Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Many people have their favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe all locked up, but I have run across a lot, who never seem to have much luck with them.  When I give them this recipe and method, it always becomes their go to recipe for chocolate chip cookies.  These are delicious, practically foolproof, and they could not be easier.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter (softened) - the real stuff, no margarine or shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar (I use just a little less)
1 egg
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Method:
Cream together, butter, sugars, egg, soda, salt, and vanilla until light and fluffy (at least 5 minutes, scraping the bowl occassionally). Add flour and stir until well combined. Add chocolate chips and mix until just incorporated. Drop by tbsp on ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 375 F for 9 - 11 minutes.

No Bake Cookies

These are the no-bake cookies that I grew up on, and honestly, no other has ever compared to them in my opinion.  These are chocolatey and chewy without ever getting grainy.  I love them.  To me, they are the perfect no-bake.  My mom got this recipe from one of her old ward cookbooks.  I copied it down years ago, so I couldn't tell you which ward for sure, but I seriously think it came from her student ward in Laramie, Wyoming back before I was ever born.

We have have enjoyed these several times this summer.  It is nice to make a cookie that doesn't require turning on the oven.  Plus, we just keep these puppies right in the refrigerator, so they are always cold and perfect for a hot summer day.

No Bake Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla (I like to add 2 tsps.)
1 cup coconut
3 cups quick cooking oatmeal

Method:
Combine sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk in saucepan and bring to boil.. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients.  Drop by teaspoon (I use my 1 tsp cookie scoop - so easy) on wax paper while still hot.  Cool completely before serving.  Makes about 3 dozen.

Divinity Cookies

These little meringue cookies are one of my moms recipes and they are easy to make. The have a lightly crispy exterior, with a chewy, chocolatey interior. We love them at our house, but, let me warn you, a sweet tooth is required to enjoy these.

Divinity Cookies

2 egg whites

1/8 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. cream of tartar

3/4 C. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 6 oz. pkg. chocolate chips

1/4 cup finely chopped nuts (optional)

Beat egg whites with salt and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. With mixer still running, slowly add the sugar and beat until stiff. Fold in vanilla, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoon (I use my cookie scoop) on wax paper covered cookie sheet. Bake for 25 minutes at 300 degrees. Makes 2 dozen cookies.

*Unfortunately, this recipe does not work out well if doubled

Oahu Gingersnaps

These cookies are delicious. Slightly crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside with just the right amount of spices and molasses. I think these are the most perfect gingersnaps I have ever found. I got this recipe from my cousin. I have adapted it slightly because I never use shortening and don't have it in my house. The original recipe calls for 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup shortening. First I tried to just replace the shortening with butter. The results were awful. The cookies were greasy and flat. Nothing like the crispy, chewy, slightly puffy little cookies my cousin had always made. The next time, I just tried omitting the shortening, but that resulted in hard, crumbly, dry mounds. Yuck! I finally tried replacing the shortening with 1/4 cup canola oil. Jackpot!!! They were once again the perfect little gingersnaps I remembered. Here is my version of this recipe.

Oahu Gingersnaps

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup canola oil

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg beaten

1 tsp. ginger

1 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda

2 cups flour

Cream together all ingredients except the flour. Add flour and mix until well incorporated. Cover and chill dough. Roll into balls and then roll them in sugar. Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.