I LOVE chocolate chip cookies, and I make pretty good ones too.
But I am not going to share my recipe, not because I am mean, but because chances are you have a perfect recipe too- you are just making them wrong. (I know this is possible because people have used my recipe and made terrible cookies)
So here is how to use your recipe to make PERFECT chocolate chip cookies:
Fresh Ingredients: Don't pull out 4 year old baking soda and hope that is works.
Correct Measuring: make sure that your measuring spoons/cups all add up. I used to have a 1/2 cup that was more like a 1/3 and I couldn't figure out why my cookies didn't work.
Use 1/2 shortening and 1/2 butter at room temperature: whatever the recipe calls for use 1/2 butter and 1/2 shortening.Mix it by hand. Seriously. Let it be the arm workout that justifies all of the cookies you are going to eat!
Don't Overmix: Cream the butter and sugar and then add the eggs one at a time. (if you can't mix it all by hand- STOP using the mixer after you add the eggs) From here on out stir in the flour mixture and chocolate chips.
Refrigerate your dough if you have time- even it is only 30 minutes.
DON'T spray your cookie sheets and preheat your oven.
Use a cookie scoop so that your cookies are all the same size
And MOST IMPORTANTLY pull your cookies out of the oven before they are done. (I have a grandma who will not take anything out of the oven until the timer goes off. The rolls can be black on top- and still no matter- they are not done until the timer dings.)
Be patient: Put just a few on the cookie sheet to start out with. Start with 8 minutes. If you can see they are still gooey- leave them in for another minute or two. But if they look like just one more minute and they will be perfect: Pull them out and let them set. I think that you'll be surprised that they keep cooking on the pan. If they are still too gooey then next time cook them a minute longer.
I would love to hear if these tips (and any others) help you make AWESOME, no-fail chocolate chip cookies!
* disclaimer- that is not my picture at the top, but it was the best I could find. Guess I'll have to make some!