My make-ahead Thanksgiving dishes are done, but it’s too early to start the others. I guess this is Thanksgiving purgatory, so to pass the time I tried out a new chocolate chip cookie recipe called In Between Chocolate Chip Cookies. The recipe is from Cookwise, by Shirley Corriher, a famous food scientist/cook.
Shirley Corriher's Chocolate Chip Cookies
She calls these her “In Between” cookies because they're neither too thick nor too thin. Mine were a little on the thin side, but they were delicious with crispy edges and soft centers. Sometimes cookies made with baking powder and cake flour come out a little cakey and not very brown. These aren’t cakey at all. In her book Cookwise
Cookwise
Cookies aside, Cookwise is a great book and a must for anyone interested in the science behind baking and cooking. I keep it in my kitchen because it is truly like having a food scientist right in there with me. Even with Shirley's guidance I still manage to mess up recipes by not following them exactly, but going back and realizing "Oh, Shirley was right" has helped me learn so much. Since this writing, She has also written in a book called Bakewise.
Recipe
In Between Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecan halves (128 grams)
- 2 tablespoons butter (28 grams)
- 1 ½ cup cake flour (170 grams)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 5 tablespoons unsalted or salted butter (70 grams)
- 5 tablespoons butter-flavored or neutral shortening (60 grams)
- ¾ cup light brown sugar (150 grams)
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup (or use golden syrup) (36 grams)
- 1 large egg 54 grams
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract used "un-pure" and cookies were fine
- 1 ¼ cups your favorite type of semisweet chips or dark or bittersweet
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- On a large baking sheet, roast the pecans for 10 to 12 minutes (check at 8). While the nuts are still hot, stir in the 2 T.butter. Let the pecans cool then chop them.
- Turn the oven up to 375 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder; set aside
- Beat butter, shortening and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the corn syrup. Add the egg and beat for 30 seconds. Stir in the vanilla. With a mixing spoon, gradually add the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the pecans and chocolate chips
- Line cookie sheets with non-stick foil or parchment. Drop rounded tablespoons of batter about 2 inches apart onto the sheets and bake the cookies for about 12 minutes or until the edges just begin brown. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet on a cooling rack for 3 minutes, then remove the cookies to a rack to cool completely.
Anna says
Hello Judy!
Thanks for the comment. I wonder why this recipe isn't as popular as some of the others out there? The "In Betweens" are kind of what the back of the bag Toll House cookies aspire to be. That is, they are light, crispy edged and perfectly browned on the edge. Unlike some of the other cookies here, they aren't hearty and bakery-like. These are very homey.
I'm going to have to make a batch of the puffy style cookies. I made them years ago, but kind of forgot how they tasted.
Judy says
These are my very favorite chip cookies. I bought Corriher's book when it was first published and I've been making these cookies ever since. I alternate between these and the puffy ones, since I've never cared for the flat crisp chip cookies. Also, I use different kinds of chips for fun. I've used cherry chips, cinnamon chips, green mint chips. It's a very versatile recipe. Thanks for highlighting it.
Anna says
Hi Kelly,
I think I put put pre-packaged trail mix in Monster cookies at one point. You might try making the award winning Mrs. Fields cookies, but instead of adding butterscotch chips and pecans, add trail mix.
Kelly says
Anna, have you even made any cookies using prepackaged trail mix. I have a bag laying around and I am trying to find a way to use it up! I do hope you post some of your non- cookie thanksgiving recipes on your site!
Anna says
Abi, my absolute favorite is the Ghirardelli bittersweet chips. But sometimes I get tired of them and buy Nestle semi-sweet or Hershey Dark. Oh, my other favorite are Callebaut chips, but those are harder to find.
Abi says
Anna - What is your preferred type of chocolate chip? Usually I buy whatever is on sale, but I was wondering if there's something that you specifically recommend.
Anna says
Cerise, do you mean the puffy ones from Shirley Corriher?
These were really, really good. They hit the spot today.
Cerise Ly says
I made the soft ones a few days ago using spectrum shortening. They dried out after a few days to crunchy. I will try the in between recipe tomorrow.