Americans are on a constant search for the perfect chocolate chip cookie — one that is dense and chewy on the inside while crisp on the outside. I'm included in that list of seekers. I've tried all sorts of recipes — including Serious Eats' so-called best chocolate chip cookies — but I'm going to get real with y'all: there's no need to brown your butter or use a special type of flour. I think I speak for the rest of America when I declare that we really just want a perfectly executed, traditional cookie without the fuss and frills.
This recipe deviates only a little from the original Toll House one. The main differences include the salt factor and the type of chocolate I'm using. If salty-sweet desserts aren't your thing, don't worry! Just use unsalted butter and forgo the flakes. However, if you're open to an experiment, you'll find that the salt enhances the caramel-chocolate flavors. Yum!
When it comes to perfect portioning of the cookies, why wing it when you can pick up a few tools to make your cookies look professional? I always scoop my cookies out with a spring-loaded cookie scoop (it looks like a mini ice cream scoop) and I bake them up on a Silpat Perfect Cookie baking sheet. The black targets on the Silpat makes it easier than ever to space out the cookie dough balls without fear that they will bake together into one glob.
The sight of cookies cooling on a pan feels like satisfaction, doesn't it? While it's nearly impossible to resist eating a cookie hot out of the oven, these beauties taste even better once cooled so the chocolate has time to solidify. Go ahead and make a batch — and make a lot of people happy!
Notes If your cookies are spreading too thin as they bake, the dough is likely too warm. Refrigerate it for 15 minutes or so to firm it back up before dolloping out onto the baking sheet. Also, if you are baking the cookies in batches on one tray, be sure to let the tray return to room temperature before dolloping the dough onto it. Otherwise, that will also cause the dough to expand too quickly.
Ingredients1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, softened 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 large egg 1 cup high-quality chocolate, like Guittard Flake salt, for garnishDirectionsPreheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper. In a large bowl, sift flour, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add egg, beating well. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until cookies are golden brown. Sprinkle with flake salt. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. 
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
