Saturday, May 28, 2011

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Just like the name indicates, these chocolate chip cookies are the ultimate! They are just the right combination of crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. I've used Guittard 61% Cacao Semisweet Chocolate Wafers and Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chips with equally delicious results.



Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies
recipe adapted from Jacques Torres as seen in the New York Times

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8.5-ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8.5-ounces) bread flour
1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons coarse salt
1 ¼ cups (2 ½) sticks unsalted butter
1 ¼ cups (10-ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8-ounces) sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 ¼ cups (12-ounce package) bittersweet chocolate wafers or chips
Sea salt

Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

Scoop 6 3½-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes.

Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day.

Yield: 1 ½ dozen 5-inch cookies
Time: 45 minutes (for 1 6-cookie batch), plus at least 24 hours’ chilling