CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Triple-Threat Chocolate Chip Cookies
Hybrid betweencookies and brownies,incredibely rich cookies.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chopped walnuts
6 TBSP unsalted butter
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 TBSP vanilla extract
1/3 cup all purpose flour
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 ½ cups semisweet or milk chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350F. Arrange the pecans and walnuts on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast for 7 to 9 minutes until golden brown. Cool the nuts completely.
Grease baking pan generously with butter or cooking spray.
Melt the butter, bittersweet chocolate, and unsweetened chocolate in a small saucepan set over low heat. Stir occasionally, watching carefully to make sure the chocolate does not burn. Remove the pan from the heat to cool.
Using a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar in a large bowl on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until fluffy. Add the vanilla and melted chocolate. Beat on medium speed about 2 minutes, until the dough is thick and glossy. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the chocolate mixture, stirring just until incorporated. Stir in the nuts and chocolate chips. Let the dough rest for 20 minutes, which makes it easier to scoop.
Use a 1 ¾ inch diameter scoop to drop spoonfuls of dough on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them at least 1 ½ inches apart. Wet your fingertips lightly with water and gently flatten the cookie dough(no need to press hard, just press out the hump) Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the tops begin to crack and look glossy. Cool the cookies for 10 minutes before removing them from the baking sheets.


Chocolate Chip Cookies with Caramelized Sugar

INGREDIENTS
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup *caramelized sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup(2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups chocolate chips(or more if you are like me)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven temperature to 375°F.
2. While the oven is heating, combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together( I like to blend all three of the sugars together in a blender for a smoother consistancy) for 3 minutes. Add vanilla extract and continue to mix. Add one egg at a time and mix thoroughly. Make sure to scrape down the bowl between each egg.
3. Take your small bowl of dry ingredients and gradually mix it into the large mixing bowl. Fold in the chocolate chips to the batter and mix.
4. Using a small ice cream scoop(or spoon) drop the dough onto your greased baking sheet.
5. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown. I do 9 minutes.
6. Allow to cool.

*To make caramelized sugar for this recipe. Take a cookie sheet and line it with parchment paper. With the oven preheated to 375 F sprinkle 1 cup granulated sugar onto the middle of the pan. Bake for only about 1-2 minutes( you need to watch it the whole time because once it starts to caramelized it can quickly burn). Take out of oven and it cool completely. Once cooled, lift the blob of caramelized sugar and put into blender. Blend until the sugar is back to being super fine. Measure out 1/2 cup for the recipe. I usually make big batches of this and keep it around to use in other recipes.