Tom Saaristo Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

http://tomsaaristo.com

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients
1 whole large egg, at room temperature
1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups flour [see Baker’s note]
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon extra fine salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup [1 1/2 sticks] unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups dark-as-you-want-em chocolate chips

Method
Heat oven to 325°. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Crack the whole egg into a small dish. Add the egg yolk and the vanilla extract; set aside.

Set a sifter over a small bowl or rest on a piece of wax or parchment paper. Add the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and sift into the bowl; set aside.

In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed.

Drop cookie dough by the tablespoon measure onto prepared cookie sheets [I keep the measure hot and clean in a tall glass of hot tap water between scoops]. Turn the measured dough over to see which side has the most chips and put that side up. Place any chips that might escape on top. Cookies should be about 2 inches apart. I get 6 cookies on a half-sheet baking pan.

Bake for 9 minutes. Turn pans back to front and top to bottom and bake another 6 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before sliding parchment with cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

Store cookies air-tight. To ensure next-day freshness, put a slice of bread in the container with the cookies.

Makes 2 1/2 dozen.

Baker’s note: I employ the scoop and sweep method of measuring flour. Mix flour to aerate. Scoop and heap into measuring cup over flour container. With a butter knife, tap the handle of the measure 3 times. Slide the blade evenly across the flour to level it off.