Well there’s big news in Cookie Land today. To make everyone feel good, DoubleTree by Hilton released the original DoubleTree Hotel Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. I guess they want us to put all the flour we’ve been buying lately to good use. Thanks, DoubleTree! I just pulled a batch of cookies from the oven.
Now there have been similar DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookie copycats floating around. In fact, years ago I baked a copycat version and compared it to the real thing.
Copycats and Actual DoubleTree Cookies
Below is a photo of the old copycats along with the originals. The copycats are darker. These new cookies are lighter.
The old recipe was pretty close, but since this is the one DoubleTree says they use, I suppose it’s the one we should go with. It has lemon juice like the old one, a little more baking soda, a little more vanilla and a lot more walnuts and chocolate chips. This new DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie recipe is also baked at a much lower temperature — 300 degrees F. I remember all the old Debbie Fields recipes used to call for a really low and slow bake time. It’s supposed to make the cookies softer, but in my experience it just helps them bake more evenly. Update: The new DoubleTree cookies DO bake up softer at 300F.
Small Batch DoubleTree Copycats
The DoubleTree dough freezes well. In fact, the cookies are almost better with frozen dough. But if you want to make a smaller batch (which I often do), here’s a quick small batch version. Also, if you are wondering why lemon juice is there, it’s to make the batter more acidic. You won’t taste the lemon. If you don’t have lemon, use vinegar.
Cream together 56 grams unsalted butter 40 grams granulated sugar 38 grams brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla Scrape the sides of the bowl and add 24 grams lightly beaten egg (about 2 tablespoons) 1/4 teaspoon plus a tiny splash of vanilla 1/8 teaspoon lemon juice (you can add a little more or less) After adding the lemon juice, add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt pinch of cinnamon Stir well and scrape the side of the bowl. Stir in 75 grams all-purpose flour 15 grams oats Lastly, add 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips 40 grams roughly chopped walnuts Portion dough into about 5 or 6 balls (I make 5, so they’re big) and bake at 300 degrees F. for 20 minutes or until done.
More Recipes
Recipe
DoubleTree Hotel Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound butter, softened (unsalted) (230 grams)
- 3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (160 grams)
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar (150 grams)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 1/4 cups flour (300 grams)
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Pinch cinnamon
- 2 2/3 cups Nestle Tollhouse semisweet chips chocolate chips
- 1 3/4 cups chopped walnuts don’t have to toast
Instructions
- Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes.
- Add eggs, vanilla and lemon juice, blending with mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then medium speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy, scraping down side of the bowl.
- With mixer on low speed, add flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, blending for about 45 seconds. Don’t overmix.
- Remove bowl from mixer and stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
- Portion dough with a scoop (about 3 tablespoons) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper about 2 inches apart.
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.
- Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for about 1 hour.
- Cook’s note: You can freeze the unbaked cookies, and there’s no need to thaw. Preheat oven to 300°F and place frozen cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.
Sue
I just looked at mine again and they look almost identical in color to yours at the top of this post so they’re really not pale.
Sue
Finally got to make these. To quote my husband, “they are outstanding”. I agree with everyone about the lemon. I don’t know that it does anything in such a small quantity but I added it anyway. I do think the cinnamon was detectable but maybe that’s just because I knew it was there? I baked off a few and the rest of the dough is in the refrigerator. Something to look forward to. 🙂
They’re really good looking cookies although mine are a bit pale. They’re plenty done though so I don’t think I’ll bake them longer or hotter.
Angie
I made them and we loved them! My son is allergic to walnuts so I used pecans and they fit right in! Thanks for the recipe. I’ve never been to a Doubletree hotel but I’ve heard all about this cookie
D
I tried these, but subbed pecans for the walnuts. Delicious!
Rhonda Oliver
I did make these yesterday, exactly as the recipe, except I had to use mini choc chips.
They are delicious though I can’t tell the pinch of cinnamon and 1/4 t lemon juice do a thing.
They are such big, hearty cookies! Back when I cooked at a fraternity house, the boys would loved these.
Anna
Rhonda, I agree. I can’t see how such a tiny amount of lemon juice would really affect the acidity of the batter, but I threw it in anyway. If it were a teaspoon or more then maybe it would do something, but 1/4 teaspoon? It’s like they took the old copycat recipe and doctored it up for marketing purposes and the lemon juice is just there because people like to think of it as some secret ingredient. What really makes these cookies good is all the walnuts. I normally wouldn’t add so many, but using the full amount of walnuts makes these more like the original. They are really good.
RHONDA Oliver
The 1/4 t lemon juice is an odd addition and it’s such a small amount, doesn’t seem like it’s enough to do anything. Even still, I think I’ll try them this afternoon. I wish I had bought some chocolate Easter candy and since we don’t have any, cookies sound great!
Sue
I’m looking forward to making these when I can get the ingredients! I love those cookies. When I check into a Doubletree!
Sonya
How fun!!!!
Diana
My family loves these cookies! But I leave out the walnuts as they are not fans of walnuts. I also use 2 cups of the semisweet and 1 cup of the bittersweet. Yummy!
Anna
s’kat, the lemon was not detectable. I actually used a little more than the recipe called for. I think it just adds more acid to the batter.The hotel cookies didn’t have any cinnamon flavor, so I just left it out. I have put it in chocolate chip cookies in the past. If you use a tiny, tiny, bit, it adds another dimension.
Anna
They’re a little bit crisp around the edges, but aside from the crunchiness in the nuts, they’re tender. And yes, I did chill the dough.