Cooking Light Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you ignore this recipe simply because the words "light" and "chocolate" are side-by-side, it's your loss. Trust me on this... I just want what's best for you. That said, let's get another thing straight: These are not health cookies. Sorry to break this to you, but there is no such thing. That's my little disclaimer in case you want to fight me when your pants tighten in the back. Enjoy one or two (not to be confused with one or two dozen), and you'll be fine.

This batch of cookies is for my sweet friends Holly and Charlton. A few months ago, when he got to try these for the first time, Charlton told me I should sell them in a bakery. So what are you thinking about that "light chocolate" thing now?

Here's what I love about these: I can eat them without feeling gross afterward. Maybe it's the one stick of butter vs. two or the egg whites vs. whole eggs, but whatever it is, I like it. Also, these have a crunchy outside with a soft inside, making them perfect for milk dunking. And that's important.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

www.chefjennylyn.com

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

2 large egg whites

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Small bowl: Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt

Large bowl: Beat butter with sugars until fluffy (medium speed)

Add vanilla and egg whites; beat 1 minute

Stir in flour mixture and chocolate chips

Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart, and bake 10 minutes per sheet. Yield 4 dozen cookies with 88 calories each.

Cookie baking essentials: Measuring Cup Set (includes odd measurements like 2/3 cup and 3/4 cup along with a leveling tool), Mix 'n Scraper (hello, easy stirring and scaped clean bowls), Stainless Scoops (uniform cookies!), and the Rectangle Stone (I shouldn't even start on Stoneware).

The Adjustable Measuring Spoons are essential. I love these things! There are two in the set, one going from 1/8 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon and the other from 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon. This is my jar of baking soda, and it's been the best way to recycle jam jars. I mean, who wants to fool with those stupid baking soda boxes?

When measuring, always level off your cup. That's one thing I love about these - the handy leveler! How nice to have a 3/4 Cup Measuring Cup!

Ok, prep work is done. Bowls used: 2-qt. and 4-qt. from Stainless Mixing Bowl Set and a 2-Cup Prep Bowl.

Question I get all the time: "Which scoop would you use for ________?"

Ok, the Small Scoop is about 1 tablespoon. It's perfect for cookies when you want to stretch the dough and get as much as the recipe says you will, and it's the ideal companion to the Deluxe Mini-Muffin Pan. It fits those cups perfectly, so you don't have to fumble around dripping cake batter, etc. all over the place.

The Medium Scoop is about 2 tablespoons, and it's great for standard cookies (the ones you know you make) and 2-bite cupcakes.

The Large Scoop is about 3 tablespoons, and it owns all things cupcake or muffin-related. Use it with the Stoneware Muffin Pan or Bakeware Muffin Pan for evenly filled cups every time. I never ever bake cupcakes without this scoop. Period.

Tip for chocolate chip cookie dough of any kind: Refrigerate. For years I avoided chocolate chip cookies because they would turn out flat and crunchy, but now I refrigerate my dough for maximum awesomeness. Another tip: Go ahead and scoop the cookies before putting them in the fridge. It's a lot easier when your dough is soft! 2-Qt. Stainless Mixing Bowl

Tip: When baking, do not overcrowd your cookies! You know the saying, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right?" Sure, the grammar's a little off, but the point is there. You just took time to make cookies from scratch, so don't get lazy in the home stretch. Space them properly to allow proper air circulation while avoiding those straight edges crowded cookies get. (The air circulation thing is explained in the Simply Sweet Cookbook.) This batch was made with the Large Scoop and baked on the Cookie Sheet, and you can see they turned out perfectly!

Small Scoop, Medium Scoop, Large Scoop, Cooling Rack

This last picture is just because I'm mean. These were oh-so-good!!! Check out those beautifully browned bottoms that were due to Stoneware and Bakeware.

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