how to make chocolate cookies

There’s nothing more thoughtful or meaningful than making sweet treats yourself to express words of love, symbolizing that the recipient will always feel joyful and happy. With International Women's Day on October 20 approaching, if you're unsure what gift to get for the most important woman in your life, Annam Gourmet has a suggestion for you: an easy recipe for fragrant, crunchy chocolate cookies you can make at home.

1. Ingredients and Tools Needed for Making Chocolate Cookies

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this highly-rated chocolate cookie recipe:

  • Sugar: 2 cups of white sugar.
  • Margarine: This top-rated recipe calls for margarine, but you can use butter if you prefer.
  • Eggs: 2 eggs, providing moisture and helping to bind the cookie dough together.
  • Vanilla: Vanilla extract adds a richer flavor to the cookies.
  • Flour: All-purpose flour provides structure to the chocolate cookie dough.
  • Cocoa powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder is the key to all the rich chocolate goodness in these cookies.
  • Baking soda: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the cookies rise easily.
  • Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the overall flavor of the cookies without making them taste salty.
  • Nuts: Walnuts, pecans, almonds, etc.

ingredients and tool

2. Detailed Guide on How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies

You will find the full step-by-step recipe below — but here is a brief overview of what you can expect when making chocolate chip cookies at home:

Step 1: Mix the sugar and vegetable butter, beat the eggs, then add the vanilla.

The first step in making these easy chocolate chip cookies is to mix the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. When doing this, make sure to measure the flour correctly. Be sure to use a dry ingredient measuring cup (not a Pyrex liquid measuring cup). Then, scoop the flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a knife.

mix ingredients

Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients, then add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.

Next, mix the butter and sugar together, ensuring the butter is softened by taking it out of the refrigerator at least two hours before baking to make sure it's ready when you need it. You can also microwave the butter for about 7 seconds, but be very careful not to melt it. Once the butter and sugar mixture is well blended, add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.

mix dry and wet mixture well

Add the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Then, add the chocolate chips and mix until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.

add chocolate chips.jpg

Use plenty of chocolate chips. You should have at least two chunks of chocolate in each cookie.

lots of chocolate chips

Step 3: Scoop dough onto the baking tray and bake

At this point, you can shape the cookies by rolling the dough into round balls of any size you like. Then, press them lightly with your fingers to flatten the cookies and add a few extra chocolate chips on top of each dough ball.

Spoon the batter into the baking tray.

the tray

Note:

  • If you want the cookies to be crispy, adjust the oven temperature to 190°C (375°F) for about 12 minutes. After 8–9 minutes, when the cookies start turning golden, flip the tray around and bake for another 3 minutes until the edges are more golden brown. Once done baking, let the cookies sit on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. With this baking method, you will have cookies that are crispy from the inside out.
  • If you want the cookies to be crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, bake at 170°C (340°F) for about 15 minutes. After baking for 10–12 minutes, when the cookies begin to turn slightly golden, flip the tray and bake a little more for the edges to become golden brown. Let the cookies sit on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Step 4: Remove the cookies from the tray and enjoy

Once the chocolate chip cookies are done baking, let them cool completely before moving them to avoid breaking them. The chocolate chip cookies will have an attractive brown color, a delicious aroma when warm, and a crisp texture once cooled. The unique flavor of butter and chocolate will leave you craving more. You can enjoy these cookies in the afternoon or gift them to your loved ones.

take the cake out of the tray

3. Some Important Points to Note When Making Chocolate Cookies at Home

When making chocolate cookies at home, there are several important factors to ensure the cookies are fragrant, crispy, and have the perfect flavor. Below are some key points to keep in mind:

3.1 Choose Quality Ingredients

  • Chocolate: It’s recommended to use dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage (at least 60%) for a rich flavor and less sweetness. If you prefer a sweeter taste, you can combine it with milk chocolate.
  • Flour: Using all-purpose flour is the most common choice. Sift the flour before using it to avoid lumps, which will help achieve a smoother texture in the cookies.
  • Butter: Butter should be at room temperature (not completely melted) to easily mix with the sugar and other ingredients, resulting in a smooth cookie dough.

3.2 Balance the Ingredients’ Ratios

Make sure to use the right proportions of ingredients, as too much butter or sugar can make the cookies soft or overly sweet. The ratio of flour and sugar should also be balanced to ensure the cookies are crisp but not too hard.

3.3 Don’t Overmix the Dough 

When mixing the dough, only mix until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can cause the cookies to become chewy due to the development of more gluten in the flour.

3.4 Chill the Dough Before Baking 

After kneading the dough, it’s best to chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to an hour. This allows the butter to firm up, helping the cookies hold their shape during baking and making them crispier.

3.5 Oven Temperature

Bake the cookies at the right temperature (typically 170-180°C) and preheat the oven before placing the dough in. Too high or too low a temperature will affect the evenness of the baking and the color of the cookies.

