Saturday, January 8, 2011

Ari's Cookie Jar Chocolate Chip




Baking cookies has always been one of my favorite things to do with my grands.  Both Ari and Maddie patiently await my cue to add ingredients and in between stick their little fingers and ask, "I taste?"
This morning, Ari said to me, "Mimi, my cookie jar is empty."  A few months ago, when I sent cookies to him, I put them in a plastic jar to protect them in shipping, but now it sat on the counter empty just like he said.  We made Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles in October and filled the jar, so on this snowy, cold day, we chose chocolate chip, another comfort food.

I know baking is a great way to build self-esteem; completing the steps in a recipe with gratifying results.  I loved baking cookies with my mother and baking with my girls.  Now, there's a new generation to pass along this tradition and I'm loving it even more.

Ari's Cookie Jar Chocolate Chip

1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups light brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 egg white
1 T vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cake flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven 350F-degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment or use a Silpat (silicon mat)

In a stand mixer, cream the butter until fluffy.  Add the brown sugar and beat for 2-3 minutes to completely combine.  Add the eggs, egg white and vanilla and mix well.  In a medium bowl, mix all the dry ingredients and add to the batter.  Mix just until combined.  Stir in the chocolate chips.
The batter is soft and Ari had no problem giving it a stir.  Use a cookie scoop or a large tablespoon to drop the cookies on the prepared sheet.  Ari likes BIG cookies (just like his mama did) so we did big scoops.  Eight mounds of dough per baking sheet, spacing about 2-inches apart.
Bake the cookies for 12 minutes.  Let them cool on the sheet for at least 5 minutes, then, remove to a rack to cool completely.  These cookies, as Ari said, "Soft and yummy," but if you prefer a crispier cookie, change out the light brown sugar to dark brown.  You can also add nuts or dried fruit (cranberries, tart cherries, raisins).  All I know is that these cookies made my grandson very happy to have his cookie jar filled once more.  Enjoy!

8 comments:

  1. Those photos are so adorable!! He is precious..without even knowing him, I can hear him telling you his cookie jar is empty just by the delightful way you tell the story. My son, Luke, loves chocolate chip..I will definitely be trying this recipe.

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  2. That is so cute that he said his cookie jar was empty. What a great little helper in the kitchen! Certainly these cookies were baked with love!

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  3. I agree with Erin, these cookies clearly are baked with love! Those brown eyes must melt your heart Mimi! xo

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  4. Too cute! Ari is quite the eager helper for his Mimi!

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  5. You KNOW that I love this precious post. Thank you, thank you. I can't ever get enough of my grands.

    Happy baking, happy grands,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

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  6. I love to read how you cook with your grandkids. I wish my mom cooked with me, and I really wish I would have cooked with my kids. If I'm ever blessed with grandkids you can bet I'll cook with them!

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  7. we just made chocolate chip cookies. they are the best comfort food with cold milk.

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  8. Cooking with children is not only rewarding for them, but you. I love to see their little faces light up when their endeavor comes out of the oven. It teaches fine muscle control, patience, listening skills, and most importantly, self-esteem.
    I believe I am who I am today because of baking, cooking, sewing, gardening, and crafting with my mother.
    Memories are the thing we can always hold onto long after our loved ones are gone. It sustains me! xoxo

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