Nutty Or Nice Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat softened butter and sugars with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon about 1 minute or until fluffy, scraping side of bowl occasionally.
• Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. Stir in flour mixture just until blended (dough will be stiff). Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
• Onto ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown (centers will be soft). Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Store covered in airtight container.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, cream together the butter and brown and granulated sugars until smooth but not over mixed. (I do this by hand, but if you use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a handheld mixer, beat on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes, and then scrape down the sides of the bowl before continuing.) Add the egg, vanilla and salt and stir just until combined.
• Sift in the flour, baking soda and baking powder and stir gently just until combined. Add the chocolate and nuts if using and stir just until evenly distributed throughout the dough. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Position the racks in the upper third and lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Scoop up 1-inch balls of the dough with a spoon or mini scoop and set them 2 inches apart on the prepared pans. Bake the cookies, rotating the pans after 7 to 9 minutes, for 13 to 17 minutes until the cookies are golden brown. If you like a very soft cookie, bake them for 13 minutes. If you like a crisp cookie, bake them for 17 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool. I think these cookies are best the day they are baked, but they will keep in an airtight cookie jar for up to 4 days-if they last that long.

Steps:

• Toast pecans: Spread pecans in shallow pan and toast at 350 degrees until fragrant and lightly toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Toast oatmeal: Spread oatmeal in shallow pan and toast at 350 degrees, just until oatmeal begins to change color, 5-10 minutes; watch closely. Let pecans and oatmeal completely cool.
• Turn oven to 325 degrees. Cream butter and both sugars until very light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until smooth.
• In separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and toasted oatmeal. Fold into butter mixture *by hand* just until incorporated; do not overmix. Lightly fold in both chocolates and pecans, if using.
• Use cookie scoop, place onto parchment-lined cookie sheets and press down with back of spoon to lightly flatten.
• Bake at 325x for 20 minutes until an even light golden color. (If edges start to brown, oven is too hot.)
• Remove from baking sheet and let cool on rack. Makes 1 dozen big or 2 dozen small cookies.