classic chocolate chip cookies

we have shared a lot of different cookie recipes on the blog, but somehow we haven't shared a recipe for classic chocolate chip cookies yet.  (although we did share a recipe for dark chocolate chip cookies with pistachios last fall.)  does the food blogging world need another chocolate chip cookie recipe?  sure, why not.

it seems like almost everyone loves chocolate chip cookies.  i mean, how could you not?  they are a classic.  but, i have found that people have very distinct preferences when it comes to how they like their chocolate chip cookies . . . soft, chewy, crispy, dense, cakey, flat, thin . . . everyone has a different adjective to describe their ideal chocolate chip cookie.  it has turned into some kind of great debate.  because of this, chocolate chip cookies come in all shapes, sizes, styles, and variations.

for me, i like them all.  depending on my mood, i could go for a chocolate chip cookie with any of those adjectives proceeding it.  however, my favorite version of chocolate chip cookies would have to be a recipe that my family has made again and again over the years.  call it an old-standby recipe.  it's the type of recipe that produces consistent cookies each and every time, and it never lets you down.  everyone should have a trusty chocolate chip cookie recipe in their arsenal.  this one is mine.

earlier this week, i had to make dessert to bring into work for my co-worker's birthday.  i didn't have much time to make anything elaborate, so i threw together a batch of these classic chocolate chip cookies.  they were a huge hit at work and disappeared rather quickly!

these classic chocolate chip cookies are old school.  softened butter is creamed together with two types of sugar.  flour is sifted.  there is love in these cookies.

they are baked until they are just lightly golden brown which means that they are crisp around the edges yet cakey in the middle.  promise that you won't over bake them, okay?  they are chocolate chip cookie perfection.

lastly, they have the perfect chocolate flavor thanks to the addition of hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips.  if you ask me, classic chocolate chip cookies need hershey's chocolate chips.  i'm a girl from pennsylvania, so i am mighty loyal to hershey products.  almost every summer my family would make an annual pilgrimage to the town of hershey, pennsylvania to go to hershey park.  seriously, the whole town actually smells like chocolate!

but, i digress . . . back to the cookies.  go ahead and make them, and be sure to serve them with a glass of cold milk too!

classic chocolate chip cookies
prep time: 5-10 minutes
baking time: 10-12 minutes
yields: approximately 36 cookies

ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips

directions:
preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.  in the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and the two sugars together until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).  add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla.

sift the flour and baking soda into a large bowl.  gradually add the flour mixture, beating well until combined.  stir in the chocolate chips.  scoop cookie dough balls (approximately 1 tablespoon in size) onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.  once baked, allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

enjoy!

love, laurie