May 12, 2020

Did Someone Say Chocolate Chip Cookies?!

Ready to try out a homemade Hilton’s Double Tree‘s Chocolate Chip Cookie

Thank you, Ruth Wakefield!
Thank you for one of America’s greatest, and tastiest, inventions: the yummy, -ooey, gooey chocolate chip cookie!  You made the world a much sweeter place! (Yes,
that was a pun.)
Read more about the creation of the chocolate chip cookie, here and  here.

Ruth Wakefield made the world a sweeter place!
(This heart-shaped chocolate chipper was made with my grandmother’s recipe, here.

As hard as it is to believe,  I have actually met several individuals who do not embrace my enthusiasm for the delectable chocolate chip cookie!  I know, who are these people, and from what planet have they arrived?!

Who are these people who do not like chocolate chip cookies,
and from what planet have they arrived?!
Photo courtesy of my son.  Thanks!

My love of chocolate chip cookies can be traced back to my earliest of years.  I remember my mom, a great cook, mixing up that yummy batter, allowing me to lick the bowl (before the threat of salmonella loomed so large), and then enjoying the finished product afterwards, fresh out of the oven with a glass of cold milk.

My mom, my earliest supplier of yummy chocolate chip cookies,
observes my youthful equestrian skills.
1961?

My grandma, another great cook, also figures into my personal chocolate chip cookie history, always having a repurposed family-sized coffee can filled with her homemade chocolate chip gems, stored in her chest-style deep freeze on the service porch.
(These were often served with a cup of piping hot tea.)
To this day, I prefer my chocolate chip cookies cold (or even slightly frozen) with the chocolate morsels in a cool, solid-state, encased in a chewy cookie.
(I enjoy most of my chocolate cold: chocolate chips, chocolate bars, chocolate candy…)

My grandma and grandpa on their beloved Iowa farm.
1985?

I have baked numerous chocolate chip recipes over the years, including
the Nestle’s Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie,
Laura Bush’s Texas Governor’s Mansion Cowboy Cookies,
my sister’s Iowa Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies,
and various friend’s chocolate chip cookie recipes.
I also made many feeble attempts at recreating
Walt Disney World’s Epcot, The Land, Farmers Market Chocolate Chip Cookies, where the dough is shaped into “log” form, chilled, and then cut into slices before baking.  These NEVER ever turned out!  :o(
While all were yummy, except the latter, I always find my way back to
my grandma’s chocolate chip cookie recipe (here).
BUT when I saw that the Hilton Double Tree had finally decided to share the recipe for their iconic chocolate chip cookie with the public, I just had to give it a try!

I remember WDW’s Epcot The Land, Farmers Market Chocolate Chip Cookies as being very good, but my attempt at recreating this recipe at home has never had positive results.  :o(

 

Hilton’s Double Tree‘s Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

A warm chocolate chip cookie can’t solve everything,
but it can bring a moment of comfort and happiness.
Shawn McAteer
Senior vice president and global head, DoubleTree by Hilton

Warm chocolate chip cookies are a trademark of Hilton’s Double Tree hotels, greatly appreciated (and devoured) by guests upon their arrival.  Their recipe had been a carefully guarded secret until last month.  In the spirit of goodwill, during these Covid-19 times, Hilton Double Tree has shared their recipe for the first time, stating, “We hope families enjoy the fun of baking together during their time at home.”.  Thank you, Hilton Double Tree!  I just baked these goodies , and they are yummy (especially after a little cooling time in the refrigerator)!

I prepared this recipe fairly closely to how it was written, minus the walnuts.  My changes are written in parentheses.

You can find the original recipe here.

My Hilton’s Double Tree‘s Chocolate Chip Cookie

Let’s Bake Cookies!

I keep the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies on hand,
so when the mood hits…
Hilton’s Double Tree‘s recipe requires a new ingredient, lemon juice!

Freshly made Hilton’s Double Tree‘s Chocolate Chip Cookies! Yum!

 

Recipe

Hilton DoubleTree Signature Cookie Recipe

https://newsroom.hilton.com/static-doubletree-reveals-cookie-recipe.htm

Makes 26 cookies

Ingredients

½ pound butter, softened (2 sticks)

¾ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

¾ cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 ¼ cups flour

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Pinch cinnamon
(very small pinch)

2 2/3 cups Nestle Tollhouse semi-sweet chocolate chips
(I used Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips, 60% cocoa)

1 3/4 cups chopped walnuts
(I skipped these)

Directions

Preheat oven to 300°F.

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 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, if you have not already done so.)
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.

Annette’s Notes-
These were good!

Enjoy!

Made Me Smile :o)

Here are a few items that made me smile this week.
I love sharing these smiles with you. :o)

Baby Manatees

Manatee photo taken at Walt Disney World
April 2019

I melted when I recently saw this short video, from 2019, about the caring of rescued baby manatees. Awww….  See it, here.

Does anyone else immediately start humming the Veggie Tales’ Silly Song, “Endangered Love” aka Barbara Manatee (2000) when thinking about manatees? :o)  Watch that, here.

Irises

This past week my favorite flower, the Iris, has begun to brilliantly bloom in my yard, and in the neighborhood.

 

Previous Cookie-Related Blog Posts

Chocolate Chip Cookies (2013), here.

A New Stove and Disney Peanut Butter Cookies (2016), here.

The Flavors of Fall (2018), here.

The Leaning Tower of Eggplant (2019), here.

Looking for something upbeat to read?

I have been blogging for seven years, and have over 150 positive posts available to read!
Check them out in the archives section on the right-hand side of I’m Annette, here.

Stay in, stay safe and keep washing those hands!

You may be climbing the walls (or the screen door, like this athletic kitty)
to get out of the house, but remember that we are all staying home to keep safe
and to keep others safe. :o)

Thank you for reading!
May your days be blessed, and your taste buds happy!
Stay safe,

I’m Annette Stuff

I attempt to post my blog at least once per month.
Look for my next post on, or around,
June 4, 2020.

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A purple Allium blooms in my flower garden.