Baking with Linh - How to make the best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Have you ever wished you could make chocolate chip cookies at home but all of the recipes seemed so complicated? Or whether you are just beginning your baking journey, this step by step guide to creating delicious gooey chocolate chip cookies is very beginner friendly as you don’t need any fancy kitchen tools such as a hand mixer, and all the ingredients will be things commonly found in your pantry or very easily accessible.

Source: Pexels

Basic information:

Makes about 15 cookies (each not yet baked scoop is about 5 cm in diameter)

Prep time: 15 minutes (may take longer depending on how fast you work and measure the ingredients)

Rest time: 30 < minutes

Cook time: 10-14 minutes (depending on how your cookies bake)

Cool time: minimum of 10 minutes

Overall time: ~60 minutes

Ingredients needed:

• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, melted

• 1 cup of brown sugar

• 1/4 white sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 egg yolk 

(if you are unable to separate the yolk from the whites, you can use 2 whole eggs)

• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

• 1 3/4 cup of all purpose flour 

(make sure this is sifted to prevent any unwanted clumps forming)

• 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon of salt

• 1 cup of chocolate chips or crushed up chocolate

Equipment needed:

• Measuring cups

• Silicone/ plastic spatula

• Big mixing bowl

• Parchment paper

• Baking tray

• Ice cream scooper (optional)

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 175 degrees celsius and line your baking tray with parchment paper.

Step 2:

Into a mixing bowl combine your melted butter, brown sugar, and white sugar.

Step 3: Add and mix in your egg and egg yolk, and your vanilla extract.

TIP: The more vanilla extract you add the better (depending on your preference). 

Step 4: Fold in your dry ingredients: Flour, salt, and baking soda.

TIP: Try not to over mix your dough to prevent it being stiff. Fold in your dry ingredients until everything is just combined.

Step 5: Fold in your chocolate chips/ bits.

TIP: Again, try not to stiffen your dough and fold it until the chocolate chips/ bits are evenly distributed around.

Step 6: Cover your cookie dough and let it chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes

TIP: If you want less round and more spread out cookies allow your cookie dough to rest to room temperature after taking it out of the fridge.

Step 7: Take your baking tray which you lined up before, (I used aluminum foil instead of parchment paper as I ran out of parchment paper) roll up balls of cookie dough, about 5 cm in diameter using an ice cream scoop or your hands and a spoon for support. 

Step 8: Place your tray into the preheated oven and let your cookies bake for about 10-14 minutes.

TIP: At the 10 minute mark, you should check on your cookies. You will know they are done when the outer ridge of the cookie is hard and browned while the middle is still uncooked.

Step 9: Take out your tray and let it rest on the counter for at least 10 minutes. This allows that uncooked middle to cook perfectly leaving you with a soft gooey centre.