An easy-to-follow recipe for bakery-style chocolate chip cookies: make them large, salt the tops, and bite into the crisped edges and chewy centers.
I remember sidling up to the counter, our cream-colored KitchenAid with its head angled towards the sky, my mom pulling the ice cream buckets of sugar and flour down off the top shelf of the cupboard. I can feel her hands under my armpits as she lifted me up and plopped me directly on the counter where I could peer into the bowl.
We told stories as we added each ingredient, making our cookie dough. The stories take on their own life. Brushing my hair: story. Making the bed: story. Baking cookies: story. My childhood memories are held together at the seams by fanciful tales of princesses fighting dragons, of skinned-kneed girls with literal beehives in their hair, of rippled oceans that calm to a glassy mirrored surface.
Never mind the fingerprints smudged on the glass front of the oven as we crowded around to watch the cookies melt, puff, then turn golden brown. Forget the smears of chocolate wiped across the bathroom towels after we “washed” our faces. Pay no attention to the pile of dishes in the sink.
The magic was in the making. It floated around us unseen but held close.
You can freeze your egg whites (ice cube trays work well) for later use. Here are a few recipes you might use them in:
I’ve been reading a lot lately about the selling and marketing of “lifestyle” by cookbook authors, design bloggers, magazines, television hosts, and whomever. I think of Kinfolk Magazine and the Kinspiracy Tumblr that pokes fun at people’s Instagrams for conforming to the lifestyle brand they are schlepping. I consider the comments made by faceless others, judging individual frames of other’s existence.
Then I wonder what type of lifestyle I promote by putting myself out there. What type of life do I show through my photos and my online presence and my words? Is it that of a harried mom trying to make it all happen and often dropping the ball? Perhaps it’s the dirty floors and the spilled milk crusting over on my kitchen table that you’re hoping to capture for your own life? Maybe it’s the way I poured oatmeal into thermal jars this morning as I called across the house, “Lene, two hair binders and the brush. Magnus, did you grab your library book? Kjell, open the door so we can hear the bus!” Or the way I scolded Kjell for not opening the door, tied his sheet-turned-mythology costume into a toga-like form, affixed a belt to hold it in place, and handed him a cardboard cutout lightning bolt. Half a second later I shoved his lunchbox and backpack into his hands while telling him to run for the bus that was now patiently waiting outside the door, wishing I had been a bit more together so I could have caught their cute costumes on camera.
Don’t get me wrong. I love quiet reflection, the beauty in simple moments. I seek out these brief bits and attempt to capture them in the midst of the chaos that is life, but do not let cultivated moments fool you. Life is chaos. It’s dirty and messy. It’s full of pulled hair and snark. It’s things you said you didn’t really mean, and it’s hugs you wish you could bottle. It’s spring mud tracked in on the rug and the squeals of laughter from the mud-tracking boy as you chase him around the yard.
Life is chocolate chip cookies made in the midst of it all, butts on the counter, and that first bite after the cookies have come out of the oven.
These are not the cookies I grew up with, but they are the cookies my children and I make together, peering into the bowl and licking the spoons. In an attempt to make them easier to make, you only need two measuring utensils: a one-cup measuring cup and a one-teaspoon measuring spoon. You do need to separate an egg for the yolk, but it’s worth it. See the recipe notes for ideas on how to utilize that leftover white. I highly recommend doubling the recipe and sharing a bit of the magic with your friends.
Bakery-Style Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Mini Meringue Kisses
Dark Chocolate Mousse and Cinnamon Meringue Tarts
French Macarons
Simply gorgeous. I wish you could narrate my life, Shaina. It may be messy, both yours and mine, but your way with words gives me all the feels, man. Wish I could give you a hug today, and then split a cookie.
You’re lovely, Amber. Thank you. Remember when I carried one of these cookies in my luggage for you to New York? So long ago. Too long.
Love the honesty and warmth in this post. Cannot wait to taste these cookies. I never thought of putting salt on the top. Genius. Crispy edges and chewy centers sound just right.
Love the salt on top of these cookies, delicious!!!
Love everything about this post. And I’m so intrigued by just two utensils and the extra egg yolk! Definitely going to have to give it a try.
You are such a storyteller and I enjoy every word you write. These cookies sound just perfect and the sprinkling of salt is the best idea.
I have had one of these cookies. Remember our haunted hotel room? They are out of this world fantastic. I feel like I own a little piece of your life with this recipe. xo
That hotel room was crazy! These are one and the same, and yes, now you own a piece of my soul.
I more than like your writing style. I like your recipe, too. I’ll be making these as soon as I’m done with the cakes for my clients.
I’m printing this for Allison to make. They look amazing – and I love how your kids still let you take pictures of them for the blog 😉 I love seeing them enjoying the food you make!
What a delightfully luscious cookie!! And what an equally eloquent post.
Life is definitely chaos and chocolate chip cookies, and you paint the life of one that your kids will lovingly look back upon, just as you do! I love it, and think it’s better than a Kinfolk filtered story any day 🙂
I love that you minimized the use of measuring tools. Probably the thing that prevents me from baking more often is just that I hate fiddling around with measuring every cotton picking thing, so I’m glad this is more streamlined without resorting to sad flavorless boxed mixes. And these are just so cute and tasty sounding too!
The salt on top makes all the difference! All I need now is that big glass of milk to go with this delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe!
Yum!! Thanks for these! They look delicious!
You are just a gem and so are these cookies xo
Hi, just tried these. Finally found the perfect bakery style cookie. Have you tried this with oil?
does this cookies need to be flatten b4 baking?
This is by far the BEST chocolate chip cookie recipe I’ve made and eaten! Everyone I’ve given these cookies to has said they are some of the best cookies they have ever had. I’m actually waiting on a batch to get out of the oven now! Thanks, Shaina! This will definitely be a go-to recipe for me from now on. :)?
If possible could you put the recipe in grams as I’m from Ireland and we don’t use cups?