It’s better to just let it be what it is.
I had every intention of making you a fancy Easter brunch cake… the kind with lemon and lavender and swirly frosting… but as I stood in my kitchen (with exactly zero lemons), and evaluated my desire to go to the store (to buy hella lemons), I thought… can’t it just be what it is?
What it is, is CHOCOLATE. That’s what I want. That’s what I need. That’s what I have in abundance in my kitchen.
In the spirit of letting it be what it is, I’ve taken all of these photographs on my phone, on the fly. I also wasn’t wearing shoes and had frizzy hair. What else is new? Rhetorical question.
I made these cookies for us. This is that.
Things start, as they always do. Ingredients on my dining room table. Measured precisely and places in small bowls in a pleasing manner.
Softened butter is one of life’s great pleasures. I’m sure of it.
Double chocolate cookies require cocoa powder: dark and in abundance.
Flour too. Leavening and such. Salt also!
Butter and sugar is creamed to creaminess. Technical terms.
Remainders.
It doesn’t actually take all of these little bowls to make Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. If you’re a food blogger, apparently it does.
If you make cookies more than once a year, I highly recommend owning one of these little purple ice cream / cookie scoops.
Perfect portioning is pretty dang satisfying.
This is how it all goes down.
I had to convince my 80-something year old grandfather that the rip in my jeans was fashionable and not a sign of vagrancy. So… that’s my situation.
Also these chocolate cookies are really soft and melty inside.
You know how much we love Chocolate Chip Cookies? Yea… for real.
Well. We doubled the chocolate and we’re here to stay!
These cookies are extra chocolatey and satisfying, but not super sweet. Thank you dark chocolate! The only trick is to not over-bake these little darlings. They can get dry pretty quickly in the oven and that’s downright criminal. Under-baking is best.
It’s nice to just do what we do. Especially when that involves chocolate.
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
makes 24 cookies
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 to 6 ounces dark chocolate chips or chunks
coarse sea salt, for topping (optional)
Place racks in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat for 1 minute more.
In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients all at once to the butter and egg mixture. Beat on low speed until just combined.
Stop the mixer and stir in the chocolate chunks.
Scoop dough using a small cookie scoop, or by rolling dough by the heaping tablespoonful. Place on cookie sheet, leaving about 2-inches between each dough ball.
Bake for 11 to 12 minutes or until cookies are just done. It’s even ok if these cookies are slightly under baked. Try your darndest not to over bake them. Allow to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool before storing. Cookies are best within 3 days of baking.
Katrina @ WVS
“what it is” is always chocolate in my kitchen too. It’s something I always have on hand!! Love these cookies Joy!
LB
Thank you so much for not making something lemony. I love lemons but not in cake. I love the smell of lavendar but not in food. But I do adore chocolate with a passion.
Also, are there really people who only make cookies once a year? I’m sure there are but it’s such a sad thought. I make them at least once a week!
joythebaker
i dunno. i think there might be people who only make cookies once a year. i’m clearly trying to change their minds.
Rebekah {aCricketSang}
I’ll take double chocolate anything ;) These look delicous!
Liza M.
These would have been perfect for the “chocolate festival” I’m having with my students today (in honor of the movie Chocolat and, well, Easter)! Next year…
ps. Curious about the white cabinet there’s a little glimpse of near your table.
joythebaker
i think that white cabinet i got through Home Goods. happy baking!
Adrienne K
Thank you thank you. I came looking for these cookies after your Instagram post yesterday…. (Needed chocolate) Can’t wait to make them!
Bonnie-Jean
I would have loved to read about a fancy easter brunch cake but I’m more likely to try baking these cookies! I totally get the thing with your grandfather – my 84 year old grandmother wanted to mend my jeans for me! I then thought maybe I was embarassing her by wearing them and so on my next visit planned to wear something else but all I own is denim and I hadn’t realised before but every pair of shorts or jeans are frayed cut offs or have holes on purpose. May just have to purchase a specific outfit for visiting my grandmother or maybe I could just take her some of these cookies…..
LoveYourEgo
Now I want them too! I wanted them from the minute I saw how gooey they were on the inside! I’m glad you didn’t get to make lemon cake and I think the photos turned out pretty well!
http://love-your-ego.blogspot.de
Carlinne @Cook with 2 Chicks
Double chocolate? I’m in! Great pics :)
emmajeanne16
I love the little bowls. Mise en place. Mise en place. I am still trying to teach my husband.
Sophie
Beautiful photos!
Ellen
I have been on a chocolate chip cookie exploration the last few weeks making lots of new recipes. I’m adding this one to the queue!
Belinda Lo (Moonblush Baker)
From your phone!!?? You are a photographic genius! I wish i could take photos as perfect as this on a real camera.
I am lookinf forward to the sale on chocolate to make this. They are so puffy and tender looking.
joythebaker
the secret to great phone photos is the VSCO photo editing app. check it!
Rachel
Two things. a) Kudos for these amazing photos on your phone. I tried that last year when my camera card snapped and I was too lazy to go across the street to Target and let the food get cold, and it was a complete total fail. I have no words for how bad the photos were. b) I wanted to comment this on Instagram but apparently Instagram would not let me as it caught its spam comment barrier: My.
joythebaker
i wonder why you got spam blocked! i’m sorry! hi rachel!
thefoodieteen
they look incredible!
Donna Jensen
I made these cookies for my super bowl party. They were super easy and super delicious!!
rambleonrockstar
This is exactly what I’m going to need at the end of this oh so long week.