Chocolate Chip Cookies (SOFT)
Makes 4 dozen (48) BIG Cookies. Prep Time: 15 minutes. Cook Time: 11 minutes.
4 ˝ Cups All-Purpose Flour (Pillsbury or Gold Medal – measured by “dip & sweep”)
2 teasp. Baking Soda (Must be fresh – not past expiration date)
2 Cups Melted Butter (4 sticks, unsalted)
1 ˝ Cups Brown Sugar (Packed)
˝ Cup Granulated Sugar (White)
1 Package Jello’s Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix (3.4 oz.)
4 Eggs
3 teasp. Vanilla Extract
4 Cups Semisweet Chocolate Chips (two 12 oz. bags)
5 Crushed Heath Bars (optional)
Directions:
Observations: The recipe on the back of the
Nestle Toll House Morsels bag makes fine cookies, and if you were to follow it
precisely, you couldn’t go too far wrong.
However, based upon my own experiences, and that of others, I advise a
few minor modifications and refinements.
FIRST,
always use real butter (unsalted). There is a big difference between butter
vs. margarine.
SECOND, double
or triple the amount of vanilla extract.
THIRD, and
this can make a big difference, don’t just let the butter sit out at room
temperature to become soft. Instead,
melt it. Melted butter, because
it is both warm and liquid, does a much better job of dissolving sugar
than a room-temperature creamed butter can do.
This helps improve the consistency of the dough and also improves the
texture of the cookies after they are baked.
Very carefully, melt the butter so that it does not burn. Consider using the microwave, but watch it
like a hawk!
FOURTH, make
sure your cookie dough is cold when you place it onto the room
temperature or cooler cookie sheets.
If the dough melts around the edges before it starts to bake, the edges
might burn or get too brown.
JPC - revised 8/14/05