Tuesday, January 24, 2012

comfort food.

{image from Bippity Boppity Boo}

Sunday was our monthly supper club meeting, and while I had the grandest of intentions to bake this decadent-looking chocolate cake, reality struck at about midnight Saturday as we drove back into town from a business trip in St. Augustine. Chocolate chip cookies seemed like a suitable compromise, since this month's meal was designed around comfort food, and tell me: What's more comforting than a homemade chocolate chip cookie?

My mom graciously found me this recipe online, and although I wound up using a smaller amount of instant vanilla pudding, they turned out just fine. Better than fine, actually, especially considering my 1970s-style oven, which has caused many a heartbreak (and a smoke alarm) over the past couple of years. The recipe made about 40 bite-sized cakey cookies, enough for supper club and small groups and this week's lunches.

One note: Because of my aformentioned oven, I have to reduce the baking temperature by 50 degrees and the cook time by a few minutes. If you're like me and living in an older apartment, try preheating your oven to 325 or 350 and cooking for 8 to 10 minutes on a pizza stone rather than a baking sheet.

Absolute perfection. And comforting, to boot.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix (I used 2.5 oz)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (this is a lot of chocolate chips; you could easily use a little less)

Instructions:
1 - Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2 - In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add pudding mix, eggs and vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips.
3 - Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

* See full recipe and comments here.


3 comments:

Elizabeth Dean said...

those cookies on Sunday night were awesome. I love a cake-like, dense cookie.

Simple Domesticity said...

How funny, I just posted a chocolate chip recipe on my blog. They seem rather similar aside from the pudding mix in yours. I would try these if pudding mix was sold here. I'll keep it in mind for when I go home.

jennifer blair said...

Mmm. I have been looking for the perfect recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I have failed thus far, but I have hope again! Haha! I will definitely be trying this.