When I move to a new living space, everything is unfamiliar. Duh.
I walk into the closet instead of the bathroom. I reach for the dishwasher when I should be checking on the cookies in the oven. I stub my toes on the coffee table… a lot. The sound of the mailman dropping letters in the box is startling.
Soon enough… all of these new home quirks will settle and disappear.
I thought the best way to counteract the newness was to fill my new home with the smell of something entirely familiar: chocolate chip cookies.
It worked. I only stubbed my toe on the coffee table twice instead of thrice.
Ps…. Maybe this entire post was just an excuse to work the word ‘thrice’ onto my blog. Hmmm… think on that.
By now you probably know that I can’t leave well enough alone.
I wouldn’t just make plain old chocolate chip cookies and dump them in your lap.
See, I’m calling these Molasses Chocolate Chip Cookies because I’ve made my own brown sugar and added a good, hearty load of dark, unsulphured molasses. It’s sexy. Seriously.
I also used melted butter (instead of the traditional softened butter) and bread flour (instead of all-purpose flour). This combination comes from Alton Brown. He knows a thing or two. The higher gluten content in bread flour helps keep the cookie in control. Buuuut… the loads of molasses keep this cookie well browned and fairly flat. Keep that in mind. These flat cookies.are.delicious.
Intermission…
I found this photo during my move last week. It was taken by my father in 1982. It seems to be the very beginning of food blogging.
End Intermission.
These slender little cookies bring loads of flavor. They’re deep. They’re caramely. They’re packed with dark chocolate chunks and topped with just a sprinkling of sea salt. What more do you want? Yeesh.
In the background there is my front door. I’ll give you the home (and kitchen) tour soon.
Chewy Molasses Chocolate Chip Cookies
makes 3 dozen cookies
recipe adapted from Alton Brown
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 cups plus 2 Tablespoons bread flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon dark molasses, not blackstrap
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups dark chocolate chips or chunks
sea salt for sprinkling on top of cookies just before baking
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.
In a medium sized bowl, mix the granulated sugar and molasses until no large molasses clumps remain. Look at that! You just made your own brown sugar!
Pour the melted butter in the mixer’s work bowl. Add the homemade brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for about 3 minutes. Add the egg, yolk, and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Chill the dough for about 20 minutes, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Lightly sprinkle each dough ball with a few flecks of sea salt. It really brings out the chocolate flavor.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. I like these cookies to be just a bit under-done. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.
newlywed
Mmm, molasses and chocolate! I love those avocado green measuring cups. Oh, avocado green tupperware and appliances, how I shall never get over thee…
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday
I’ve heard that if you use softened butter instead of melted it makes for a chewier cookie. Why use melted butter instead?
Heather (heather's dish)
i love moving into new places…although it’s kind of trippy when you wake up the first morning and have no clue where you are! good thing you familiarized yourself in the house with those cookies :)
Lina
Bread flour in cookies? Cool. Maybe I’ll try these someday- I just made chocolate chip + coconut cookies, so my family will have to finish those off first. :P
Catherine
Wow these look really good! Congrats on moving, hope you like your new home! :]
The MuffinTin Post
I just wrote a post just so that I could somehow make a reference to Ke$ha so I understand the “thrice” part (at http://themuffintinpost.wordpress.com/2010/08/11/kalter-hund-cold-dog-torte/). Congrats on moving!
The Nerd
So happy for you and your new place! Ain’t life grand?
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
I am ALWAYS looking for a new cookie to try. This is next on the list!
Jess @ Bakericious
looks so yummy!
martina
Have a good “new home” feeling…with these yummy cookies!
cheers
Martina
Silvia
I’ll have to thank you thrice then… this is a lovely idea, I can’t wait to taste these little jewels!
Wei-Wei
Thrice and more have you stolen my heart. Thrice I have fallen asleep unintentionally today. Thrice I have dreamed about cookies. Thrice (I think?) I have wondered if you could use plain brown sugar in this recipe… and thrice is the number of times I will open my mouth to say this: Om. Nom. Nom.
Wei-Wei-Wei :D
ruth
chocolate chip cookies are the coziest smelling things to bake, ever.
hmm. that sounded pretty strange but i’m pretty sure you got the vibe.
also, thrice is an excellent band :)
e*
i like the word “thrice” and have never used it in a sentence…Good job! Your blog is fun and when i stub almost anything from my toes to my little old heart…i love making chocolate chip anything…Thanks for the reminder, Joy…Brightest Blessings…e*