Chocolate Chip Cookies - Thick, Soft, and Chewy

By 1For_Him

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened *
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional
• Butter spreads out and makes thinner cookie, but tastes better. Shortening yields a thick, chewy cookie. Could use 1/2 of each and chill the dough to help minimize the spreading.

Preparation

Step 1

Mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla with a mixer until well blended. Beat in egg, mixing well. Add flour mixture and beat slowly to incorporate, then stir in chips and nuts.

Drop batter in 2 T portions about 2 inches apart on baking sheets. *Bigger dollops spread less and make a softer chewier cookie than tiny spoonfuls. *Cool the baking sheet before putting batter on it to minimize spreading.

Bake in a 400 degree oven until edges are brown, but an area about 1 inch wide in the center is still pale, about 6-7 minutes. *Shorter cooking time at higher temp. minimizes spreading.

Let cookies cool on pan about 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool.