Chocolate chip cookies, take three

Big Chocolate Chip Cookies
Moosewood Restaurant New Classics Copyright 2001

¾ cup butter, at room temperature
1 ½ cups packed dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1 ½ cups unbleached white flour I used all-purpose flour
¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons water
2 cups chocolate chips I used chunks
1 cup chopped walnuts or raisins, optional I didn't use these.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly butter a baking sheet.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until smooth. Beat in the eggs until well blended. In a separate bowl, sift together the white flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, mixing well. Add the vanilla and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and, if you wish, the nuts and/or raisins.

For 3-inch cookies, drop the batter by scant ¼ cups onto the baking sheet, leaving 2 inches of space between the cookies. I made these smaller. I used my larger cookie scoop, which I believe is 2 tablespoons. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the edges and bottoms are light brown and the tops golden. Check after 8 minutes to avoid overbaking.

Remove cookies to a rack to cool. I cool them on foil for a softer cookie.
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Recently I've made Cakey Chocolate Chip Cookies and then I made the crisp and crunchy Bev's Chocolate Chip Cookies. This latest recipe is soft and delicious. These cookies literally melt in your mouth. I've made these with regular whole wheat flour and they're much better with the whole wheat pastry flour. I use Bob's Red Mill brand.

This is one of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes, probably my all-time favorite. Sure, other recipes seem great when they're all you have in front of you but if you lined them all up together, these would win every time.

Sorry for all the sweets this week. I'm having trouble getting back into a groove after a busy weekend and the holiday. I haven't picked out a one recipe for next week yet. I need a real vacation.

Question of the Day: What are your vacation plans this year?