GRANNY’S MAGIC CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
This is a favorite cookie of every grandchild in my family. It is my standard “no occasion” treat - and always welcomed. I print off the little poem below, changing the name each time so every child gets their own. I roll the poems up in a scroll and attach with pretty ribbon to their personal bag of cookies. Eventually, anything can become a ritual or tradition if done often enough.
If I want to be easy on myself, I simply buy chocolate chip cookie dough and bake - but I offer the famous Nestle’s Toll-house Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe below if you’re feeling old school.
No one ever seems to care if the dough is from scratch. In fact, I’m pretty sure I could buy a few dozen cookies from a bakery and the effect would be just as successful because it’s really about the unexpected gift for no reason. It’s really about the imagery in the poem of Granny baking cookies for you and dancing her magic into the chips. It’s about generosity and connection and love. If I’ve learned one thing in life, it’s this:
It’s never about the cookie
To prove my point, I recently had a very busy month and no time to invent a new cookie and write a new poem, so I bought some pre-made dough and cooked up a storm. See any sad faces?
Right under the Chocolate Chip Cookie header where it says: A POEM FROM GRANNY is where I print A POEM FOR LILLY. Then I print copy after copy so each child gets a personalized message hand-signed by their Granny, of course. I think it makes the cookies taste better if they come with a poem.
don’t BOTHER COPYING the recipe. it’S on the Nestle’s Chip package.
NESTLE’S TOLLHOUSE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 9 minutes Yield: 60 cookies
Ingredients:
2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups Nestle Toll-house semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 cup chopped nuts (if desired)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Make Ahead Instructions: May be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week or in freezer for up to 8 weeks.