Many years ago I had the opportunity to visit the I Can't Believe it's Not Butter test kitchen in Unilever's Englewood, NJ headquarters. What I remember mainly from the trip are two things -- that Englewood Cliffs is really pretty (I think I'd imagined it as factories), and this recipe for Ultimate Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
Normajean, who works in the test kitchen, had just created this recipe and was so excited about it! I could really feel her enthusiasm towards her job and her cookies (and was jealous, but that's okay). She let us try the cookies, made of course with I Can't Believe it's Not Butter, and everyone on the tour agreed they looked and tasted delicious.
As you can guess, I made the Ultimate Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies as soon as I got home from the trip, and I'm still making them to this day!
Some Neat Things About Ultimate Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies
What I love about these cookies is that they are big, fat, fudgy and loaded with chunks of white and dark chocolate, nuts and cherries. Texture is important to me, and these have a great texture. Honestly, they are practically chunks held together with cookie. That's probably why the recipe can get away with using what amounts to half the fat as usual cookies. I Can't Believe it's Not Butter tub style has only 60 grams of fat per tablespoon, so a cup of the ICBINB is way less fat than you'd get from a cup of actual butter. But it works here! Again, probably because the majority of the cookie is chunks of things.
Some Cookie Notes
- Normajean made these using a glass bowl and a wooden spoon, so that's how I make the cookies. I don't think I've ever bothered with an electric mixer. Then again, I often halve the recipe, so I wouldn't blame you for wanting to use an electric mixer to stir. Just remember you don't have to put any effort into creaming the butter and sugars, but rather just mix it all together. Less air = denser, fudgier cookies. That, plus there's not much baking soda.
- Natural cocoa powder (as opposed to Dutch process) seems to always give me fatter cookies. If you look at the photo of the cookies on the rack, you can see that the ones in the front (natural) are a little thicker. But Dutch process works too, so if that's all you have don't worry.
- I Can't Believe it's Not Butter has salt in it, so the original recipe does not call for extra salt. I like to add an extra pinch anyway. If you substitute some other fat that doesn't have salt, be sure to add about ¾ teaspoon.
- What you do need are chunks, nuts and cherries. It's all the add-ins that add bulk, so if you leave out the nuts makes sure to replace with an equal amount of something else.
Recipe
Ultimate Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (290 grams)
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (45 grams)
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- Big Pinch salt optional
- 1 cup I Can't Believe It's Not Butter (230 grams)
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar (200 grams)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100 grams)
- 1 large egg (54 grams)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate coarsely chopped
- 6 ounces white chocolate coarsely chopped
- ½ cup dried cranberries or dried cherries
- ½ cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°. If you plan on chilling the dough you can skip this step.
- Combine flour, cocoa powder and baking soda in medium bowl; set aside. You can also add a pinch of salt, but it's optional since the spread already has salt.
- With a wooden spoon or with an electric mixer, beat together the I Can't Believe it's Not Butter, both sugars and the egg. Do not overbeat or attempt to make the mixture fluffy, just beat until mixed.
- Stir in flour mixture just until blended, then stir in both chocolates, cranberries and pecans (or walnuts).
- If you are making the cookies right away, drop mixture by ¼-cupfuls, 3-in. apart, on ungreased or parchment lined baking sheets. Bake 11 minutes or until edges just begin to set. Do not over bake; cookies will firm as they cool. Cool 2 minutes on wire rack; remove from sheets and cool completely.
- Alternatively, drop the cookie dough onto a couple of dinner plates lined with plastic wrap. You should have about 18 mounds. Cover and chill until you are ready to bake. When ready to bake, arrange on parchment lined baking sheets and bake for 11 minutes or until done. Since the dough balls will be cold, it will probably take a little longer.
Amy at The Scene From Me says
Well you know you can't go wrong with anything triple chocolate! Taste buds tell the truth!
Louise says
Be sure to tell the neighbors that you had some fresh baked Ultimate Chocolate Chunk Cookies for them but you had to throw them in the freezer. 🙂
Anna says
Carrie, I haven't tried those. I just use the clear cellophane treat bags which come with silver ties.
Carrie says
Have you ever tried Nashville Wraps (online) for bags? I bought some biodgradable ones for a bake sale and thought they were great.
Anna says
Louise, they weren't home! I had to throw my whole bag of wrapped cookies in the freezer. I'll try again today.
Louise says
Anna, Did the neighbors love the cookies?
Shari says
these look wonderful! I love baking cookies & the smaller batches like this are great!
LimeCake says
Gosh these look dark and delicious! just what a triple chocolate chunk cookie should be!
the blissful baker says
i would love to get these cookies as a gift. YUM!
Liz @ Blog is the New Black says
I love cookies, I love chocolate, I love sugar... delish!!! 😉
amanda @ fake ginger says
YUM! They look delicious! I need to make them since I didn't try them at the bakeoff!
Nancy says
I didn't know the different cocoas reacted that differently. Good to know.
Katrina says
That's a fun, interesting experiment. Both look really good.
Anna says
The texture is like a bakery cookie -- rough and dry on the outside and moist on the inside.
bakingaddict says
These look really good! I love cookies!!
Chris Mower says
These look fantastic. I'm excited to give them a try.
RAM says
How's the texture of the cookies? Is it fudgy? Is it possible to substitute regular butter with the recipe same amount? I notice you didn't use cranberries in yours.
Lisa Ernst says
I'm a big fan of Dutched cocoa because it can mellow out bitterness, and I love the Valhrona cocoa I just bought -- soo very dark and full flavored. Still, you did an interesting experiment that has inspired me to buy some regular cocoa for the next time I make double or triple chocolate cookies.
Mackenzie@The Caramel Cookie says
Those look so decadent! I love how white chocolate chunks taste in dark chocolate cookies.