Bourbon Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
There’s nothing quite like a warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. Now, imagine elevating this classic treat with a splash of bourbon, adding a rich, caramel-like depth that takes your cookies to the next level. Bourbon chocolate chip cookies are the perfect blend of comfort and sophistication, making them a hit at any gathering or a delightful indulgence for yourself.
Preparation Steps
Preparing the Ingredients Start by gathering all your ingredients. Ensure the butter is softened to room temperature, and measure out your ingredients accurately.
Tips for Measuring Ingredients Accurately Use the spoon-and-level method for measuring flour to avoid packing it down. For brown sugar, pack it firmly into the measuring cup.
Preheating the Oven Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Mixing the Dough
Creaming the Butter and Sugar In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with both the brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This process usually takes about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer.
Incorporating the Eggs and Bourbon Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Add the vanilla extract and bourbon, mixing until well combined.
Adding Dry Ingredients In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
Adding Chocolate Chips and Mix-Ins
Choosing the Right Chocolate Chips Semi-sweet chocolate chips are a classic choice, but you can also use dark chocolate chips or chunks for a richer flavor.
Optional Nuts and Flavorings Fold in the chocolate chips and any optional mix-ins like nuts or dried fruit, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Ensuring Even Distribution Use a spatula or wooden spoon to thoroughly mix the dough, making sure all the ingredients are well combined.
Chilling the Dough
Importance of Chilling Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking and for enhancing the flavors.
How Long to Chill the Dough Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours for even better flavor.
Tips for Handling Chilled Dough If the dough is too firm after chilling, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes until it’s easier to scoop.
Baking the Cookies
Preparing the Baking Sheet Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to line your baking sheet. This prevents sticking and makes for easier cleanup.
Shaping the Cookies Scoop the dough using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, and roll it into balls. Place the dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Baking Time and Temperature Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden but the centers are still soft. The cookies will continue to set as they cool.
Cooling and Storing
Proper Cooling Techniques Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Storing in Airtight Containers Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Freezing for Later Use To freeze, place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container, and store for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Best Accompaniments Serve your bourbon chocolate chip cookies with a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee.
Presentation Ideas For a special touch, sprinkle a bit of flaky sea salt on top of the cookies right after baking. This enhances the flavor and adds a lovely contrast.
Pairing with Beverages These cookies pair wonderfully with a glass of bourbon on the rocks or a rich, creamy hot chocolate.
Variations of Bourbon Chocolate Chip Cookies
Double Chocolate Bourbon Cookies Add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to the dry ingredients and use dark chocolate chips for an extra chocolatey treat.
Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies Fold in 1 cup of chopped pecans along with the chocolate chips for a nutty twist.
Spiced Bourbon Chocolate Chip Cookies Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg to the dry ingredients for a warm, spiced flavor.
Health Considerations
Reducing Sugar Content You can reduce the sugar by 1/4 cup without significantly affecting the texture or taste of the cookies.
Gluten-Free Options Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to make these cookies gluten-free. Ensure your other ingredients, like the chocolate chips, are also gluten-free.
Vegan Substitutions Replace the butter with vegan margarine and use flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water per egg) to make the cookies vegan.
Tips for Perfect Cookies
Avoiding Common Mistakes Ensure your butter is at the right temperature and don’t overmix the dough once the flour is added. This prevents tough cookies.
Ensuring Even Baking Rotate the baking sheet halfway through the baking time to ensure the cookies bake evenly.
Maintaining Cookie Texture Store cookies with a slice of bread in the container to keep them soft. The bread will absorb excess moisture and keep the cookies fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of alcohol? Yes, you can experiment with different spirits like rum or whiskey, but bourbon’s caramel notes are particularly complementary to chocolate.
How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much? Chilling the dough is key to preventing excessive spreading. Ensure the dough is well chilled before baking.
What if I don’t have unsalted butter? You can use salted butter, but reduce the added salt in the recipe by half.
Can I make the dough in advance? Yes, you can make the dough up to 24 hours in advance. Just be sure to store it covered in the refrigerator.
How do I make the cookies chewier? For chewier cookies, slightly underbake them, pulling them out of the oven when the centers are still soft and slightly undercooked.
Bourbon Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
There's nothing quite like a warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. Now, imagine elevating this classic treat with a splash of bourbon, adding a rich, caramel-like depth that takes your cookies to the next level. Bourbon chocolate chip cookies are the perfect blend of comfort and sophistication, making them a hit at any gathering or a delightful indulgence for yourself.
Ingredients
- 2.25 C (280 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1.5 tsp cornstarch
- 3/4 C (1.5 sticks or 170 grams) salted butter, browned
- 3/4 C (150 grams) dark brown sugar, loosely packed
- 1/2 C (100 grams) xylitol (or sugar)
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, room temperature*
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1.5 T bourbon (I used Four Roses)
- 1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chunks)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and cornstarch. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, beat browned butter and sugars together. Beat in the egg, followed by the egg yolk. Add the vanilla and bourbon.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk together. The dough will be very soft. Don’t worry.
- Fold in the chocolate chips. Cover the dough and chill for at least an hour, or overnight. *Do not skip this step*
- When ready to bake, heat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper .
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll the dough into balls (~1 heaping tablespoon each). Shape them into tall balls to help them bake up to be thick. Place them on the lined cookies sheets with ~1 inch of space between (they will spread).
- Bake the cookies for 11-12 minutes. Don’t bake them any longer!!! They should look soft and under-baked. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely. They will continue to bake on the cookie sheet.