Chewy Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies

February 4, 2010



You were warned that there would be more of these. Chocolate chip cookie recipes are going to be popping up at random on my blog like delectable, edible weeds. And it's not because I haven't found The One yet. Thomas Keller's recipe and the infamous Jacques Torres cookies are the kings of my c.c.cookie realm . There is no excuse or scientific reasoning behind my fixation on various recipes, I just really, really love chocolate chip cookies. And each recipe offers some new insight into the alchemy behind these gems which, for some, the search for their version of perfection may prove to be as evasive as the lost city of Atlantis. I was lucky and threw in the towel early on during the quest. Thomas Keller's are my favourite. But that doesn't mean I can't play with the others. :>



Several people have recommended Alton Brown's 'The Chewy' (I love the dramatic titles he uses for his cookies). Completely off the subject of Mr. Brown, last summer I made the chocolate chip cookie recipe that incorporates vanilla pudding, which I still have yet to post. Those cookies were spectacular, I really have no idea why the pictures are still sitting in my folder...Thanks for the inadvertent reminder Alton. There was some left-over vanilla pudding mix from the Nanaimo Bars last month that I feared would never be put to use on time. Since I loved the subtle flavour it gave the patient cookies from last summer, I used the rest of the packet in Alton's recipe. This was also due to a brief moment of panic when I thought the cookie dough looked too 'wet' and that I had mismeasured the flour. Now I think that my mixer and I were too adjusted to the dense, hefty, counter shaking Jacques Torres dough.



The only other alteration on this recipe was the addition of coconut, which was also a remnant of the Nanaimo Bars. I don't know anyone who likes coconut. I love it and I was feeling particularly selfish as I made these for someone who was going on 'vacation'. Coconut is a forgivable sin when it comes disguised in a chocolate chip cookie. I have to admit that these rank at #3 on my list of best c.c.cookies. As Alton's title proclaims, they are chewy. My sporadic addition of vanilla pudding didn't have any negative effects on the outcome. I left my dough in the refrigerator for 24 hours. In the original recipe, it just says to chill the dough but doesn't give any time frame. If you want your cookies to be thicker, I would recommend that you chill the dough for at least 12 hours. Since these were a little bit on the sweet side, the next time I would like to try them with toasted walnuts. Other than that, they were perfect.



Chewy Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies
(recipe adapted from Alton Brown)

* printer friendly Recipe *

Ingredients:
1 cup of butter (2 sticks)
2 1/4 cup of bread flour
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 teaspoon of baking Soda
1/4 cup of sugar
1 1/4 cups of brown sugar (tightly packed)
1 egg, at room temp.
1 egg yolk
2 Tablespoons of cream (or milk)
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 packet of vanilla pudding mix (about 3.5 oz)
2 cups of bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup of shredded unsweetened coconut

Method:
Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Remove and set it aside to cool.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In another large bowl, combine the cooled melted butter and both sugars. Beat until creamy. The mixture will be liquidy. Add the egg, the yolk, the cream, and the vanilla extract. Beat until well combined. In about 3 increments, add the flour. Beat on low speed until each addition is just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla pudding mix and beat till incorporated. Using a large spatula or wooded spoon, mix in the chocolate and coconut.
Cover well and refrigerate for at least 12 hours.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Scoop out well rounded tablespoonfuls of dough for each cookie. Roll into balls and gently press down (but don't flatten completely). Allow about 1-inch of space between each one. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they are slightly golden in the middle. Remove from oven and allow them to sit for 3 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Yields about 40 cookies.

10 comments:

  1. This Chocolate chip cookies looks delicious. I love coconut in anything so I am sure that I would love this chocolate chip cookies. Thanks for your recipe!

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  2. A bunch of us on Twitter have been doing ccc taste testing and baking various recipes, so far those you have listed are popular, but around here, the current favorite has been the NY Times Chocolate Chip Cookie. We did TK's from AdHoc, Tates, Alton's all three kinds, NY CCC, Torres, Dorie's, and maybe one other kind. Yours look lovely, absolutely lovely.

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  3. Wow, Thanks for the information Kayte! I love how engrosing discussions can be on the topic of cccookies. Dorie's version are actually coming up for TWD in a few weeks and I can't wait to try them. :D

    Hi Mausi! Thank you for visiting. :>

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  4. Yummm...chocolate and coconut. LOVE this twist on the CCC. YUMS up, Valerina.

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  5. wow, look at that, I'm already drooling, great color, looks delicious

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  6. I just love chocolate and coconut together and so does my husband. I'll make these next weekend when he's home! Thanks!

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  7. you can never have too ma ny of these recipes!

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  8. I love your addition of vanilla pudding mix. YUM!

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  9. Pudding mix? Now there's something new! I'm on the never-ending search too!

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Thanks for visiting, and for taking the time to read through my ramblings!
If you have a recipe comment or question, I'd love to hear from you.

Happy Baking!
♥ Valerie

 

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