Chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a popular type of cookie that originated in the United States. They are made with chocolate chips as their distinguishing ingredient, along with the typical cookie ingredients of flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.

History

The chocolate chip cookie was invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield in the 1930s. She owned the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts, a popular restaurant that featured home cooking in the 1930s. The story goes that Wakefield was making chocolate cookies and ran out of regular baker's chocolate, so she substituted broken pieces of semi-sweet chocolate, thinking that they would melt and mix into the batter. They did not, and the chocolate chip cookie was born.

Ingredients and Preparation

The basic recipe for a chocolate chip cookie includes butter, white and brown sugar, semi-sweet chocolate chips, eggs, vanilla extract, baking soda, hot water, salt, and flour. Some variations may include nuts, oatmeal, peanut butter, or other types of chocolate.

The process of making chocolate chip cookies involves combining the sugars and butter, adding the eggs and vanilla, mixing in the dry ingredients, and then folding in the chocolate chips and any other add-ins. The dough is then dropped by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet and baked until golden brown.

Nutritional Information

Chocolate chip cookies are high in calories, with most of the energy coming from sugars and fats. They also contain significant amounts of sodium and cholesterol. However, they do provide some dietary fiber, protein, and various vitamins and minerals.

Variations

There are many variations of the chocolate chip cookie, including different types of chocolate chips (like milk, dark, or white chocolate), the addition of nuts or oatmeal, and variations in the dough (like peanut butter or double chocolate). Some recipes may also include ingredients like coconut, raisins, or candy pieces.

See Also

• Cookie
• Chocolate
• Baking
• Dessert

References

• The Great American Chocolate Chip Cookie Book: Scrumptious Recipes & Fabled History From Toll House to Cookie Cake Pie by Carolyn Wyman
• The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion: The Essential Cookie Cookbook by King Arthur Flour