Saturday, January 29, 2011

Recipe Update: Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies


As I have written The Cilantropist over the last year, there are some recipes that I get from cookbooks or magazines and I put my own spin on them; however, as I become more inspired by the 'hows and whys' behind cooking, I find myself working to develop my own recipes based on basic techniques and principles of flavor.  I feel more confident completely re-vamping a published recipe, or simply starting from scratch and writing my own recipes.  What does that really mean?  These days, I spend a great deal of my kitchen time with recipe testing.  I think it is important to perfect both new and old recipes, which is why I often go back and test recipes I have previously posted. 

Case in point: my recipe for Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies.   


Ever since I tried this recipe for the first time almost a year ago, I have not been able to make any other kind of chocolate chip cookie; I was so smitten, that I was able to overlook the slightly arduous NY Times recipe, that became an extremely arduous recipe when I tried to halve the ingredients.  Despite being difficult, I did cut the original measurements in half, posted them on this blog, and the recipe worked.  

But really... 

Who wants to measure out 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons flour?  Or 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar?  I like nice, round measurements, especially for a chocolate chip cookie that should bring me soothing, chocolatey comfort rather than stress.  I decided enough was enough and so this week I reworked the recipe to be easy-peasy. 


I had planned to try and change just a few of the measurements, and see how it went.  Admittedly, I wasn't sure I could come up with a recipe to rival the original and so I wasn't even going to tell you I was working on it (yes I know, sneaky sneaky).  But then plans changed when this cookie turned out to be fantastic, and I was so tickled pink that I just had to tell you all about it.  

Now I am sure Mr. Torres (or his battalion of pastry chefs and bakers) painstakingly concocted his heavenly chocolate chip cookie recipe and I am by no means saying my tweaks and changes make it the pinnacle of perfection.  Yet, it is amazing how just a little math and flexibility with ingredients can make the recipe substantially easier to follow, while still producing what I think is the best chocolate chip cookie.       


Now I have said it before and I will say it again: I am thick-and-chewy cookie kind of gal, so these confections are the stuff of my dreams.  This recipe results in a cookie with a little extra heft because of the inclusion of bread flour;  I mean look at it, this cookie has some serious height and a center that is soft and dense.  Not to mention, it is riddled with enough chocolate chips to satisfy even your strongest chocolate craving.      

So, now that I have fixed up the recipe to be all new and shiny for you, go ahead and check it out.  It will still be listed under Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip  Cookies, and I would highly recommend that you make these as soon as possible.  I promise it is super easy, so you have no excuse not to make them.  (As though you needed an excuse to make chocolate chip cookies anyway.)

Enjoy! 

And just so that you know, in the future (and also in the past) if I - make any minor recipe revisions/suggest ingredient substitutions/include extra instructions for freezing or canning - I will post those on The Cilantropist Facebook Page.  If there are any other major recipe changes like this one (especially to favorite recipes), I will devote a short post to keep you updated.   

56 comments:

  1. It's unbelievable how delicious your cookies look. I have a linky party on my blog right now called "Sweets for a Saturday" and I'd like to invite you to stop by and link this up.

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  2. Uhummmm....this looks phenomenal....i'm loving that first shot of the cookie with wet, gooey chocolate. Have this bookmarked for sure!

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  3. Slightly browned edges, thick soft interior - yup these are the kind of chocolate chip cookies that are hard to resist!

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  4. I'm ordering some choc chip cookie right away coz of this (since I 'm work) This is awesome!

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  5. Gorgeous cookies! I'd love to have one with my coffee.

    Bises,

    Rosa

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  6. I love Jacques Torres! But glad you found your own twist on his chocolate chip cookie!

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  7. This is one of our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes (I think they just love the gigantic cookies). I'm so glad you've made it even easier...thank you!!!!

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  8. Sometimes I think that people make recipe amounts just to make them more tedious or to seem more exotic....I don't know for sure, especially not being a baker...I think if it was that important everything would be weighed out and ingredients would be in grams.....
    Now your cookies do look delicious, and I don't think there are many out there that wouldn't enjoy a good chocolate chip cookie...I will have to check out your recipe I know my girls would enjoy making them!
    Cheers
    Dennis

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  9. This looks like one of the most perfect chocolate chip cookies ever. Love, love, love the addition of fluer de sel - absolute heaven!!

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  10. I tried these cookies and didn't have great success but your pictures really make me want to revisit my attempt. These look soooo good.

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  11. I love that you adjusted the measurements to make it easier! I have the same thoughts as you regarding measuring out an additional 2 T. of something. I am definitely going to try your updated recipe as soon as I have some time in the kitchen again. (Ahhh, time, you elusive little minx.)

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  12. I love that you are developing your own recipe. I think you totally have the skills to do that. I would love to do so sometimes. Some of the recipes on my blog are mine but lately I have not had the time to work more on that. I'll wait for the summer holidays. In the meantime, I should try these cookies with Carla.

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  13. Yay! I love easy to follow recipes, and I agree that sometimes the authors change the measurements just to make it seem different. I mean, really, how hard should chocolate chip cookies be? Your pictures look delicious, by the way...I love the middle of my cookies to be a little doughy and soft! (I usually take them out of the oven a minutes or two sooner than suggested.) Can't wait to see what other recipes you play with!

