Chocolate Chip Cookies & Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae

Yields: 3 dozen, pending how much cookie dough is consumed.  ;)

Perfectly baked.  

Prep: 5 minutes
Bake: 9-12 minutes at 375 degrees





Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour (I use all-purpose)
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter (1 stick, unsalted)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon  pure vanilla extract
2 eggs

Mmmm...trying to resist eating it.

1 pkg (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:  Cream shortening, sugars, and butter together.  Add eggs; mix.  Add salt, baking soda, and vanilla; mix.  Add flour; mix.  Add chocolate chips; mix.  Place about tablespoon size scoops on a cookie sheet leaving 2-2.5 inches between spoonfuls.  Bake at 375 degrees for 9-12 minutes


For Sundaes:
all ingredients for Chocolate Chip cookie dough
vanilla ice cream (or ice cream of your choice)
chocolate or caramel sauce (optional)

Directions:  Press cookie dough into a small ceramic bakeware dish and fill about 1/2-2/3 full.  Cook for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees (because it is thicker it needs to bake slower).  Let cool for a few minutes and top with a scoop of ice cream.  Drizzle with chocolate/caramel sauce if desired.

Tova, my big helper.

I have been making chocolate chip cookies for as long as I can remember.  They are my dads favorite cookie so we always seemed to be baking them at some point for him.  Growing up chocolate chip cookies were a currency in our house.  My dad worked on my car and I paid him in cookies.  Now, I get to pass this wonderful cookie recipe to Tova and some day she will be paying daddy in cookies when he fixes her computer.  :)

One thing my mom taught me about the cookie recipe is the order you must follow.  I used to go down the list and add as I went.  Big baker mistake!  The dough changes consistency if things are not followed.   So don't change it up or it will change your outcome.
I have dark brown sugar listed in the ingredients.  You can use light brown sugar.  I prefer dark brown sugar, but not everyone does so I usually use 1/4 cup light brown sugar and 1/2 cup dark brown sugar.  I love dark brown sugar so I usually use a blend in most recipes.  The last thing I change in the recipe if I have it on hand is Mexican vanilla.  Ohh... it is so- yummy.  It adds a slight spiciness that you wouldn't get with regular vanilla.  I have relatives that go frequently to Mexico so I am able to get it easily and cheap.  Yay!  If you have it, use it.  I am sure you will like it.  With the Mexican vanilla I usually stick to 1 teaspoon but regular pure vanilla extract I let it run over the teaspoon.  Then again, I am a vanilla lover so the more the merrier in my mind.

Rolled in wax paper and then covered with plastic wrap.

This time I decided to put half the dough in the fridge.  Honestly, I hate baking cookies past 2 sheets.  I start to get impatient and I start to feel like I have been baking forever.  So off to the fridge with the rest of the dough.  I rolled it into a log (like the premade stuff at the grocery store).  This way when I want to bake more cookies I just cut off the amount and put them on the cookie sheets.  Works fantastic and it can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator.



The chocolate chip cookie sundae is actually from my mother-in-law.  I would never have thought of it, but it is genius!  Warm cookie with ice cream seeping down to the bottom. *drooling*  If I am feeling fancy-shmancy I drizzle mine with a little chocolate sauce or caramel sauce for my husband.  I love to make this for guests because you can make the cookie dough earlier in the day and place it in the ramekins (I used 4 oz size).  Then take them out and bake when your ready.  So- easy.

Bake time.

All done and ready for ice cream and consumption!

The hubby's sundae

Baking has become one of my special times with Tova.  After having Boden she has had to share her time and that has been hard, but this is something special we get to do during his nap time.     I can't wait to see what fun memories we get to bake up these weekend.  Homemade Oreos are calling my name.  :)  



***Sorry for all the pics.  I guess I got carried away.  :) ***