As Requested - My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

I recently reviewed the "Best Chocolate Chip Cookies" by Cook's Illustrated.  Although CI's cookies were indeed very good, I mentioned they weren't as good as my favorite recipe.  Little did I know how many comments and email requests I would get by saying that.

So here is the recipe that I love so much - it comes from CookWise by Shirley O. Corriher.  In the book, Shirley shares 4 chocolate chip cookie variations; basic, thin, puffed, and lastly, in-between.  The "puffed" and "in-between" versions rely on the use of butter-flavored shortening instead of real butter like the "basic" and "thin" versions.  Since my blog is called ButterYum, you can guess which variations I wanted to try - the basic and the thin ones.  Both were extremely good, but the thin cookies won my family's taste test by a landslide.

Because butter melts more easily than shortening, these cookies spread a bit during baking - they bake up crisp around the edges and chewy in the middle.  They aren't the most attractive chocolate chip cookies you'll ever see, but I promise they won't disappoint when it comes to flavor - I can't resist their strong vanilla, hint of caramel, chocolaty-chip goodness.  I hope you like them as much as we do.  On a side note - this recipe contains no eggs, so enjoy eating the dough raw without guilt.

Items used to make this recipe:

(*affiliate links)

• #50 cookie scoop https://amzn.to/3K8ZPNc

• pure vanilla extract (be sure to use the good stuff here) https://amzn.to/3tVjLOR

• mini chocolate chips https://amzn.to/3AxUvPV

• half sheet pans https://amzn.to/3IyB0tl

• silpat liners https://amzn.to/3KDvlEd

• Lyle’s golden syrup https://amzn.to/4eBEpbm

• CookWise by Shirley O. Corriher https://amzn.to/47WPjGd

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Shirley O. Corriher's Thin Chocolate Chip Cookies

makes 36 cookies (#50 cookie scoop)

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour (yes bleached - using unbleached flour will result in "greasy" cookies)

• 3/4 teaspoon fine salt

• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/3 cup light brown sugar

• 3 tablespoons light corn syrup (*see my note below)

• 2 tablespoons milk

• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

• 1 cup mini chocolate chips (6 ounces) - regular choc. chips are too large for these cookies

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F.

2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar together until light and fluffy.

4. Add corn syrup and milk; beat well and scrape down the sides of the bowl.

5. Add vanilla extract; beat well.

6. On low speed, gradually add the reserved dry ingredients and mix on low until combined.

7. Add mini chips and mix on low for 5 seconds.

8. Remove bowl from mixer and check to see all the ingredients are combined well - use a silicone spatula to finish mixing if needed.

9. Prepare half half sheet pans by spraying with non-stick baking spray (or line with Silpat liners).

10. Drop a #50 scoop (1 tablespoon) of batter about 2 inches apart onto completely cool sheet pan (don't be afraid to chill the cookie dough if it starts to get too soft at room temperature).

11. Bake one sheet pan at a time; for 8-12 minutes or until edges just begin to turn brown (check early).

12. Remove sheet pan from oven and wait 3 minutes before transferring cookies to a rack to cool completely.

Note

• My adaptation of this recipe uses an equal amount of Lyle’s Golden Syrup in place of the light corn syrup. The flavor of Golden Syrup is buttery and caramel-y (is that a word???). I made both versions recently and the Lyle’s Golden Syrup version was preferred by all.

adapted from CookWise by Shirley O. Corriher

To Die For Banana Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting (and a cake tip)

There was a time when I used to reserve overripe bananas to make banana bread, that is, until I sampled this banana cake.  Now I find myself buying extra bananas just so I'll have an excuse to make this amazing cake.  The batter can be mixed, baked, cooled, and ready to frost in about an hour.  The recipe was given to me by a friend a number of years ago and I added my own delectable frosting to compliment it perfectly - it's a flavor marriage made in heaven!  It's simply out of this world and you must give it a try.  

Note:  the photo above is a little deceiving - this is a snack cake, meaning it's only about an inch tall, but I promise, the flavor will more than win you over.  Also, don't miss my tips below to ensure your cake bakes without a big hump in the middle and releases from the pan perfectly.

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• high quality pure vanilla extract https://amzn.to/3sSAaBM

• high quality pure vanilla bean paste https://amzn.to/3TU3RhT

• baker's joy https://amzn.to/3NsVGH3

• professional rectangular pan https://amzn.to/3T0TZBI

• professional square pan https://amzn.to/3SZNFdQ

• insulated baking strips https://amzn.to/3SFoUUY

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To Die For Banana Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting

makes one 8x8-inch pan (double recipe for a 9x13-inch pan)

Printable Recipe  

Ingredients

Cake:

• 2/3 cup sugar

• 1/2 cup sour cream (or greek yogurt)

• 1 large egg

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

• 3/4 cup mashed super ripe banana (about 2)

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (please use the good stuff - this one is my favorite)

• 1 cup all purpose flour

• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

• 1 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla bean paste (I like this one)

Directions

To make cake (is easily mixed by hand):

1. Preheat the oven to 375F (see note below).

2. Cream together sugar, sour cream, egg, and 2 tablespoons softened butter.

3. Add mashed bananas and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

4. Add flour, salt, and baking soda; mix well.

5. Pour into an 8x8-inch pan that has been sprayed with this baking spray.

6. Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

7. Cool completely before frosting.

To make frosting:

1. Cream butter and confectioner's sugar together until smooth.

2. Slowly add the heavy cream and vanilla bean paste; stir until smooth.

3. Spread on top of cooled cake. Cake can be served at room temperature, but we like it best chilled.

Note

• Vanilla bean paste is awesome stuff - you can find it at gourmet groceries or you can order it online. Here's the general rule for substituting vanilla: 1 vanilla bean = 1 tablespoon vanilla powder = 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste = 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract.

• Bake at 350F if using a glass pan.

IMPORTANT TIPS

• To ensure the cake bakes without a hump, wrap the cake pan with insulated baking strips. I wouldn't dream of baking a cake without them!

• To ensure the cake releases from the pan perfectly, spray the pan with Baker's Joy. Again, I don't bake without it!

See how nice and even the insulated baking strips made the cake? No hump!! Happy-Happy.

See how perfectly the Baker's Joy helped the cake release from the pan? Again, Happy-happy! Glad I could share a couple of awesome tricks with you. Happy Baking!