chewy cookie over crunchy. And personally, I think pie or chocolate chip cookies could solve world peace. You with me?
B2 — August 24, 2010 @ 11:37 am
Goodness! This is the same recipe i use! They come out so beautifully and I like to make two batches and freeze one for later use!
Hubs — August 24, 2010 @ 11:40 am
They are great. I like a bit more of a bite as well.
Katrina — August 24, 2010 @ 11:50 am
Well, they do look great.
I made The Chewy once and didn’t like how they turned out, but that may have just been an issue with my baking because so many seem to call this one their favorite.
Have you made the NYT CCC? They use bread flour (and cake flour). THEY are my favorite and I use them for any and all kinds of ccc’s/mix-ins. I almost never chill the dough 36 hours either, sometimes not at all. It’s just the recipe. (that and I always leave out the sprinkling of salt on top.)
I think sometimes I should just change my blog to only ccc’s, too. (As much as they ARE my favorite, that’d get kind of boring.)
Jessica — August 24, 2010 @ 2:25 pm
I love the new look — it’s super cute!
And, these cookies look dangerously tasty. I could devour that whole entire plate full of them! I think I really need to try this recipe — lots of people rave about it, and yours look sooo good!
ingrid — August 24, 2010 @ 9:52 pm
I love your new look! I desperately need one for my blog.
I’m with your ol’ man on this one. (I’ve always wanted to say that, lol!)
~ingrid
nikki — August 25, 2010 @ 9:28 pm
I love love love the new blog design! thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such nice comments…i am a big fan of your blog and will definitely try these cookies!
Summer — August 28, 2010 @ 10:59 pm
I really like the look of your new blog! I’ll have to try these cookies for my husband because he also likes the softer cookie.
Emily — August 29, 2010 @ 4:40 am
Your new design is fabulous! Love it.
I WANT THESE COOKIES right now, please.
Nicole Messina — August 31, 2010 @ 12:59 am
I agree with you. I am all about a crunchy chocolate chip cookie. If I had to be really specific, my favorite is the one that is chewy in the middle and really crunchy on the edges. That is perfection to me. These look great though!
Jessica — August 31, 2010 @ 1:21 am
I love Alton…and I love the chewy!
Pam — December 15, 2010 @ 4:54 pm
I make this recipe alot and like you, I prefer some crispness with the chew. To achieve it, I use half cake flour & half bread flour. It made them crisp on the edges & chewy in the center…. for me PERFECT
athena — February 8, 2011 @ 4:44 pm
I’m with your husband: chewy chocolate chip cookies make me absolutely gleeful, and Alton’s the Chewy is the cream of the crop. Delicious