Your Friend Needs a Cookie (Here’s a Recipe)
This year’s been tough. As Steph Ng explains, sometimes the sweetest gift of all can be a bit of hospitality.
I never used to be much of a cook or baker. The skills of multitasking, following a recipe and the subsequent clean-up seemed far above my abilities. However, after the wild year it’s been, and after having received baked goods on multiple occasions from dear friends, I can now say that I have since confronted my disinterest towards baking and actually taken quite a liking to it.
Here’s why: each time I received a little tied up package of brownies, cookies, or cake, I felt so warmly loved and cared for. I found it amazing that such a small act of kindness could stir such warm feelings! Then I thought, maybe this could be a way I bless and uplift those around me who are in need of a little kind gesture.
Sometimes your friends don’t need the right words. Sometimes they just need a cookie
Since then, I’ve reflected on the reasons why baking for friends is such a blessing. Here are just a few of them:
When your friends receive something you have put time and effort into creating, it shows them you are not only caring for them in your heart, but also through action.
Sometimes your friends don’t need the right words. Sometimes they just need a cookie. And every time they take out a cookie, it’s a physical reminder that they have a friend who cares for and is thinking of them.
By baking something (or making anything for a loved one), you aren’t just considering them in the moment you hand over the gift, but also during the process of creation too. The time and thought makes the gift all the more special and thoughtful.
Having said all this, here is a personal favourite recipe for the best ever chewy choc chip cookies. I love this recipe because it’s a crowd-favourite, easy to make in bulk, easily customisable for whatever taste your friends enjoy and super convenient; the dough is freezable for some last-minute bakes! This recipe is originally from Tasty, but with slight adjustments and tips added by me which I have found helpful after my many times of using this recipe.
I hope you enjoy making these, and that those who eat your finished products will be warmly blessed.
The Best Ever Choc Chip Cookies
Makes: 12 (large) cookies
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS
½ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup brown sugar (packed)
1 teaspoon salt (I find a little less is perfect. But feel free to do it to taste!)
½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
110g milk chocolate chunks
110g dark chocolate chunks
Optional additions: nuts, M&Ms, shredded coconut, toffee, dried fruit... but really do you want to add sultanas to your cookies? (No.)
METHOD
In a large bowl, whisk granulated and brown sugar, salt, and butter until a paste forms. Make sure there are no lumps.
Add to this egg and vanilla. Whisk until light ribbons fall off the whisk and remain shortly before falling back into the mixture.
Sift the flour and baking soda into the mix. Fold the mixture with a spatula. Be careful not to over-mix, which may cause the gluten to toughen and result in “cakier” cookies.
Fold in chocolate chunks or other extras.
Chill the dough for a minimum of 1 hour, and maximum of 1 day. I find 3 hours is perfect! The longer you refrigerate it, the more toffee-like the texture. You can freeze some of this dough for later baking if you wish.
Pre-heat the oven at 180°C (fan forced).
Line your baking trays with baking paper.
Once the dough is done chilling, roll 1 tablespoon (or less, if you want smaller cookies) of dough into balls and press gently on the tray. Leave a few inches between each cookie.
Bake until the edge is just brown, and the inside is still white-ish.
Cool in the tray, then transfer to a cooling rack.
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