Michelle Obama's White and Dark Chocolate Cookies is a recipe from Family Circle’s old presidential cookie contest where candidates' wives cookie recipes were put against each other, with the superstition being that the winning cookie predicted the winning candidate. Or something like that. I never got too much into the history of it because I was busy baking the cookies, but it's kind of an interesting thing to read about now that it's over and Family Circle has folded.
Anyhow, I named the cookies Michelle Obama's Chocolate Chip Cookies, but it was originally published as Mama Kaye's White and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies. You can find that version with a Google search, but be careful because it has a typo in it. It calls for 1 cup of butter and 1 stick (which is one cup) of Crisco and all the other proportions where the usual Toll House. So I changed it to 1 stick of butter and ½ stick of Crisco -- 1 cup total fat with half butter half shortening. I think that's how Mama Kaye (who is Sasha and Malia's godmother) made them. It's how my great grandmother made them.
But back to the competition! Family Circle put Michelle Obama's Chocolate Chip Cookies up against Ann Romney's Oatmeal M&M Cookies. Michelle Obama's recipe won. However, having baked both presidential cookies multiple times, I'd say it's a tie.
Michelle Obama's White and Dark Notes
The recipe uses half butter and half Butter Flavor Crisco. The mixture of butter and shortening gives them just the right balance of butter flavor and crispy edges. Feel free to substitute regular Crisco for the butter flavored. I usually do. I wish they'd improve the butter flavor type to make it taste more natural. But regular Crisco is fine. I don't feel like I'm missing anything by not using the butter flavored type.
Here's a link to the Michelle Obama's Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe. I make it so often I did a whole different post on it.
Jennifer says
I can't seem to find the EXTRA dark chips in my area, just the regular, special dark ones. Darnit.
Anna says
Joan, if you have time, let us know which cookie wins in your office. About mint chips, they're okay if all you plan on eating is mint, but I usually eat two kinds of cookies at once and hate it when the mint flavor takes over. I just used white chips and dark.
joan trueblood says
Hi Anna, Thanks for saving my batch of Obama cookies. I was very skeptical when I saw all that fat in the recipe. I made both recipes tonight. I'm going to bring them to the office and have people vote for their favorites, without telling them whose recipe is whose. Also, I noticed that you left out the mint chips from the original Obama recipe. Was that intentional? I followed your recipe: the mint chips sounded a little weird to me.
Katrina says
Shortening is now trans-fat free, so that's something. It didn't used to be. Since white chocolate and the original Nestle recipe aren't my favorite, I'm still going to have to go with the Romney cookies--and I've made those and know they are de-lish! 😉
Chewthefat says
I agree that the responsibility of picking the winner would be rather daunting--people are so passionate about food and so partisan about politics, I imagine things get very heated! But one thing I love about this cookie contest is that of the recipes I've seen over the years, I can't think of one that really sounded bad, Democrat or Republican. It's kind of heartening to think that I could still say, if I met Ann: "you know, we disagree on many issues, but we can at least agree that peanut butter in cookies is pretty awesome." I feel sorry that Michelle's otherwise great recipe had a typo in it, though, when it was originally printed. I need to get over my fear of shortening and I want to try the Monsters although I'm tempted to use peanut butter M&Ms.
Sue says
Yum! Both cookies look great.
C L says
My copy of your book ships out tomorrow...yipppeee! 🙂 I love the Monster Cookies because they are something just a little bit different. Thank you, Anna, for reposting the recipes. Now they are both in the same place. 🙂
Anna says
Thanks, Stephanie!
Hope, I'll be curious to hear how the Brazilian versions of American First Lady cookies work. It's interesting to get feedback on how ingredients vary in different countries. You'd think flour would be flour and butter would be butter, but there are sometimes differences.
Karen, I find the butter flavoring in BFC a little strong. I do like it in the Obama cookies because only half the usual amount is used and it adds a nice backdrop flavor. However, regular shortening works just fine.
Karen says
I would have hated to have been on the Family Circle's judging team. I really like both types of cookies! But my favorite would still have to be.... Dang it, it's a tie. LOL. I'm looking forward to trying both recipes out. I don't have butter flavored Crisco, so it will be interesting to see if that makes much difference in the Obama recipe.
CindyD says
Amazon says my copy won't arrive till the 13th at the earliest... and I can't wait!
hopeinbrazil says
Since I live in Brazil I did not know about this cookie "competition". I look forward to trying them both.
Stephanie says
Thanks for this topical post! I have to say that as there are more non-peanut eaters in my family, Obama recipe will probably win in my household! Also, I've been following your blog for a few years now and I am so happy to hear about your cookbook!
Katrina says
Interesting that your decision on the cookies is a tie when the actual election results is about that close, too, so I hear. 😉
Waiting for tomorrow with baited breath. And the winner of my Daily Cookie book giveaway has been notified and will get the book shipped tomorrow!
Cheryl says
I have always made my CC cookies with half butter and half butter Crisco. I like the flavor and the way they set up. I make a small recipe using 1/4 c butter, 1/4 cup Crisco, 1/3 cup each brown and white sugar, 1 cup 1 T flour and 1/2 teaspoon each of baking soda and vanilla. Makes about 22-24 small cookies.
Corinne says
Well, as I don't eat nuts but like M&Ms, I'm with Ann on this one. Tomorrow's a different story.
Finally actually ordered the book last night, looking forward to lots of cookies! =)