The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

While often we talk about the difficulties of eating during treatment or doing our best to stay healthy into survivorship…sometimes you just want to eat the best chocolate chip cookies!

Anyone that knows me also knows that I have a definite sweet tooth.  My favorite kind of cookie is a little bit gooey and chewy, and very melt in your mouth…no crunchy cookies over here please! (Unless they are Oreos…seriously those have got to be the best store bought cookies of all time, but I digress).  A few years ago, I came across this blog post, offering tips on baking the perfect chocolate chip cookie.  I’ve followed her recipe before but once I became comfortable making alterations, I started making a few changes of my own.  First off, I’ve found that I prefer to use only brown sugar.  I also completely skip the nuts, and I use an entire tablespoon of vanilla.

[list type=”like”]
[list_item]2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into the measuring cup (to prevent the flour from packing)[/list_item]
[list_item]1 teaspoon baking soda[/list_item]
[list_item]1/2 teaspoon salt[/list_item]
[list_item]1 cup butter, softened (not melted!)[/list_item]
[list_item]1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar[/list_item]
[list_item]1 tablespoon vanilla extract[/list_item]
[list_item]2 large eggs[/list_item]
[list_item]2 cups chocolate chips[/list_item]
[/list]

I preheat my oven to 375 F and allow my butter to warm up on the counter.  Combine the baking soda, flour, and salt in a bowl.  In another bowl (I use my stand mixer), cream the butter, then add in the sugar and cream together, add the vanilla and cream together, and add each egg, one at a time, mixing well in between.  Slowly add in the dry ingredients.  Once all mixed together, stir in the chocolate chips!  Separate them out onto a cookie sheet and bake 8 1/2 minutes.

I used a cookie dough scoop to portion out the dough and ended up with some very large cookies!  After the first cookie sheet of large cookies, I split the dough balls into two to make smaller treats.

However you prefer your chocolate chip cookies…they are a decadent treat that can brighten up anyone’s day.  Heading to treatments?  Take a handful of cookies with you!  Or have some ready for when you’re feeling better a few days later.  Caregiving for a friend or family member?  Making cookies can help brighten your mood, help you treat yourself, and also offer everyone around you a loving and sweet treat.