I had SO NEARLY given up on chocolate chip cookies. I’ve always found them infuriatingly hard to get right – I would either get totally flat cookies that were crisp throughout, or cookies with a dry, cake-like texture. I mean, they still get eaten (obvs), but if I wanted ‘okay’ cookies I’d buy them from a shop.
WELL, after years of research, recipe testing and failed cookies, I am pleased to announce that I HAVE CRACKED IT! *cue happy dance*
I have the recipe, method, and tips that will give you reliably crunchy-on-the-outside, gooey-in-the-centre, fabulously CHUNKY chocolate chip cookies.
Big caveat - the method, temperatures and timings are as important (if not more) as the ingredients. Shortcuts not allowed. The cookies HAVE to be chilled in the fridge and baked from cold to hold their height, and if you overcook them they WILL lose their squidgy centres. I detail all of this in my '6 tips for PERFECT crunchy on the outside, gooey in the centre chocolate chip cookies' article.
I have baked this cookie recipe more times than any other (except for my brownies, of course) and they haven't let me down yet.
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[[ recipeID=recipe-9kzcm9tny, title=Crunchy On The Outside, Gooey In The Centre Chocolate Chip Cookies ]]
Before you start baking, make sure you read my top tips for crunchy on the outside, gooey in the centre cookies. Cookies are very temperamental, and the slightest differences in the method will have a big impact.
Hi there @Breadkake, thanks for commenting! You can replace the nuts with any other ingredient – toffee chunks, dried fruits, more chocolate chips, etc. You could also leave them out completely! They do lend the cookies a little bit of structure – the cookie dough is made to be quite gooey, so the hard nuts help them hold their shape – so if omitting the nuts, just make sure to let the cookies cool completely (so the chocolate chips solidify and the butter in the cookies cools) before moving them off the tray.
Hey there @Daniel. Absolutely, Flora should work fine – it doesn’t set quite as firm as dairy butter, so you may just need to let the cookies cool for a little longer before taking them off the tray to avoid making a mess. They’re supposed to have a gooey centre though, so the Flora should yield perfect results.
Hey @Nicholas – that is a great suggestion, you’re right, most baking trays won’t easily fit the 12 cookies with 1.5 inches of space between them. I’ve revised the recipe to suggest baking in two batches if this is the case for you. Thanks for commenting!
What can I use instead of nuts? Or will it be ok to just not use anything?
Hi! I’m trying to make stuffed cookie-cups, I’m glad I found this recipe as they look perfect!