Cookies for Santa - Our Best Recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our rascals have a special love for chocolate chip cookies, so this holiday season we are planning to leave Santa a few from of our favorite recipe.

Makes: 20 cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)

• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

• 1/4 cup granulated (white) sugar

• 1 large egg (cold or room temperature, either is fine)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (more if desired)

• Coarse sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, heat the butter for 15-20 seconds in your microwave, until just melted.  Whisk in the two sugars until thoroughly combined.  Let the mixture cool for a minute, then whisk in the egg and vanilla extract until smooth.

3. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over top of the mixture and stir in, then add the flour and stir until fully combined and a smooth dough is formed.  Fold in the chocolate chips.

4. Drop the dough in rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.  The dough should make approximately 20 cookies.

5. If desired, sprinkle additional coarse sea salt over top of the cookies (you can also do this after they’re baked).  Bake for 9-10 minutes.  NOTE: the cookies will look underdone, but they’ll firm up as they sit.

6. Let cookies cool on sheet for at least 5 minutes, then cool completely on a rack.  Store, tightly covered, at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Cookies for Santa to take to the North Pole

Written by Ngoc Nguyen Lay, Head Rascal. Mother of two rascals, ages 4 and 6. Photo by Simply Adri Photography.