Chocolate Chip Cookies

I rarely make your basic chocolate chip cookie because there are just so many other great cookies/bars/desserts that I would rather make (and personally, I think taste better).  A good friend asked for just plain old chocolate chip cookies.  I didn't want to use the basic nestle recipe so I went on the hunt for the "best" chocolate chip cookie.  New York Times featured their best chocolate chip cookie so I went with it.  Even I loved this cookie.  I actually have used the base of the dough before for my White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies.

**Side note: I omitted the Sea Salt because I got nervous that I would ruin the cookie.  I also used all-purpose flour in place of the bread flour.  Lastly, I used Ghirardelli 60% cacao chocolate chips (disks) because that is all I could find.

You may also like my all time favorite Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Source: New York Times, adapted from Adapted from Jacques Torres

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
Sea salt.

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. 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. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

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

4. 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. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day.

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