A Southern Grace: a cause for celebration

May 14, 2014

a cause for celebration

Yum

Friends, tomorrow is a special day, for as I understand it, it's National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. If ever there was a food that deserved a day of recognition, it's the humble and long-loved chocolate chip cookie.


Classic chocolate chip cookies are just plain awesome, and there are as many recipes out there as there are ways to pronounce "Worcestershire sauce." Although you certainly don't have to add anything other than chocolate chips, it's fun to mix it up every now and then. Another flavor of morsel is good--I've used peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips in the past (though not all in the same batch)(note to self). Different nuts add different tastes and textures--walnuts are my go-to, but almonds and pecans are tasty too. Bacon is a recent and popular addition, and I could go on and on.


For this batch, I took advantage of my remaining macadamia nuts, chopped them up, and tossed them in. I added toasted coconut as well because the two seem to go hand in hand. The resulting cookies tasted unique--they were a little salty (a good thing, in my opinion), very crunchy, and extra flavorful. Macadamia nuts have a buttery richness to them that no other nuts seem to provide. Superb.


I have a Krusteaz package consisting of their Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookie mix and three coupons to give to one lucky commenter. Simply tell me your favorite thing to add to a batch of chocolate chip cookies and you'll be in the running. I'll randomly pick a winner in one week, on the 21st of May; good luck!

Island-Inspired Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
  • 2/3 cup butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup shortening
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup macadamia nuts, toasted and chopped
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
Directions:
Beat together the butter and shortening, then cream in the sugars.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy; this will take a few minutes.
Carefully beat in the flour, soda, and salt until uniformly mixed, then fold in the morsels, nuts, and coconut gently with a spatula.
Chill dough for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Drop or scoop dough in 1-ounce portions (about 2 tablespoons) onto prepared pan, leaving a couple of inches between each ball.
Bake 10-12 minutes, depending on your oven, or until just brown around the bottom edges.
Cool for a moment on pan, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

17 comments:

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Beautiful! I made some a few days ago...

Cheers,

Rosa

Catherine said...

There really is nothing like the traditional C.C. Cookie! Blessings, Catherine

Camille said...

I love a traditional chocolate chip cookie, but I love to change it up by cutting the butter in half and adding peanut butter! mmmm delicious! :o)

Pam said...

Yay! I love having a reason to bake cookies. These look terrific Grace.

Angie's Recipes said...

You just can't beat the chocolate cookies, esp. when pairing with king of nuts!

Karen (Back Road Journal) said...

I think a chocolate chip cookie must be the most popular cookie there is. Your additions would be a pleasant surprise when biting into one.

Unknown said...

My son took one look at these cookies and said I want some of those can you make them....so I guess your job here has been done. Happy choc chip cookie day

Jeff @ Cheese-burger.net said...

This macadamia chocolate chip cookies is very flavorful.

Beth said...

Don't worry about entering me in the contest (because I live in Canada), but I had to comment anyway. My current favourite go-go addition is a combination of any three flavours. I recently used milk chocolate, butterscotch and semi-sweet chocolate chips, and it adds so much depth to the flavour!

Caroline Taylor said...

Sounds like my kind of day!

Rosita Vargas said...

Deliciosas y crujientes me gustan,abrazos

pam said...

So May 15th is national chocolate chip cookie day?! It's my birthday and I couldn't think of a better national day for it!

Cheri Savory Spoon said...

Love chocolate chip cookies, this looks like a wonderful recipe. Happy week-end to you.

Food Gal said...

EVERY day should be National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. Well, the way I eat them, it practically is already. LOL

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

No way, is it really that day of the year already? I must get a hold or bake some to celebrate. It would be the polite thing :P

Joanne said...

I've yet to meet a CCC I didn't love! Or a macadamia white chocolate cookie that I didn't love, coincidentally. WANT.

Inger @ Art of Natural Living said...

DOes more chocolate count as my favorite thing to add? M&M's? Oatmeal? But NOT raisins ;-)