3.6 Space Between Cookie Dough Balls 

When placing the dough on the baking tray, make sure there is enough space between each ball of dough, as the cookies will spread while baking. If they are too close together, they will stick and lose their shape.

3.7 Baking Time 

Do not bake for too long, as the cookies will continue to harden as they cool. The typical baking time is about 10-12 minutes, and the cookies are done when the edges are slightly golden.

3.8 Cool the Cookies Properly 

After baking, allow the cookies to cool on the tray for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely and become crisp.

4. Some Questions When Making Chocolate Chip Cookies

4.1 Where to Buy Quality Ingredients for Making Chocolate Chip Cookies?

It's not difficult to find chocolate ingredients on the market. You can purchase them at grocery stores, supermarkets, or specialty chocolate shops. However, to make sure you get quality chocolate for a delicious batch of cookies, you need to thoroughly research the product, its origin, and the cocoa content in the chocolate.

At Annam Gourmet, we are committed to providing customers with the best baking experience, allowing you to unleash your creativity and create irresistible cookie masterpieces. Our stores offer a wide range of baking ingredients, from basic essentials like flour, sugar, and butter, to specialized ingredients like cocoa powder, matcha powder, fresh cream, chocolate chips, etc. All our products come from reputable sources, ensuring food safety and hygiene, giving you peace of mind while baking.

Chocolate chip cookies are an excellent choice for gifts, especially for holidays, birthdays, or special occasions. Here are some reasons why chocolate chip cookies make an ideal gift:

  • Sweetness and Sophistication: Chocolate always evokes a sense of sweetness and luxury, symbolizing affection and care. Chocolate chip cookies not only offer a delicious taste but also show the thoughtfulness and elegance of the giver.
  • Versatility: Chocolate chip cookies come in many shapes and flavors, from dark chocolate, white chocolate, to cookies with nuts, dried fruits, or caramel. This makes it easy to choose the kind that suits the recipient's preferences.
  • Beautiful Packaging: Chocolate chip cookies are often beautifully packaged in elegant gift boxes. You can choose luxurious box designs and add personalized details like a note or ribbon, making the gift even more special.
  • Suitable for All Ages: Chocolate chip cookies are a gift that appeals to people of all ages, from children to adults. Additionally, they are easy to share, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere when enjoyed together.

4.2 What Famous Chocolate Chip Cookie Brands Does Annam Gourmet Carry?

If you don’t have enough time to bake, you can also buy ready-made chocolate chip cookies from the store to enjoy immediately. Here are the top 5 premium foreign chocolate-flavored cookies you should not miss if you're a fan of sweets or want to gift someone who loves this sweet flavor:

Pepperidge Farm America 

Pepperidge Farm's Milano double-layer chocolate cookies are from the Pepperidge Farm brand, established in the U.S. in 1937. For over 80 years, Pepperidge Farm has maintained its promise and commitment to quality products for customers. The world of Pepperidge Farm is always attractive due to the richness of its many delicious cookie lines. Pepperidge Farm proudly satisfies the diverse tastes of many consumers.

Pepperidge

St Michel 

St Michel’s Grande Galette chocolate butter cookies belong to the St Michel brand, a French family company founded in 1905. The rooster symbol on the St Michel logo represents the finest ingredients, the natural countryside, and is a symbol of France. All St Michel products are free from palm oil, artificial colors, and preservatives, using premium ingredients like French flour, fresh butter, and fresh eggs.

St_Michel

McVitie's 

McVitie's is a global brand present in over 100 countries with a long history in the UK. McVitie's Digestive whole wheat cookies are perfect for those who are on a diet, looking to lose weight, or maintain their figure. McVitie’s story began in 1830 with an apprentice baker named Robert McVitie, born in Scotland in 1809. Robert McVitie, along with his father William, founded a very successful bakery business, and 160 years later, McVitie’s continues to be a beloved company and one of the top biscuit brands in the UK.

Milka 

Along with Belgium and Switzerland, Germany is one of the "powerhouses" in chocolate production worldwide, with millions of chocolate bars consumed each year. Among the famous chocolate makers in Germany, Milka is known for its long-standing history and quality in the country.
Using 100% fresh milk from cows in the Alps, the Milka Chocolate Mix 6 types box delivers the delicious and appealing flavor of German milk chocolate. With the perfect balance of cocoa butter and refined sugar, Milka’s Chocolate Chip Sensations Cookies do not feel overly sweet or fatty; instead, each bite of the chocolate chip cookie offers a unique taste experience that grows more delightful with every bite.

Milka

We hope that with the simple chocolate chip cookie recipe Annam Gourmet just shared above, you will succeed in making delicious, round cookies to treat your family or give as a special gift to your loved ones. Wishing you a meaningful gift for the upcoming holiday!

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