Ladies and gentlemen, I believe I have found THE ONE.
Let me get down to it: these cookies are the most delicious and the most beautiful chocolate chip cookies I have ever made and put in my mouth. There I said it.
I kind of hate myself right now because my photography does not give justice to just how gorgeous these cookies are! The dark and stormy weather on the day I made these was a glaring contrast to just how bright and delicious these were. But you know what solved all those petty annoyances? A bite of these cookies. Just a bite and I could forget about everything else, and that included nearly forgetting to photograph for this post!
Previously, I had thought the NY Times Chocolate Chip Cookies were the most gorgeous (and also really delicious), with Alton Brown’s The Chewy having the best taste, but here we are with the Bouchon version and I find myself at a loss for words for how seriously good these are.
In my book, anytime a choco chip cookie develops a firm and crunchy exterior with a soft chewy center, it is one step to being the perfect choco chip cookie. This cookie was not only chewy in the center, it was kind of moist and just a little gooey too. Heaven!
Each cookie has both chocolate chips and chunks in them, giving them that satisfying chocolate flavour with an underlying current of sweet caramel. However I loved that tiny kick of tang the cookies had thanks to what I think is the secret ingredient that makes these cookies so good– molasses. (It’s also responsible for the chewiness I think.)
But as with most great choco chip cookie recipes, this one also requires quite a bit of time in the fridge before baking. I have seen someone make the NY Times recipe just refrigerating the cookies for an hour instead of the 24 to 48 hour “marinating time”, and according to her it was just as delicious. I wonder what effect no longer refrigerating will have applied to this particular recipe. But to tell you the truth, I actually don’t mind the wait, as long as I know I’m about to have these babies at the end of that road.
Bouchon's Chocolate Chip & Chunk Cookies
Makes anywhere from 6 giant cookies to 24 regular-sized ones
Ingredients
- 238 grams 1 1/2 cups + 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2.3 grams 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 grams 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 134 grams 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons lightly packed dark brown sugar
- 12 grams 1 3/4 teaspoons unsulfured molasses
- 104 grams 1/2 cup + 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 107 grams 2/3 cup 70% to 72% chocolate, cut into 3/8-inch chunks
- 107 grams scant 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 167 grams 5.9 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
- 60 grams 3 Tablespoons + 2 1/2 teaspoons eggs
Instructions
- 1. Place the flour in a medium bowl. Sift in the baking soda. Add the salt and whisk together. Place the dark brown sugar in a small bowl and stir in the molasses and granulated sugar, breaking up any lumps; the mixture will not be completely smooth.
- 2. Place the chocolate chunks in a strainer and tap the side to remove any powdered chocolate, which would cloud the cookies. Mix with the chocolate chips.
- 3. Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Turn to medium-low speed and cream the butter, warming the bowl if needed, until it is the consistency of mayonnaise and holds a peak when the paddle is lifted. Add the molasses mixture and mix for 3 to 4 minutes, until fluffy.
- 4. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add the eggs and mix on low speed for 15 to 30 seconds, until just combined. Scrape the bowl again. The mixture may look broken, but that is fine (overwhipping the eggs could cause the cookies to expand too much during baking and then deflate).
- 5. Add the dry ingredients in 2 additions, mixing on low speed for 15 to 30 seconds after each, or until just combined. Scrape the bottom of the bowl to incorporate any dry ingredients that have settled there. Add the chocolate and pulse on low speed about 10 times to combine. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
- 6. Position the racks in the upper and lower third of the oven and preheat to 325°F (165°C). Line two sheet pans with Siplats or parchment paper.
- 7. Using an ice cream scoop, divide the dough into 6 equal positions, 150 grams each for large cookies. For smaller cookies, divide into 12 equal portions of 75 grams each (or if even smaller cookies are desired, divide into 24 portions).* Roll each one into a ball between the palms of your hands.
- 8. For large cookies, bake only 3 on each pan. With a short end of the pan toward you, place one cookie in the upper left corner, one in the lower left corner and the third one in the center, toward the right side of the pan. For smaller cookies, bake 4 up to 6 cookies at a time, making sure to space them at least 2 inches apart. Bring the dough to room temperature before baking.
- 9. Bake until golden brown, 14 to 16 minutes in a convection oven, 18 to 20 minutes in a standard oven, reversing the positions of the pans halfway through baking. Set the pans on a cooling rack and cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then transfer the cookies to the rack to cool completely.
- Storage: The cookies are best the day they are baked, but they can be stored in a covered container for up to 3 days.
Notes
12 Comments
Faye Tiangco
Am a first time baker, i have a few questions: Where do i buy unsulfured molasses? And is granulated sugar, white sugar? Thank you very much
Clarisse
Hi there, thanks for your questions! You can check in Healthy Options or most supermarkets for molasses. I personally use the BRER RABBIT brand. I think SM carries it, if not you can check Landmark.
As for granulated sugar, yes it is indeed white sugar but with a finer grain. I use Peotraco caster sugar every time I bake a recipe calling for white sugar.
Hope this helps and good luck! 🙂
Dessa
Hi. What brand of chocolate did you use on 107 grams (2/3 cup) 70% to 72% chocolate, cut into 3/8-inch chunks? and where do you buy your chocolate chips? Thanks.
Clarisse
Hi! I usually use Lindt 72% Chocolate or Villar’s 72% Chocolate when a recipe calls for 70% bittersweet. You can use your fave brand for eating as long as the label says 70-72% chocolate. 🙂
Mel
Can i omit the molasses?
Clarisse
Hi Mel! I don’t recommend omitting it since it enhances the flavor of the cookies, but if you can also substitute pure maple syrup or honey of the same amount if you really don’t have molasses. Hope this helps! 🙂
Joey
Hi! I tried this recipe twice, the first time following it exactly and the second time reducing the brown and white sugar to 80%. Both times the cookies didn’t spread as much, why is that?
Clarisse
Hi Joey, how long did your preheat your oven?
Joey
I preheated the oven for about 20 mins, and even between batches, the results were the same.
Clarisse
You only refrigerated the dough right? You didn’t freeze it?
Joey
Correct, i followed everything in the recipe, i’m not sure why it’s not as flat as yours in the photo.
Clarisse
I really can’t help much if I don’t see what it is exactly you did that might have caused this, but the only other thing I can think of is that maybe you added more flour than you should? Here’s a link that might help you troubleshoot— https://www.mnn.com/food/recipes/stories/whats-wrong-with-my-cookies-a-troubleshooting-guide