Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are one of my all time my favorite cookie recipes. I've tried quite a few different ones lately and I haven't been too happy with the results, with the exception of this one. It comes as no surprise though. You see, this recipe came from Linda Amendt's fabulous cookie book "400 Sensational Cookies".  The more I make from this book, the more I trust it impeccably. Now don't get me wrong, I love to experiment and try all types of recipes, but sometimes you just want to make something different and you want it to work. That's when I turn to this book.

I've already successfully made the following cookies from Linda's cookbook:

White Peanut Butter Oat Chippers
Chocolate Chip Espresso Cookies
Cranberry Orange Spiral Cookies
White Chocolate Pumpkin Blondies

With such a good track record I wasn't worried in the least. I wasn't wrong either. These cookies baked up so perfectly shaped, they would make really wonderful ice cream sandwiches! They are nice and chewy, plenty soft, the only difference I noticed is that the buttermilk adds its own unique flavor. Because of that, I noticed a reduction in the familiar "caramel-like" flavor that you normally get from chocolate chip cookies.

It was funny, I didn't tell anyone there was buttermilk in them. Every person in this house asked "what kind of cookies are these?" I answered "Just chocolate chip."

"Huh." Nom. Nom. Nom.

Even though they knew something was different, they still enjoyed them and made a huge dent the first day. By the second day, they were all gone.

Amanda's Notes: I liked these, they were definitely good, but I still prefer the caramel-like flavor of regular chocolate chip cookies. I wonder if using more brown sugar and less white sugar would compensate for that? I loved the way these baked up. They looked perfect. Absolutely round, very soft, nice and chewy, very good.

Should you make them? I think they are definitely worth giving a try!

This book will never leave my kitchen. I love it. :)



Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Cookies

[printable version]

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter flavored shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 buttermilk
8 oz chopped semisweet chocolate

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Cream shortening and both sugars on medium speed in electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing for one minute after each addition. Add vanilla. Reduce mixer to low speed and slowly add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk in two additions (flour, buttermilk, flour, buttermilk, flour). Turn off mixer and fold in chocolate.

use a cookie scoop and place on cookie sheet, about 1 1/2" apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.

Immediately slide parchment onto cooling rack and let cookies cool for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies from parchment directly to cooling rack to cool completely.