With the weather beginning to get more and more chilly, the more I want to stay inside! There is just something I love about staying in all day snuggled up in a blanket with some fresh baked yummy treats. One of my all-time favorites, is of course, the famous chocolate chip cookie.


This classic American cookie has been around for nearly 90 years. Everyone knows and loves this delicious recipe. I love the idea that for almost 90 years this simple, yet wonderful cookie has brought so many people together. I’m sure most people have some story from growing up about eating chocolate chips cookies or baking them with their mom, dad, grandparents, children, siblings.You get the idea!


We have Ruth Graves Wakefield to thank for this great American treasure. Ruth and her husband, Kenneth, were running The Toll House Inn near Whitman, Massachusetts. Ruth was known for baking and cooking the food for the guests at the Inn.

One night, Ruth was working on some Chocolate Butter Drop cookies for her guests. She realized while baking that she didn’t have enough baking chocolate, so she tried to improvise. She decided that she would just chop up a bar of Nestle chocolate she had gotten, thinking the chocolate would melt and create the chocolate cookies she was trying to make. Instead, the chocolate did not melt into the batter. It only softened inside the cookie and kept its original shape.

So, the chocolate chip cookie was made by mistake and what a fantastic mistake to make. Ruth and her guests loved these accident cookies so much that she sent the recipe to The Betty Crocker Cooking School of the Air radio show. She wanted to share this new cookie with America. The cookie became insanely popular and well, the rest is history! Who doesn’t love a fresh baked, gooey, melt in your mouth chocolate chip cookie?! As my boyfriend likes to say, “it’s good for the soul!”


What family stories do you have about chocolate chip cookies? Is there someone who you like to bake them with? Do you make variations to the recipe?

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

  • 2 1⁄4 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) + 1 tablespoon butter, melted
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli or Godiva or any good chocolate)

Directions

  1. Set the oven to 375° F and place non-stick foil on a cookie sheet.
  2. Mix flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl.
  3. Mix granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large bowl until combined.
  4. Add butter, stir until creamy.
  5. In separate bowl, slightly whip eggs to break up yolks.
  6. Add eggs to sugar mixture one at a time, mix in well after each addition. Gradually mix in flour mixture and then fold in chips.
  7. Scoop one teaspoon into palm of hand and roll into small flat disc.
  8. Place on non-stick foil to bake. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown on edges. Remove and place/drop foil on cool counter.

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