Chocolate Chip Cookies 3-Ways

 

Everyone has to have a "go-to" Chocolate Chip cookie recipe. It doesn't matter what age you are, there is nothing better then a tall glass of milk along with a freshly baked cookie. My cookie recipe is a fairly basic one that always delivers the perfect combination of crunch and chew. This time though I decided to "play" around and add my own touches to it. There are 3 cookies : Coconut-Cranberry-Chocolate Chip, Espresso Chocolate Chip and of course the old favorite Chocolate Chip. I had my taste tester Lukas give them all a big thumbs up!

Chocolate Chip Cookies 3-Ways

(Print this Recipe)

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 (11.5 ounce) package Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips

1 cup chopped Walnuts

1 packet Starbucks Via Ready Brew Italian Roast (extra bold)

1/2 cup sweetened Coconut

1/4 cup Craisins Cranberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl and give it a good whisk to get any lumps out.  

Beat butter, white sugar, light brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy and light in color. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. 

Gradually beat flour into the butter/sugar/egg mixture.

Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Divide dough into thirds.

Add the Starbucks Via to one third.

Add coconut and cranberries to another third.

And the final third of dough will stay as is.

Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto a parchment lined cookie sheet .

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for a couple of minutes and then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool.

Coconut-Cranberry Chocolate Chip

Espresso Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip

Tips for Great Cookies:

• I always line my cookie sheets with Parchment paper, even if they are non-stick
• In order to prevent over-salting my cookies I like to use unsalted butter
• I let all my ingredients  come to room temperature before starting to bake
• Invest in good quality ingredients. If I spent the time, I want to have the best possible end product.
• A good chocolate or chocolate chip is a must. The cookies can be made with any kind of chocolate chip but in my opinion with a darker chocolate the cookies don't get over powered with sweetness. There are a lot of brands of chocolate out there. You can go VERY wrong with cheap chocolate. I found that Ghirardelli or even Lindt Chocolate (chopped by hand) provide the best flavor without breaking your pocket book
• Buy an Ice Cream Scoop, it will produce uniform cookies every time
• And most of all, have lots of milk on hand. Trust me, you'll need it ;o)