Chef Johns Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S CHILI CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Heat currants and coffee liqueur in a saucepan over low heat until it begins to simmer, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Combine unsweetened chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, and butter in bowl. Place bowl on top of a saucepan filled with 1-inch of water set over low heat. Stir chocolate mixture occasionally until melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Mix flour, black pepper, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper in large bowl and set aside.
• Whisk sugar and eggs in a small bowl until light, fluffy, and pale yellow, about 5 minutes. Slowly whisk in vanilla and melted chocolate mixture.
• Fold flour mixture into sugar and chocolate mixture until combined.
• Stir in dark chocolate chips and liqueur-soaked currants.
• Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are almost set, about 12 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and leave on baking sheets to cool, 5 minutes.
• Transfer to cooling rack and allow to finish cooling, 5 minutes.

CHEF JOHN'S PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat butter, white sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a stand mixer until smooth.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beater with a spatula. Add egg and mix for about 1 minute.
• Slowly mix in flour with the mixer on low. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beater. Mix on medium until combined, about 30 seconds.
• Form dough into a ball, cover with plastic and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Portion out cookie dough in equal-sized balls on a baking sheet covered with a silicone baking mat. Use damp hands to roll dough into smooth balls. Stamp each ball with a fork in a criss-cross pattern.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until golden.
• Leave on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

PERFECT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• Put the butter and both sugars in a stand mixer or mixing bowl. Cream together using a paddle attachment on medium speed, a handheld electric whisk or a wooden spoon for 1 to 2 minutes until paler but not fluffy. (Do not mix for too long; if you beat the mixture until super light and fluffy, that will cause the cookie to deflate later when cooking.)
• Add the egg and beat over medium speed until evenly combined.
• In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (all the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt), then fold into the butter mixture using a rubber spatula until combined.
• Add the chopped chocolate and fold into the dough until evenly distributed.
• Immediately scoop out heaping 1/4-cup portions (about 60 grams), roll into balls and place on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 12 hours. (If space is tight, you can condense them on one sheet before refrigerating then redistribute among two sheets before baking.)
• The next day, heat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Make sure the dough balls are evenly spaced out among two baking sheets, as they will spread. Bake the cookies for 13 minutes (or 15 minutes if baking from frozen), until the cookies are puffed and golden at the edges. You want the middle to be ever so slightly not-quite set.
• Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet; they will continue firming up as they cool. Once cooled, eat! (These cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The balls of dough will keep for up to 2 days in the fridge or 2 weeks in the freezer.)