Margarine Box Chocolate Chip Cookies is the name I gave this old recipe from I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. The funny thing is I saw the margarine chocolate chip cookies recipe on an I Can't Believe It's Not Butter ad (touted as a Deen brothers recipe) and on a box of Aldi brand margarine. Both versions called for stick type margarine. Now I Can't Believe It's Not Butter has it on their website with the name Delicious One-Bowl Chocolate Chip Cookies.
What I Like About These Cookies
People hate on margarine and I tend to root for the underdog, so I'm sure that's part of it. But honestly, I do like these cookies. They just have to be made with the right margarine. Some margarines taste horrible (very palm-y) while others are different yet pleasant. And just when you get to like one, they change their formula. But the reason I like these cookies is their texture. They're dense and soft without being cakey. And then a good tasting margarine is used, they have a good flavor. For these, I've had good luck with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and Earth Balance.
Baking Sticks or Spread
If you want your cookies really soft and cakey, you can use the spread. I prefer using baking sticks because they have a lower percentage of water. The cookies will still be somewhat thick and soft, but a little denser and less cakey.
One Bowl Cookies Using Butter
You can also substitute salted or unsalted butter. If making Margarine Box Chocolate Chip Cookies with salted butter, you don't need any changes. If using unsalted butter, increase the salt by about ¼ teaspoon. Both variations are great. You can even mix the two and use half margarine half butter.
Recipe
Margarine Box aka Baking Sticks Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (250 grams)
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- 2 sticks margarine or baking sticks or 1 cup spread (230 grams)
- ¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar (150 grams)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 grams)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- ½ tsp. salt
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F. Have ready a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Combine flour with baking soda in small bowl; set aside. Alternatively, just skip this step and make everything in one bowl. Directions for that in the notes.
- Beat the margarine (or salted butter) with sugars in large bowl with electric mixer until blended, about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla, egg and salt. Beat in flour mixture on low speed just until blended. Stir in chips.
- Drop mixture by heaping tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 9 minutes or until edges are golden. Remove cookies to wire racks and cool completely.
Alyssa says
JU\ust made them they are AMAZING but i used real unsalted butter :)!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jaime says
I tried this recipe the other day, and made a pan of cookies, rather than individual cookies and it still turnout out great, just kept them in a 9 x 13 glass dish for 25 minutes...delicious!
Elyse says
Mmm, the cookies look delicious. I've never worked with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, but I'm really interested to check it out now!
clumbsycookie says
I've tasted it once (on toast) and let me tell you I could believe it was not butter! I've never baked it it, but I'm guessing it will behave similar to regular margarine. I just think the name is funny and great marketing!
zestycook says
These look great! For me too test them... 🙂 I suppose you could send me some 🙂
Teasing - they look yummy!
Debbie says
I would love to give these a try. My favorites are the Tollhouse ones....
unconfidentialcook.com says
We love Jamie and Bobby, and know their sweets are unbelievably delicious. Can't believe the butter sub though...considering the gene pool.
Dani says
wow! i never would have thought the flavour would be that similar.
wish i could find those sticks here in labrador bc god knows i go through a lot of baking butter...
snookydoodle says
well these look good 🙂
Laurel says
Glad to see your results. I bought this butter last week but have been too busy to try it. I think I am inspired to now...Thanks!
Katy says
Evidently the lower saturated fat isn't helping the Deen boys slim down. Paula would deep fry the dough.
bakingblonde says
Those look so good I can't believe they are made without butter!! haha.
leslie says
I was wondering how these "butter" sticks would stack up! Thanks for testing them for us
beth says
Thanks once again Anna! I've been seeing a lot of magazine ads for the I Can't Believe sticks. The photo always makes me crave fresh chocolate chips. Knowing that you liked the results is even more of an incentive to try it out.
Beth
The American Homemaker says
Well they look great!
dawn says
it was noticeable? hmmm, don't know if I wanna go there. I love the taste of butter with the brown sugar: a flavor that hard to recreate.
Stephanie says
i'm so excited to see this post! i just saw a commercial for this new product and was very curious about it! (I use QUITE a bit of butter so I thought maybe a recipe every now and then with slightly-more-healthy butter wouldn't kill me!) i like hearing that they are soft right out of the frig, thats terrific for those super impatient baking moments. Thanks for the report!
Pearl says
ooh wow! i wonder what paula would think of them 🙂 i'm sure she'd think they were fantastic!
Anna says
Louise, I'd like to hear how shortening works too.
Louise says
When I was a kid, we always made the Toll House recipe with shortening, so I should probably give these a try.
Anna says
I think Paula would love the butter sticks. They have half the saturated fat, so she could use double!
Louise says
I had the same thoughts as Sue when I saw "Deen Brothers". Their momma must be saying "Where did I go wrong?" 😉 $$$ I'm always skeptical about all this stuff as I grew up when everybody thought margarine was better for you than butter. (My family still believed in butter.) They weren't telling us about trans fats.
Sue says
So glad you tried these and reported on them. Interesting that this is a recipe from the Deen brothers, 'cause their Mama sure isn't afraid of a little butter and saturated fat! 🙂
Digigirl says
Ooh, I haven't seen those baking sticks. I will definitely give this a try. They look yummy!
CindyD says
Thanks for trying these! I've been wondering how the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter baking sticks compared with the Smart Balance Baking Sticks. I'm going to try the oatmeal version soon.