19 July 2009

Better-Than-From-The-Tube Cookie Dough




So you know how there was the whole Salmonella contamination with the Nestle tube dough? That awesome stuff that tastes good straight from the tube but even better when baked off? The convenient, bake-as-needed shape and packaging? Yeah, I thought it was kinda sad, too. I'm not much for buying those tubes anyway, but I get their appeal. And after the whole Salmonella scare, I really don't want to buy the stuff for awhile.






If you are like me, though, you can just try this recipe and have no more worries. Who needs that prepackaged tube stuff when you can get the same out of this recipe? These cookies are freaking awesome. The shortening is the key to keep them soft while also to keep the cookies from spreading terribly. Plus it helps the dough to keep in your fridge for what I guess would be a good couple of weeks. I wouldn't actually know, because we blew through the dough I made in a few days. Cookies don't last long in this house.




Better-Than-From-The-Tube Cookie Dough
(adapted from this recipe)





Ingredients:
1 c. vegetable shortening
4 Tbsp. butter
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 c. bittersweet chocolate chunks (chop up a few bars)


Cream shortening, butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla and mix well. Add baking soda and salt and flour and mix thoroughly. Toss in chocolate and mix until incorporated.

Pull out a few long sheets of Saran wrap. Split the dough in half, and drop one-half of each on a Saran wrap sheet. Pat the dough into a longish log, then pull the sides of the wrap against the dough. Squeeze and shape with the Saran wrap until you've worked the dough into long tubes. Wrap up completely. Place in the fridge to chill, at least 1 hour.

When you are in the mood for some cookies: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Slice off cookies about half an inch thick and bake for 10 -12 minutes (no more than 12 minutes!). Let sit on pan for 5 minutes and then move to wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

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