Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Indulge in the ultimate Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies, featuring a secret ingredient: vanilla pudding. This recipe is sure to become your all-time favorite, as the pudding adds a delightful moisture and irresistibly, soft chewy texture.
Chocolate chip cookies are a beloved classic, but have you ever thought about adding a secret ingredient to take them to the next level? Well, look no further than these soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies with a surprising twist - pudding! Pudding adds an extra layer of moisture and flavor to your cookies, making them even more irresistible. In this blog post, we'll explore the magic of adding pudding to your cookie dough and share a delicious recipe for you to try.
My mother used to whip up this recipe as an after-school delight, often reserving it for Fridays. I've carried on this cherished tradition, although not as frequently. Back when my kids were still in school, I'd prepare them on a Friday, before a school break, or a day when they faced a significant test. This recipe is wonderfully straightforward: blend the wet ingredients, gradually incorporate the flour, and in just 25 minutes, you'll have these scrumptious, soft, and chewy chocolate chip cookies ready. Pair them with a glass of milk for the perfect treat.
The Secret Ingredient: Pudding
Pudding may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of chocolate chip cookies, but it's a game-changer. The pudding mix, whether instant or homemade, enhances the cookie's texture, making it softer and chewier. It also brings a delightful depth of flavor, complementing the chocolate chips beautifully.
Story Time!
Have you ever been curious about the origin of the chocolate chip cookie? Let me share its fascinating history. You can either dive into it now or return after you've baked your batch of cookies.
The history of the chocolate chip cookie is a delicious tale of accidental invention and sweet success. Here's how the chocolate chip cookie came to be.
1930s: The Birth of the Chocolate Chip Cookie
• The chocolate chip cookie's story begins in the 1930s when a dietician named Ruth Wakefield and her husband, Kenneth, bought a tourist lodge called the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts.
• Ruth Wakefield often baked for the guests, and she had a popular butter drop cookie recipe. She decided to experiment by adding chopped-up chocolate from a Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar to the dough, thinking it would melt and create an all-chocolate cookie.
• However, the chocolate pieces didn't fully melt as expected but remained soft and gooey. This unexpected result led to the creation of the very first chocolate chip cookie.
The birth of toll house cookies: These cookies, known as "Toll House Crunch Cookies," became an instant hit among the inn's guests and locals.
People started asking for the recipe.
Ruth Wakefield published the recipe in her 1936 cookbook, "Ruth Wakefield's Toll House Tried and True Recipes," which also featured Nestlé's semi-sweet chocolate bars.
Nestlé's Partnership
The popularity of the Toll House Crunch Cookie recipe caught the attention of Nestlé, the chocolate company. They saw an opportunity to promote their semi-sweet chocolate bars.
In a clever marketing move, Nestle struck a deal with Ruth Wakefield: they would print her cookie recipe on the back of their chocolate bar packaging, and in return, she would receive a lifetime supply of Nestlé chocolate.
They also agreed to break their chocolate bars into small, uniform pieces, which we now know as chocolate chips. This made it even more convenient for bakers to replicate the recipe.
Did you know you can purchase a copy of Ruth's cookbook on Amazon for under $12 https://amzn.to/49dJOmr
Helpful Information
How do I store homemade chocolate chip cookies?
Properly storing chocolate chip cookies is essential to maintain their freshness and keep them delicious. Here are some tips on how to store chocolate chip cookies:
1. Cool Completely: Before storing your cookies, make sure they have cooled completely. If they're even slightly warm, the trapped steam can make them soggy in an airtight container.
2. Airtight Container: Place your cookies in an airtight container. You can use a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid, a cookie tin, or even a resealable plastic bag with most of the air squeezed out.
3. Layer with Parchment Paper: If you're stacking cookies in the container, place a sheet of parchment paper between the layers to prevent them from sticking together.
4. Freezing: If you want to store cookies for an extended period, consider freezing them. Place cookies in an airtight container or freezer bag with layers separated by parchment paper. To thaw, simply remove them from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for a few hours or overnight.
5. Room temperature vs. Refrigeration: While room temperature storage is best for maintaining texture and flavor, you can refrigerate cookies if they have a filling like cream or fruit. If you refrigerate, ensure they are in an airtight container.
6. Avoid Direct Sunlight: Store cookies away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Exposure to light and heat can cause them to become stale or even melt.
7. Use Cookie Jars: Cookie jars with airtight seals can be a stylish and practical option for storing cookies on your countertop. Just make sure the jar is truly airtight.
8. Label and Date: If you're making multiple batches of cookies or storing them for an extended period, label the container with the cookie type and date. This helps you keep track of freshness.
9. Consume Promptly: While properly stored cookies can last for several days to a few weeks, they are best when consumed within the first few days for optimal freshness.
Remember that the ideal storage method can vary slightly based on the specific type of cookie and its ingredients, so it's a good idea to observe how your cookies respond to different storage methods and adjust accordingly.
Why should I place cookies on a cooling rack after baking?
Placing cookies on a cooling rack after baking serves several purposes:
1. Even Cooling: Cooling racks allow air to circulate around the cookies, promoting even cooling. This prevents the cookies from becoming soggy on the bottom due to trapped steam.
2. Prevents Overcooking: When cookies sit on a hot baking sheet, residual heat can continue to cook them, potentially causing overbaking. Transferring them to a cooling rack halts this process.
3. Crispness Control: If you want your cookies to remain crisp, cooling them on a rack can help maintain their texture by allowing moisture to escape evenly.
4. Quick Cooling: Using a rack speeds up the cooling process, so you can enjoy your cookies sooner.
Shop cooling rack here Single rack https://amzn.to/3QCnThO
Two-pack cooling rack
Three-tier cooling rack
How do I keep homemade cookies soft?
Want to keep your homemade cookies soft or revive hard ones? Try this trick passed down from my grandmother: Place your cookies in a ziplock bag with a slice or two of bread. The bread's moisture will work its magic to keep your cookies soft or soften them back to perfection!
Ingredients
One box of instant vanilla pudding
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup softened butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt ( optional )
One bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, pudding mix, eggs and vanilla. Beat with a hand mixer until creamy.
3. Gradually add the flour and baking soda to the wet ingredient. Beat on low speed until combined.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Drop the cookie batter by heaping teaspoons onto an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes.
6. Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and place them on a cooling rack.
NOTE Do Not over bake. The cookies may not look done but they will continue to bake while cooling.
Soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies are a timeless treat, and by incorporating a secret ingredient like pudding, you can take them to a whole new level of deliciousness. The addition of pudding not only enhances the texture but also infuses the cookies with a unique flavor. So, the next time you're craving some homemade chocolate chip cookies, give this recipe a try and watch your friends and family marvel at your baking skills. Happy baking!
More cookie recipes you may enjoy from Lia Rose Simply Home.
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Packed with nutritious oats this soft and chewy oatmeal cookie recipe is a must try.
Shop toll house tried and true recipes cookbook by Ruth Wakefield here.
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Soo good!!!