mmm... mmm... cookies

raise your hand if you love cookies!!

i mean, maybe it's just the kid in me, but nothing makes me happier then a really chewy and gooey straight outta the oven chocolate chip cookie... well... i'd be lying actually... every baked good makes me happy, i'm just that easy... but come on, the pure nostalgia of cookies has to put them at the top of every one's list... just saying :)

anyways, i was in the mood for cookies... but couldn't decide whether or not to make plain old fashioned chocolate chip cookies, or some double chocolate chocolate chip cookies... so... i made both... why not...

for the double chocolate chip cookies i went with a tasty recipe from "milk and cookies", and dude... these were chocolate heaven... soft and fudgy on the inside, with huge chunks of melty chocolate, with the slight crispy outside... oh man... really really tasty!

Double Chocolate Cookies recipe:
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon coarse salt
224g (½ pound) good-quality chocolate, 4 ounces coarsely chopped and 4 ounces cut into chunks ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 ½ cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

directions:
1. preheat oven to 325
2. whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside
3. melt 4 ozs. coarsely chopped chocolate with the butter in a small heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; let cool slightly
4. put chocolate mixture, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix on medium speed until combined, reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture, then fold in chocolate chunks
5. using a 1 ½-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart
6. bake until cookies are flat and surfaces crack, about 15 minutes, then let cool on parchment on wire racks

and what else are cookies good for... ummm... sundae's of course! best ice cream flavor out there in my opinion... chocolate chip cookie dough... ahhh... thank you ben and jerry!

and here are some of dorie greenspans "best chocolate chip cookie"... and these have basically become my never fail good ol' stand by chocolate chip recipe... in all the times i've made them, they have never disappointed!

so... if you haven't tried this recipe yet, then get off your tookis and make them...the recipe is simple to make, and always produces an amazing yummy treat...

Dorie’s best chocolate chip cookies
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking soda
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chips, or 2 cups tore-bought chocolate chips or chunks

directions:
1. center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 375 and line 2 baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats
2. sift together the flour, salt and baking soda
3. working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed for about 1 minute, until smooth
4. add the sugars and beat for another 2 minutes until well blended
5. beat in the vanilla, then add the eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each egg goes in
6. reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients in 3 portions, mixing only until each addition is incorporated
7. on low speed, or by hand with a rubber spatula, mix in the chocolate
8. spoon the dough by slightly rounded tablespoonfuls onto the baking sheets, leaving about 2 inch between spoonfuls
9. bake the cookies – one sheet at a time and rotating the sheets at the midway point, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are brown at the edges and golden in the center... they may be still a little soft in the middle, and that’s just fine
10. pull the sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to rest for 1 minute, then carefully using a wide metal spatula, transfer them to racks to cool to room temperature

grab yourself a tall glass of milk and enjoy... and as always... happy baking everyone!