Chocolate Chip Cookies

The search is on for the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe!  Hosted by Tina at Mom's Crazy Cooking, bloggers from all over the country will be revealing their chosen chocolate chip cookie recipes today!  I had a few recipes bookmarked that I knew I could use for this Crazy Cooking Challenge, but when Erin's recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies came through my Google Reader, I knew this was the one!  (Be sure to check out Erin's Food Files, the recipes there will leave your mouth watering!)

One thing I forgot to mention about the Crazy Cooking Challenge last month, is that you can vote for your favorite recipe!  It's simple, just click "like" under the picture of the post you like and in a week or so, the winner of the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie round will be announced!  I'd love it if you voted for me *wink*!

Making these cookies was quite the adventure!  I made the recipe two times.  The first time I was ready to add the eggs and realized I only had one egg.  I decided to just keep going and make the recipe anyway.  The cookies were somewhat flat but had a delicious taste and were so chewy!

Flat, yet delicious cookies!

The second time I made the recipe, I had decided to make half a batch since I still had so many cookies from my first try.  I mixed everything together and wondered why my dough was so crumbly.  I re-read the instructions and I had done everything right...so I thought!  I kept looking at my 1/2 cup measuring cup and my 1/3 cup measuring cup and wondering why the 1/3 cup was larger than the 1/2 cup.  Upon closer inspection, I realized I had been using a 2/3 cup measuring cup so I had put in twice as much flour as necessary!  It was easy enough to fix, I just added in more of the other ingredients to make a full batch, but I sure got a good laugh out of it!  I suppose that's what I get for trying to make cookies in a hurry!

These cookies were absolutely delicious!  I will be making them over and over again.  I followed Erin's tip and froze half the dough in little balls for when a chocolate chip cookie craving strikes!  Just note that these cookies require 24 hours of refrigeration before baking, but be patient...it's worth it!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 3-1/2 dozen cookies

You will need:
2-2/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups chocolate chips

1.  Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl.

2.  In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, cream the butter until fluffy and pale yellow.

3.  Add the sugar and brown sugar and continue beating until the mixture smooth and sugar is mostly dissolved.

4.  Add the eggs and vanilla and beat on low speed until blended.

5.  Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed just until blended.

6.  Add the chocolate chips and mix until blended.

7.  Press plastic wrap onto the dough, and refrigerate 24 hours.

8.  Once 24 hours have passed, using a cookie scoop, or greased hands, shape the dough into 1-inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.

9.  Bake the cookies at 350 until golden brown around the edges, about 12 minutes.  Let the cookies cool briefly on the pans on wire racks before transferring them to the racks to cool completely.