Tuesday, February 9, 2010

best chocolate chip cookie dough ever


i had to finally try the now infamous new york times jacques torres recipe. you know, the recipe that tells you to refrigerate the dough for at least 24 and up to 48 hours. this actually works for me because i could eat cookie dough all day long, so i just nip (what am i, british?) into the fridge and steal some. it's seriously ridiculous. and it does get better with time. it has THE perfect sweet to salt ratio. i can't gush about it enough.

original recipe here.
here is the recipe via the new york times with my notes:

time: 45 minutes (for 1 6-cookie batch), plus at least 24 hours’ chilling
2 cups minus 2 tablespoons
(8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (i just used semi sweet chips, cause i'm lazy and that's what i do.)
sea salt. (i didn't do this part i thought it had the perfect amount of salt as is)

sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. set aside.

using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. stir in the vanilla. reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours (i usually scoop them out on to sheets and refrigerate them like that until the hold their shape then freeze i freeze them until i'm ready to bake—usually at least 48 hours). dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

when ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. (again, i already scooped them out and ditched the extra sea salt) sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. (okay, another area where i differ. this timing didn't work for me, maybe it's an altitude thing? so i tried another batch at 375° for 12 minutes and it still seemed dry, so then i did 400° for 8 minutes, then, i found the magic formula. 385° for 10 minutes. and seriously, it is truly magic. so. so. good.)

yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.

4 comments:

Sinful Southern Sweets said...

I have such a weakness for cookie dough!! I can't wait to try this!!

f*bomb. said...

Ummmm....Yes, that IS the magic formula!

julia said...

ok ok, i'll make some. you make it so hard to stay slim. oh, who am i kidding...

Veeda said...

Seriously, this is my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. Hands down!