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Who doesn’t want a cookie which is still warm and fresh from the oven. Got that picture perfect cookie which melts in your mouth? Notable among them are the Toll House Cookies. These cookies are everywhere and are beloved because of the unparalleled taste and basic ingredients. But how did this come about and how can you master them? Read on to investigate the wonderful realm of Toll house cookies!
What are Toll House Cookies?
Toll House Cookies are basically the very first chocolate chip cookies created in the course of the mid-1930s. These are delicious cookies that have a golden brown outer layer, a chewy inside that is not too sweet nor too chocolaty. But what makes them so good? It is the combination of light brown sugar butter and semi-sweet chocolate chips that jersey cookies to cookies.
The Origin of Toll House Cookies
As the legend goes, Elizabeth Wakefield who ran the Toll House Inn in the town of Whitman, Massachusetts, developed this by chance. While trying to come up with a technique for making a butter cookie she threw in semi-sweet chocolate chip pieces. Instead of blending into the dough like she imagined, the chips of chocolate remained intact and thus gave rise to the invention of the Toll House Cookie as we know it today.
Ingredients Needed for Toll House Cookies
One of the things that makes a Toll House Cookie special and thus a good bake is the ease in its preparation. Now let’s examine the ingredients that you are required to have in order to prepare these wonderful goodies.
Key Ingredients Overview
- Butter: Must be soft and creamy when blending with flour for a room temperature dough.
- Sugar: Cookie gets its caramelized flavour because of the mixture of granulated sugar and brown sugar.
- Eggs: Important for moisture and binding.
- Flour: Forms structure.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: The very center of the cookie.
- Vanilla Extract: Brings in warmth and richness.
How to Choose the Best Chocolate Chips
Let’s face it, when it comes to chocolate chips you have not only an option rather than a choice! Semi-sweet is what the calls for traditionally, but I also used dark or even white chocolate chips. The most important thing is to get good quality chips that are just soft enough to melt but still can be formed into shapes.
Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Toll House Cookies
Are you ready to don the apron and start baking? Try these steps and make the most perfect cookie.
Prepping Your Baking Sheet
The incubation for cookies begins with firing your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Parchment paper is also used to line baking sheets to prevent the cookies from sticking and to help in uniform cooking.
Mixing Wet and Dry Ingredients
In one bowl measure and whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Alternatively, in a separate and bigger bowl, mix the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Then put in the eggs individually the vanilla follow.
The Importance of Room Temperature Butter
The reason butter has to be in room temperature while preparing the ingredients is because it affects the final texture of the dough much as other ingredients do. If your butter is cold; your cookies dough will be dense and thick and the cookies will come out dense as well. Too warm and they will by all means spread in the oven and turn flat rather than puff becoming cookies.
Perfecting the Cookie Dough Consistency
By this time you are ready to fold in the dry ingredients into the wet ones and mix well. The chocolate chips should also be stirred in, and voila! The best zipper Toll House cookie dough is ready.
Baking Tips and Tricks
Achieving the Ideal Bake Time
This dough should be scooped out in balls which should be about a tablespoon in quantity and placed in the pans prepared earlier. Bake them for about 9-11 minutes, or until the sides are browned and soft in the center.
Soft vs. Crispy: Tailoring Cookies to Your Preference
For a soft cookie take them out at around nine minutes. If you want the edges to be crispier take them out at eleven minutes. Do not panic if the center is underdone, it will set as it cools.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Baking Toll House Cookies
Mixing your dough excessively should also cut down on the shape for over bakes tough country style cookies. I also recommend that you let the oven heat up all the way before putting the cookies in or they won’t rise properly.
How to Store Toll House Cookies
Storing Cookies for Freshness
Although some like to eat their cookies when they are hot and fresh out of the oven, Toll House Cookies can usually last up to five days at room temperature and in a sealed container however these cookies will lose their freshness quickly.
Freezing Toll House Cookies for Later
Want to save some for later? You may save raw cookie dough balls on a baking tray and after it is frozen keep them in a ziplock bag. Alternatively, simply remove the frozen dough balls from the ziplock when it is time for baking, increase the original baking time by 1-2 minutes.
Nutritional Information
Making Toll House Cookies-infoodblog.com
In terms of the cookies regarded as a moderate snack, it is worth mentioning that each of them contains about 150 calories and about 8 grams of fat – plenty for not overindulging.
Fun Variations of Toll House Cookies
Adding Nuts or Dried Fruit
Wouldn’t it be fun to have some chopped walnuts or dried cranberries in it too?
Making Toll House Cookie Bars
For those pressed for time, simply press the cookie dough in a baking dish to form cookie bars instead. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown, cool and cut into squares.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Substitute Ingredients in Toll House Cookies?
For Sure! Replace regular all-purpose flour with an all-purpose gluten-free flour profile, or simply leave out the chocolate chips and add in chunks of your very favorite candy instead.
How Long Do Toll House Cookies Last?
As the Toll House Cookies are stored properly, they may encourage and be consumable, even up to one week unbranded room temperature, or even up to 3 months in the freezer.
Conclusion: Why Toll House Cookies are Timeless
Toll House Cookies surpass the limits set by the ordinary cookie; they are historical artifacts. What’s even amazing is the perfect equilibrium in the taste and the texture that has withstood the test of time. Whether preparing these cookies for a congregation or just a well-deserved indulgence, this is guaranteed to quickly become a household staple.
Classic Toll House Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped nuts optional
Instructions
- Set oven temperature to a 375F degree.
- Take flour, one tsp of baking soda, and salt in one container. And set it aside for use later.
- In the other large bowl, you have to beat margarine, granulated, sugar, brown, sugar, and vanilla extract till it is light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating each in completely.
- Mix well the flour mixture to the wet ingredients.
- Add chocolate chips and walnuts (if desired).
- Taking with a spoon filled with dough the size of a tablespoon, dab the uncooked mixture on oil free oven pans.
- Bake at 360 for about 9-11 minutes or until the pan is golden brown.
- Allow the cookies to cool for about two minutes on the pans, and then move to a wire rack to completely cool.
Notes
- Softer cookies are achieved by underbaking them slightly and cooling them down on the baking sheet.
- In case you need some variation in the cookies, you can also try using some white chocolate or peanut butter chips along with the chocolate chips.
