Pillow Cookies

As if yesterday's slutty brownies weren't enough, today brings more sweet treats. I feel like at this point I should have a go to chocolate chip cookie recipe. Well I don't. So for your benefit and mine, I'm going to be testing out different recipes. First recipe test resulted in these little pillow puff chocolate cookies.

First recipe test went pretty good. The flavor was great, they looked great, had great color and were perfectly soft and fluffy inside. Definitely a recipe to keep in my repertoire, but I'm still working on it. I'm looking for something a little flatter and denser with that perfect chewy inside and barely crisp edge.

The trick to getting these so soft is the melted butter. I honestly thought this would weigh them down and flatten them out more, but they kept their little puff shape all through the baking and cooling.

Chocolate Chip Pillow Cookies adapted from Pinch of Yum
yields 1 dozen cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (more as needed)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat your oven 350 degrees. Microwave the butter for about 40 seconds to just barely melt it. It shouldn't be hot - but it should be almost entirely in liquid form.

Using a mixer, beat the butter with the sugars until combined. Add the extracts and the egg; beat on low speed until just incorporated - 10-15 seconds or so.

Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until crumbles form. Use your hands to press the crumbles together into a dough. It should form one large ball that is easy to handle. This is the stage where you may want to add more flour. Add a little at a time, mixing with your hands or spatula. I ended up adding another 1/2 cup to get the right consistency. You want it right at the stage between "wet" dough and "dry" dough). Add the chocolate chips and incorporate with your hands.

Roll the dough into 12 large balls and place on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Take them out even if they look like they're not done yet. They should be pale and puffy.

Let them cool on the pan for about 30 minutes. Enjoy these heavenly pillows will a tall glass of milk!