Sometimes as food bloggers, we try so hard to do something original or out of the ordinary with our recipes that the plain recipes… the classic recipes… get overlooked. As much as I love a touch of special, I also have to admit that some of the most basic and simple recipes are my favorite.
These chocolate cookies, for example, won’t stand out to anyone as being unique. It is a chewy, chocolate cookie. Delicious and extraordinary in flavor, but there is nothing special about this recipe. This cookie won’t make it on a list of most interesting cookies. It won’t win awards for the most unique blend of flavors, but I can guarantee you that it will win smiles from each and every chocolate lover who tastes them.
Sure, I could have added a sprinkle of sea salt on the top to make them stand out. I could have sandwiched a layer of french vanilla caramel in between them for that extra ounce of ooomph. Even better… I could have drizzled salted french vanilla caramel on top of them for the biggest punch of wow, but I didn’t. You see, these cookies… these tender, soft, chewy, chocolaty cookies, don’t need help from a fancier supporting cast. They, my friends, can handle the spotlight quite well on their very own. Take a taste and see… sometimes plain can be the most extraordinary flavor of all.
The recipe is after this short, fun video with Linda Stahl, baking authority for Hershey’s test kitchens. Linda personally answered some of my most pressing questions about the ins and outs of Cookie Exchanges. This chocolate cookie is one of my contributions to an upcoming cookie exchange with friends…listen to Linda’s advice on how else to make a cookie exchange successful!
Recipe: Extra Special Chewy Chocolate Cookies
- 1 1/4 cups butter, softened
- 2 cups white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened Hershey cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs then add the vanilla
- In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; gradually mix into the creamed mixture.
- Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto parchment lined cookie sheets
- Bake 9 minutes in the preheated oven. Cookies will be soft and still look slightly doughy
- Let set and cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes then remove from sheet onto wire rack to cool completely
Those look like the perfect sandwich cookies. Now, what can I put inside of them? Peppermint cream, perhaps.
‘Tis the season.
yummmmmmmmm
I am marking this on my google reader, i need to make these!!
Yum! I totally agree. I love simple cookies and these look sensational. You have on lucky little girl!!
Those look scrumptious!!!!! Simple + scrumptious= PERFECT!
Yum! But what? No fancy salt? No crystalized something or another? You know I jest. Less is best in my book, and it looks like you agree.
wow, these are super simple too! i’m all for delicious, easy recipes
Adding these to my list! Yum!
Chewy is GOOD! These would be the only cookies my boys would go for on a sweet table. Bookmarked!
I often think the simplest recipes are the best! They look delicious
I have a recipe very similar to these and I LOVE them!! You’re absolutely right…they don’t need anything else!!
Great questions in your interview, too!!
you’re right… sometimes the most basic recipe is the most satisfying
Lovely! Some of the Hersheys Test Kitchen recipes are my favorites (which is appropriate since I live in Hershey, PA!)… Loved the video. And, the cookies look fabulous!
Love the recipe, and I must say I adore your blog! I am a “newish” reader, but I am just so addicting to this site
Thanks for all the great recipe ideas!
Happy Baking!
You are SO right, Kristen!
I enjoyed the video very much! It also put me in the mood to bake cookies. Your recipe looks delicious, and the smiling little face getting ready to taste test them is precious.
Gorgeous pics and beautiful recipe!
Perfection! I love the comfort of this cookie. And, I’m so guilty of wanting to make something special more often than not. But I’m finally getting passed that and back into the joy of baking.
I love the simplicity of this recipe. The photo of your daughter is adorable!
I trust that these cookies are simply perfect & do not need to be all fancied up. They do look divine
XO
I know exactly what you mean, and actually wrote something similar a few weeks ago. Sometimes I work too hard at getting something unique, but the recipes I love best can be incredibly simple. No need to jazz them up. I can just tell that these cookies speak for themselves.