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Do you ever try and try to get something right but "right" just seems a bit elusive? That's been exactly how my quest to find the best Chocolate Sugar Cookies recipe has been.
I've tried a number of recipes; some have been too dry, some too soggy. Some too dark (they looked burnt, even though they weren't), and some quite anemic. One recipe tasted really good, the cookies just didn't look very appealing (what good is that?). I wanted moist and chewy on the inside, crisp on the out side and very crackly, yes they had to be crinkly-crackly to be my ideal Chocolate Sugar Cookies. Oh and one last thing; fairly simple to put together. I didn't want a recipe that took a long time or was super complicated.
Guess what? I found THE ONE! Yup, these cookies are amazingly delicious and all my boxes are checked!! I made them yesterday and I had a bit of help putting them together.
There was a visiting sous chef here at The Café this weekend; one that kept us smiling and laughing the entire time.
See what I mean? It's hard to not have a great day with a little face like this peeping around every corner.
The Chocolate Sugar Cookie recipe we made is from the Cooks Country magazine and, when I checked it out online it seemed to be a winner with everyone who's tried it.
I added a few of my own touches with mini chocolate chips (hence the "Double" Chocolate) and I used demara sugar instead of regular for a little extra crunch on the outside.
Other than that, I followed their simple recipe pretty carefully. I used my electric mixer but you can also whip the dough up by hand.
These cookies would be great to cook with your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, friend's kids, neighbor's kids, etc. Just grab a kid or two and whip up a batch. You'll make some great memories and have something deliciously wonderful to show for your efforts. Here is a few pics from yesterday's Café cookie-making adventure with our granddaughter, Emery.
Got my hat and I'm ready to roll Grammy. Wow, that is one fancy-dancy cookie making machine!
You make me laugh Grammy! Stop telling those silly jokes! We're supposed to be cooking!
This Café cooking is really fun. I love it! I'll be your little cooking partner anytime Grammy. I've heard them say that someone needs to keep you straight!
P.S. For a fun adaptation of these cookies, check out these Red Velvet Kiss Cookies!
- 1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ¾ cup cocoa powder (use regular, not the extra dark cocoa)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 14 tablespoons butter
- 1 ¾ cups dark brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg plus one egg yolk
- 1 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup demera or turbinado sugar
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
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In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.
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In a large bowl, melt 10 tablespoons of the butter in the microwave. Cut the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in to 6-8 pieces and stir into the melted butter. Allow the butter to cool for 5-10 minutes (it should be about 90-95 degrees which is warm to the touch, not hot.)
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Combine the melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix for about 1 minute on medium speed or until smooth. Add the egg and egg yolk and mix for about 30 seconds or until smooth.
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With mixer on low speed, add flour and mix just until combined and flour is incorporated. Add chocolate chips and mix just until incorporated.
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Place demera (or turbinado) sugar in a shallow bowl.
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Roll the dough into balls, about 2-3 tablespoons for each cookie. Roll the balls in the derma sugar and place on prepared baking sheets. Using the bottom of a glass, flatten the cookies slightly and sprinkle with a bit more demera sugar.
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Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, until they have puffed and have cracks running through the top, about 12-14 minutes. Be careful not to over bake the cookies or they will be dry. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Marian AMrmstrong Rogers says
Want to try these for Christmas. How long do they keep?
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Marian, they keep well for 4-5 days and they also freeze well.
Nancy D. says
I did make the cookies today with the light brown sugar and they are very good. And my Grandson agrees. I made them for him. Thanks for getting back to me. Next time I will try with the dark brown sugar and see how much of a difference it makes.
Nancy D.
Nancy D. says
I too would like to know if I could use light brown sugar for these cookies. I would like to make them today but have no dark brown sugar. They look so good and I love the pictures of your granddaughter.
I may just try it without the dark brown sugar if I do not hear from you in time and let you know how they turn out.
Thanks,
Nancy..
Athee says
Can you do the recipe with light brown sugar or do you need the higher molasses content of the dark brown sugar for chewiness?
Janice.lew says
Hi
I've tried a few of your cookie recipes and they have been so delicious. I'm now making these ones and I don't see where the salt is added anywhere in the recipe. I'm assuming you add it after the eggs. Can't wait to taste these cookies. I'm sure they'll be terrific like the others. Thanks for terrific recipes!! Happy Holidays to you!
Shannon Wijkowski says
These are amazing! I do an annual cookie exchange and these were the first cookies I road tested and they are the ones! Hubs loved them and so did the people at work, even asking for the recipe! Tomorrow is the cookie exchange and I think I could win with these! Thanks so much for sharing!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Shannon, so happy you enjoyed them!
Sharon says
These cookies are SO good! Mine came out bigger and flatter than yours, so I'm wondering what I did differently? (I got the right number of cookies.) I have used some to make ice cream sandwiches with homemade vanilla bean ice cream, and bigger/flatter works fne for that.
I'll be making them again. 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Sharon, not sure why yours got bigger. I know there are lots of variations of flour, some with more moisture than others. That may have been the problem but I'm really happy you enjoyed them nevertheless!
Kathy harter says
Mine were also flat and crisp but still we loved them, just weren't as pretty as yours n
Lora says
I experimented with slightly shorter cooking time, less flattening with the glass, and cooking on a convection setting instead of steady heat. The 2nd batch using these changes caused mine to look more like the picture, and almost brownie like texture. (P.s. I used light brown and they're still delicious. Everyone agreed this recipe is a KEEPER!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks for sharing your results, Lora!
Lora says
Love your blog ☺️
dina says
they look yummy!
Suzanne says
Oh my goodness she's the cutest little baby ever, I just want to squeeze her I don't know how you got these cookies made with all that cuteness going on! By the way your cookies look good too, but she definitely steals the post
Linda Jean says
Made these cookies this morning - oh, my! Absolutely delicious. And easy. Straight into my keeper collection.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
What a cutie!!! Enjoyed the clicks of your sweet little sous chef! 🙂
Gwennie says
I made these cookies yesterday, sharing with our next door neighbor and they were a huge hit with everyone. Thank you for a recipe that will be made for years to come.
Chris Scheuer says
So happy they turned out well. Thanks so much for letting us know. I wish I was your neighbor as mine are all gone 🙂
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Thanks for all the smiles you gave me with this post! What a cutie.... and what amazingly delicious cookies!
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg says
She is so cute! What a lovely post, Chris. I was smiling through all off the photos. The cookies look sscrumptious!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
These sugar cookies look fabulous, who could resist the chocolate?!
bellini says
How could you not be grinning from ear to ear with that little face helping out in the kitchen:-)
Ami@naivecookcooks says
These cookies look delicious and your grand daughter is so so adorable!!
John@Kitchen Riffs says
Who doesn't love sugar cookies? Particularly chocolate ones? Terrific recipes, fun photos (and some of them are really cute -- you know which ones!). Good stuff -- thanks.
Happier Than A Pig In Mud says
Aw, an adorable post Chris! The cookies look great and your helper is precious-enjoy every minute with her:@)
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
How adorable! You make a great team, but I think she really steals the show. The cookies look amazing and just like something I would love. What a fun day you had!
Gail K says
Chris, I can't wait to try this recipe. I enjoyed the pictures of your little chef as much as I enjoyed reading about the recipe!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Gail, hope you enjoy them!
s says
What a lovely baby? The cookies with double chocolate are amazing but the baby-girl is so cuteeee!!!
Sandra says
Chris the cookies look great but honestly I couldn't take my eyes off of Emery. She is so precious and is growing up so fast. God Bless her.