The Secret to my Chocolate Chip Cookies

One of the ways that I show people I love them is through cookies.  

Homemade chocolate chip cookies. 

I started making them while living in Atlanta and leading bible studies with high school girls. 

Don't ever tell me teenage girls don't eat. 

Cause they could take DOWN some cookies.  
*Disclaimer, since the post first was written, some of those girlies have complained that I never made them homemade cookies.  Wrong.  I did...and they actually preferred slice and bake at that time. So that's what I went with.... ahem...Courtney and Allie.....*

Since then, they've gone with friends on planes to Africa.  To birthday parties and Christmas parties. To families who just had babies.  On our vacations.  To people that I just needed to remind that I loved them very much. 

I think I have now made about a bazillion batches. 

People have asked how I make them so I thought I'd share my big, secret recipe with the world. 

Here it is . . . 

Wait for it . . . 

I use the recipe off the really popular yellow and black chocolate-chip bag.  

That's it. 

Well, kinda.

I adjust a teensy bit and the difference is in the thickness of the cookies. 

Here's what you'll need: 

2 3/4 cup of PACKED flour.  (This is about a 1/2 cup more than the recipe calls for)

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

2 sticks of butter (I use them straight out of the fridge, they don't need to be softened)

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups chocolate chips

Set your oven for 375. 

Pack your flour, then add the salt and baking soda to it in a small bowl.   

Mix together the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla.  (I don't have a fancy-schmancy stand alone mixer, a regular one does just fine!)

Then add the eggs and mix.  

Start to add the dry ingredients slowly and mix well.  You want the batter to be thick.  Once all the flour is mixed in, then stir in the chocolate chips.  

This is the part of the process where I take samples.  JUST to make sure it tastes okay.  

Next, I drop them by teaspoon onto a baking sheet, about this size....

The good news is that they aren't going to flatten out, so you can stick them pretty close together! 

I usually leave mine in for only 7 minutes.  The directions on the bag says to leave them a few minutes longer.  If they are SLIGHTLY browned on the tips of the cookie, it's time to take them out.  You may think they aren't done, but they'll stiffen up a bit. 

You can see just a little brown on the tips.  Take em' out! 

They taste great just out of the oven, but I think they taste even better the next day! 

I made these yesterday for a VERY special little boy whom I LOVE very much! Happy 1st Birthday Baby J, so grateful for this year we have had with you!