Robby’s Winterfest Baking #2
Original Recipe Via Nestle Tollhouse
Hey everybirdy! Robby here. It’s Day 2 of our 28-day baking season! Today we’re tackling the all-time classic: Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies. I love this recipe because it’s super simple, fills the house with love, and stays totally budget-friendly so you can focus on the therapy of baking without worrying about the cost.
It really helps if you have all your ingredients at hand before starting the recipe. To make it even easier, I’ve linked my favorites on my Walmart Storefront to take the stress out of your grocery shopping!
The “Secret” Family Recipe?”
Whenever, I make these, I think of that TV show where a character thought her grandmother had a top-secret French recipe form a women named “Nes-lay Tool-huse”… only to realize it was just the recipe on the back of the chocolate chip bag! But what gets me is the next line, she looks down at the ground and screams “And this is why your burning in hell, grandma!” It just goes to show that you don’t need fancy, secret ingredients to make a 5 star Budget friendly dessert.
The Essentials: What You’ll need:
- 2 1/4 Cups All Purpose Flour: (I swear by King Arthur for texture, but Great Value is a fantastic Budget win!)
- 1 tsp Baking soda & 1 tsp salt
- 1 Cup Butter (or Margarine): Softened at room temperature.
- 3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar & 3/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract & 2 Large Eggs
- 2 Cups Semi -Sweet Chocolate Chips: The star of the show!
How to Make 5 Star Budget Friendly Chocolate Chip Cookies
Prep Your Space
Preheat your oven to 375 F. I always use light-colored baking sheets from Walmart to ensure the bottoms of my cookies stay golden and never burnt.
Cream the Base
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture is light and creamy.
Add the Eggs & Flour
Slowly add your eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Next, gradually beat in your flour mixture (the flour, baking soda and salt you mixed in a separate small bowl).
The Best Part
Fold in those chocolate chips! Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto a ungreased baking sheet.
Bake to Perfection
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until they are a beautiful golden brown. Be sure to let them cool on the sheets for 2 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Robby’s Tips for the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Why did my cookies come out flat?
This is something that I struggled with for so long. Until I changed this one thing: the temperature of my ingredients. They need to be room temperature. This means it needs to be pliable but still hold its shape. Pro-tip: If your kitchen is warm, chill the dough for 20 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
Can I make these Cookies Dairy-free?
Yes! This is a great budget-friendly swap. You can use Imperial Margarine found at Walmart or a plant based-butter. Since margarine has a higher water content, your cookies might be a bit softer but they’ll still taste amazing.
Can I freeze the cookie dough?
Absolutely! I love doing this for “Emergency baking therapy.” Scoop the dough into balls, freeze them on a tray and then toss them into a freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake, just add 1-2 minutes to the baking time.
What is the best way to get “bakery style” cookies?
For that professional look, save a handful of chocolate chips and press 3 or 4 into the top of each dough ball right before they go into the oven. It makes a huge difference in how they look!
Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped nuts Optional
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grab a small bowl and toss your flour, baking soda, and salt together, then set it aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat your margarine, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract together until the mixture is nice, creamy, and fully combined.
- Add your eggs one at a time, giving it a good mix after each one. Gradually stir in your flour blend, then fold in your chocolate chips. If you have chopped nuts on hand, throw them in now; if not, they are completely optional!
- Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheets. No need to space them perfectly, just leave a little room for them to naturally spread out as they bake.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until they turn a beautiful, comforting golden brown. If you are baking multiple sheets at once, switch your baking racks halfway through so they all cook evenly.
- Let the cookies cool right on the baking sheets for 2 minutes to firm up slightly before transferring them over to a wire rack to cool completely. This single staple batch stretches to make a generous 5 dozen cookies.
Notes
Whether you call them “Nes-lay Tool-huse” or just plain delicious, I hope these Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies bring a little warmth to your home today. This recipe is proof that you don’t need a ‘secret’ family vault or expensive ingredients to bake a 5 star dessert – sometimes the best therapy is found right on the back of the bag!
Before you go, everybirdy:
- Grab the Essentials: You Can find the Great Value Staples and my favorite King Arthor Flour over on my Walmart Store Front.
- Join the Conversation: Did you grow up with a ‘secret’ recipe that turned out to be from a box or a bag? Share your stories in the comments!
- Don’t Miss Out: This was only Day 2! Come back tomorrow for Day 3 of Robby’s Winterfest Baking for another budget-friendly treat.
Until next time, remember: you aren’t alone in the kitchen and there’s always a little therapy to be found in the oven.
Happy baking, everybirdy!
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