On Cookies

It is a truth universally acknowledged that there is little which warms the cockles of one's heart like homemade cookies, fresh from the oven. As the molten chocolate cools off and the cookie dough firms up, there is no doubt that you will find yourself scoffing one after another of these and planning exercise regimes of increasing vigour before you collapse on the floor in a sugar coma. That is, if you actually manage to shape the dough into patties and get them in the oven without devouring a whole bowl of cookie dough.

You know who you are.

The great thing about cookie dough is that it can keep for a good four (and slightly questionable five) days in the fridge. Roll it out into a baguette of about 2.5" diameter, wrap in cling film, and fridge it. Then cut inch-chunks straight onto a greased baking sheet, and fresh cookies will be yours after a mere 12 minutes' oven time.


Mr Witty's Infamously Good Cookie Recipe

I owe this recipe and the many cookie-indulgences of 2011-12 to Andrew casually leaving this recipe in the kitchen of 4 Adams.

That's the basic theory of the beast.

Beat 200g marg with 215g brown and 215g caster sugar. Mix in 2 eggs. Add 200g plain and 200g s.r. flour, and mix. Add 300g choc chips, 100g large choc chunks, and 250g chopped walnuts. Form into small patties on a well-greased baking sheet (they will splodge out in the oven), and cook at 180oC for 12 minutes, or until just becoming golden.

i) You don't want these too crispy or too doughy; getting it right is a fine art - and it's worth knowing that the cookie firms up a bit as it cools.
ii) I don't think I've ever made these with chocolate chips. 400g of chocolate chopped in uneven pieces, in on average 15mm cubes, should do the trick.
iii) I tried this without walnuts, and it works fine, but walnuts give the cookie that bit of texture and gravitas to make it stand out from a limp biscuit.
iv) Try with other ingredients and flavours - cinnamon and raisin is a classic - but beware of wet or pink ingredients! My raspberry and white chocolate cookies with frozen raspberries is still a work in progress..