The Startup Cook : Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies are one of the easiest foods to bake. A statement you must believe as I am an extremely nervous (almost frightened) baker.

Oh and confession time – I’m one of those cooks. When we get one particular method right we like to practise with other flavours and ingredients… So inspired by Laura Vitale’s Soft Vanilla Cookies these are Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Perfect for those with dental restrictions and who crave for a quick midnight snack. You only need a few ingredients and given your previous practice with vanilla cookies this will be a piece of cake (or cookie?).

Lame jokes aside, these warm homemade goodies are delicious and (more importantly) comforting - Every bite tells you that everything is going to be alright.



Ingredients

1 cup of (all purpose) flour
½ cup of brown sugar
50g of cooking chocolate
1 egg
6 tbs of butter
1 tsp of vanilla essence
½ tsp of baking powder

Directions

Pre heat the oven to 180 Celsius.

Prepare a baking sheet and set aside.

Chop up the cooking chocolate in to miniscule cubes.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar.

Then add the egg, vanilla and whisk until well combined.

Mix in the flour and baking powder and whisk until everything is incorporated.

Fold in the chopped chocolate.

Take a tablespoon sized measuring spoon, scoop out some dough and (one by one) lay it on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes (rotate them once in between).



Disasters, Warnings and Tips

Unlike the Vanilla cookies, these chocolate chip babies need a few extra baking minutes.

Meet my awesome cooling rack. Pretty right?

I made twelve cookies with these measurements. By the time I took the picture there were only six left.

If you want them crunchy, think you might need to add some baking soda instead of baking powder.

Adequately space each cookie dough scoop on the tray.

Have this with a cup of plain tea… Soooo GOOD….

I plan on making a super crunchy version of this as well.

Chop the cooking chocolate while it’s cold.

If you prefer to bash some cooking chocolate in to chips, first harden it in the freezer, pop in to a sandwich bag and bash with a rolling pin.

I love cookie dough.



Text by Shazzana Hamid