Chocolate Chip Cookies Faceoff

My sister's fiancé D asked what treat would be awaiting when he and L arrived on Friday night before Thanksgiving. I had a specific treat in mind! After watching At The Table With... Elizabeth Falkner, I took out her book Demolition Desserts from the library. In it were tempting desserts, from delectable cookie recipes to elaborate desserts, requiring several components.



On the show and in the book, Elizabeth boasts that her brother deems her chocolate chip cookies the best and I thought I'd try it out! I made a batch at my friends Superfly and T, and they were a hit! In the book, following the Chocolate Cookie Recipe, is the recipe for Chococolate² Chip Espresso Cookies, which looked equally delicious. I thought I would make both recipes and have a chocolate cookie faceoff! I followed the chocolate chip cookie recipe, baked half and added ingredients from the second recipe. I like both recipes equally, while my sister preferred the basic chocolate chip cookie recipe. I think the key ingredient is the brown sugar!

Chocolate Chip Cookies - Makes 3 dozens
I recently heard a great tip that for all dessert recipes, the sugar can be cut by 10%. I would agree since I tend to find desserts too sweet. Follow this tip according to your own sweet tooth!

* ½ cup butter, softened but still cool
* ¾ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
* ½ cup granulated sugar
* 1 large egg
* 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
* ¼ tsp kosher salt
* 1-¼ cup plus 3 tbsp (7 oz) all-purpose flour
* ½ tsp baking soda
* ¼ tsp baking powder
* 8 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped the size of chocolate, or bittersweet chocolate chips (about 1-½ cups)

In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, cream together the butter, brown and granulated sugars until smooth but not overmixed.
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 stir just evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes (I didn't actually follow this step - too anxious to bake!).
Scoop 1 tbsp of the dough and set them on parchment paper lined baking sheets.
(At this point I baked 12 cookies and set aside 6 tbsp of dough.)
Bake for 10 minutes.



This is the batch I made at my friends' a few weeks ago.

Chococolate² Chip Espresso Cookies
From Elizabeth Falkner's Demolition Desserts.
Because I didn't want two batches of cookies I made the second chocolate chip cookie recipe by adding ingredients to half of the first one (did that make sense?). It doesn't follow exactly Elizabeth Falkner's recipe but I think it's close enough.

* ½ chocolate chip cookie dough recipe above
* ¼ cup + 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1 tbsp finely ground espresso (I just used coffee I had)
½ cup white chocolate chips

Mix the cocoa powder and espresso (or ground coffee).
Sift cocoa mixture onto the dough and stir gently just until combined.
Add the white chocolate chips and mix again.
Scoop 1 tbsp of the dough and set them on parchment paper lined baking sheets.
(At this point I baked 12 cookies and set aside 6 tbsp of dough.)
Bake for 10 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Faceoff
I thought combining both recipes onto one cookie would literally create a cookie faceoff. You can bite one side, then the opposite one and compare!

6 tbsp of chocolate chip cookie dough recipe above
6 tbsp of chococolate² chip espresso cookie dough recipe above

Cut each tablespoon of cookie dough in half.
Combine two ½ tbsp of each recipe to make one cookie.
Set them on parchment paper lined baking sheets.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Tada!



A faceoff cookie combines the best of both worlds!

For other cookie recipes:
* Chocolate Chip Cookies
* Ginger Snaps
* Hazelnut Chocolate Biscotti