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  14. Amen to simplifying recipes! My brother and I have been talking about finding/achieving the perfect chocolate chip recipe just the other day...I sent him your recipe for his own testing (and eating) pleasure. How timely, thank you!

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  15. Oh my lord... I don't think I've ever seen such a perfectly baked cookie. I'm very particular about my choc. chip cookies, but you already have me sold on this recipe.

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  16. Thanks for the tip! I can never find the chocolate disks the Times recipe suggests, glad this one uses regular chips!

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  17. Man those look good....the picture with the interior view is just evil. ;) Want them!

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  18. Amanda, these cookies look amazing! Thank you for simplifying the recipe for us. Who wants to measure and then unmeasure? ;] It looks like you made just the right adjustments because these cookies look perfect.

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  19. I agree, no one wants to measure out awkward amounts of ingredients. I try to be mindful of that when developing recipes and I think you were right to tweak this so that the average home cook actually wants to make them!

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  20. These cookies look fantastic, but it's the cookie dough itself that keeps grabbing my attention. =)

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  21. Oh my Amanda, could you make those cookies look any more mouth watering. I'm trying to resist turning on my oven right now! I totally agree with you that recipes should be written that way. I will be thinking of these all night. Hope you had a great weekend.
    -Gina-

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  22. I've made this recipe before and yes, they are fabulous! Who can resist a thick and chewy CCC?

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  23. I am sending this recipe to my daughter in Berkeley - she loves chocolate chip cookies and is always looking for the perfect one. I remember that she tried to make J.T.'s cookies, and grumbled how time-consuming they were.
    Thanks for simplifying it:)

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  24. Thanks for your efforts to give us an easy and delicious CC Cookie! They look amazing!

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  25. Gorgeous. That's all I have to say. Gorgeous.

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  26. Thank you for the recipe! These cookies are going to be my favorite

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  27. Thank you for the update!! I will definitely check out the recipe for next time I want to make some chocolate chip cookies :) Yum!!

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  28. They really do look quite perfect. I love the rippled edges and how nice and puffed they are. And of course the salt - a must!

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  29. Mmmm... Quite possibly the perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie! And I love anything Jacques Torres! I used to watch him ALL the time!

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  30. Oh man I have to try these! I absolutely LOVE salt and chocolate together. Thank you for sharing!

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  31. Thick and chewy is the ONLY way to have a chocolate chip cookie. I don't know what those thin and crispy people do with their lives. These look absolutely amazing. I would have never guessed to use bread flour!

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  32. I like nice round numbers, too. Thanks for sharing your findings!

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  33. I've been looking for a good chocolate chip cookie recipe to try and now I've found it :) I can't wait to try! I love being able to create your own recipes, it always feels so accomplishing!

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  34. OMG I'm craving these like I've never craved chocolate chip cookies before!

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  35. I have the NY times recipe up on my cork board, been waiting to make them so i was glad to see this post! Awesome job-- looks delicious!!

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  36. Those look phenomenal. Your blog just gets better and better as you learn more and more. I love stopping by to see what's new!

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  37. These photos are just amazing! I'm not really a chocolate chip fan (prefer the dough to the cookie!), but I want to reach out and have one (or four) of these. Nicely done!

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  38. I recently tried making these too! I have the recipe on my blog, come check it out! Also, I love the addition of sugar on the tops of the cookies-- great presentation!

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  39. These.look.incredible! OMG! Bookmarked!

    Great blog; happy I found you!

    Mary xx
    Delightful Bitefuls

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  40. These cookies look fantastic and I love your unique changes to make them your own! Definitely going to give these a try soon!

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  41. i hate those kind of recipe that call for 1 cup plus 1 tbsp or minus 3/4 tsp :)) com'on who has that much time?
    the cookies look amazing Amanda, love that oozing chocolate.
    have a wonderful Friday

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  42. Did you happen to use your new ratio knowledge for this recipe? I bet you did! I made these cookies with the original recipe - but I definitely would say that this recipe sounds more appealing with the more "fixed" measurements!

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  43. OH MY GOODNESS! I made these this weekend & they were delicious! My bad puppy jumped on the counter & got to a few of them--he enjoyed them thoroughly too, I'm sure! :)

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  44. I'm going to make these. Sometimes I say that about posts and don't mean it fully. These, I promise! Oh so delicious.

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  45. "Who wants to measure out 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons flour? Or 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar?"

    Well, imho, no one should be measuring out volume at all. Probably the most important thing someone can learn about baking is to weigh ingredients, and you'll notice that the NY Times recipe contained weights for the flour. Get a good kitchen scale with multiple units and good precision, find an online volume/weight conversion calculator that lists various types of dry ingredients, and watch your results improve.

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  46. insteadofablog: Thanks for 'weighing' in on the volume versus weight issue; I do agree that baking by weight is often a better choice, but a lot of home cooks dont have kitchen scales. Either way, this recipe works great with volumes and weights. Happy baking!

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  47. These are just too much. I can't pass them up!

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  48. Chocolate Chip Cookies are my favorite and I've made them for years, however this is the first recipe I've ever seen that calls for sea salt to be sprinkled on them. Not sure how salt goes with chocolate, however guess I'll try the recipe and find out. Just sounds like a strange combination to me.

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  49. These look unusually good. I will be on the case soon.

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