Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

I recently had a request from a niece of mine, Lauren, first time away at college attending Boston University to PLEASE send her a care package. It became a bigger pull when her roommate Meredith tagged me in a facebook post pleading to send it out to them! In addition there are two nieces, Lindsey & Beth, attending ASU in Tempe, AZ that were craving MN items such as Old Dutch Potato Chips. What??? They don't sell Old Dutch in AZ??? Okay... I get it. They were a bit homesick, yes?

(Yes, Ryan and Alex... I still plan on getting cookies to you too!)

Besides the Old Dutch potato Chips (which they got btw) what other treat could I send that would satisfy the "taste of home" cravings??? 



That's right... Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

Probably the first time I burned my finger on a sweet yummy goody had to have been when I was a kid on the ooey gooey melted chocolate. This happened when I was trying to pick up a chocolate chip cookie as it was cooling off after being taken right from the oven. Mom would make dozens of cookies for us kids. Being that there were six of us kids and a dad who was a 6' 2" sweet tooth.  For her to follow the recipe on the back of the Nestle Toll House chocolate chip bag wouldn't cut it. She had to quadruple the recipe!!

Of course... she also didn't use cookie racks to cool them off... she used paper grocery bags ripped and laid out on the table. How clever was she? It also soaked up the excess fat from the cookies as well. Clearly I can see those greasy circular cookie marks on the paper bags after the cookies were eaten and put away.  I would eat just enough to get sick to my stomach. Too much of a good thing and all.... I still am that way with these cookies.

I have no other love affair with a cookie like I do the Nestle Toll House Chip Cookies.  Not to mention that it HAS to be the recipe on the back of the Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip bag.  And using butter. Margarine... really???? YUCK.  I made it even naughtier back when I was a kid by using have lard and half butter.

They really are comfort food, like peanut butter or mashed potatoes and gravy. Nothing that brings me back home than eating that ooey gooey Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven.


Mix those sugars and butter really really well!!



I think part of the trick is to mix up the sugars/butter
with the eggs long enough so that it is seriously light and fluffy.



I also firmly believe that the baker gets to taste test.



Busted... my 13 year old sneaking cookie dough!!




Droplets of Deliciousness



I use a rack to cool.
But now that I've reminded myself of the paper bag trick...

And now the recipe:

The real, the original, the authentic Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks, 1/2 pound) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated [white] sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups (12-ounce package) NESTLE TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts

• COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large mixer bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
• BAKE in preheated 375-degree [Fahrenheit] oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
• PAN COOKIE VARIATION: PREPARE dough as above. Spread into greased 15"x10" jelly-roll pan. Bake in preheated 375-degree [Fahrenheit] oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack.

This info is for you Heather:
FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAKING (>5,200 feet): INCREASE flour to 2 1/2 cups; add 2 teaspoonfuls water with flour; reduce both granulated sugar and brown sugar to 2/3 cup each. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, drop cookies for 8 to 10 minutes and pan cookies for 17 to 19 minutes.