Nothing says love like Chocolate Chip Cookies…

TGIF lovelies!

First of all, I cannot believe this little blog has 200 followers! Y’all know how to make a girl feel loved. I never want to be one of those bloggers that gets so caught up in followers and stats and all that because honestly, I’d write this blog even if no one ever read it because I just enjoy having a creative outlet. However, the fact that you do choose to follow my blog means the world to me, and makes this whole blogging experience so much more fun. I so appreciate your support and I cherish each and every single one of your sweet comments. I really enjoy reading all your blogs too, and I just wanted to take the time during this Valentine’s season of love to say thanks! 🙂

Speaking of love, in case you didn’t get a chance to read our love story yesterday you can check it out here. I had so much fun writing it and reminiscing about the memories we’ve created over the years (and proof that you can find your true love in a college bar!)

Anyway, time for today’s recipe!

If I had to pick my favorite food, chocolate chip cookies would definitely be in the top 3. For sure. I mean who doesn’t love a fresh, warm batch of sweet chocolate chippy goodness? This time of year, there’s no better way to show someone you care than with some lovin’ from the oven!

 I recently tried a new chocolate chip cookie recipe that I really liked. This recipe is supposed to replicate the GIANT cookies at the famous Levain’s Bakery in NYC. I’ve been to Levain’s and I do think these cookies are definitely different, but good by their own merits. They have a stronger brown sugar flavor, and they’re very dense and chewy.

Cam said he liked the batch of cookies I made a few weeks ago a little
bit better (aka the famed NYT Recipe), and while I liked them a lot too, they’re very salty. Don’t
get me wrong, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But sometimes you’re
in the mood for a little bit sweeter cookie, and if so then you need to check this recipe out.

Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookie Copycats
Recipe Source: My Baking Addiction

Ingredients
2 sticks cold and cubed unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon table or fine sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups good quality semisweet chocolate chips or chunks
add in 1 cup of walnuts if you fancy them

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
1. In bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle, cream together butter
and sugars until well blended and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mix
in vanilla and beat until well incorporated.
2. Add flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and mix until just
combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips/chunks and nuts.
3. Transfer dough to clean work surface and gently mix dough by hand to
ensure even distribution of ingredients.
4. Weigh out the dough into 4 ounce portions and gently roll into a
ball. (I got ten 4 ounce cookies out of this dough).
4. Place each on sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake in the
preheated oven 15-20 minutes depending on how gooey and rawish you like
the interior, until very lightly browned, taking care not to overbake. I
baked mine for 16 minutes, which seemed to be perfect in my oven.
5. Let cool on rack and store what you don’t immediately eat in an
airtight container.

Sidenote: Although I posted the original recipe from MBA, I wanted to mention that I just made the cookies normal size and not as large as the recipe lists. If you too decided to reduce the size make sure to also reduce the baking time! 

One last thing that I need to mention today is happy belated birthday to my beautiful sister Melissa! 

She turned 22 yesterday and I so wish I could have been in NYC to celebrate with her. I totally meant to post about this yesterday, but since I ended up linking up our love story, I thought I’d wait until today instead. I’m pretty sure Meliss only occassionally reads this blog because she’s too busy being fierce and living the New York life, but I wanted give her a birthday shout-out just the same. Love you little sis/fellow chocolate chip cookie lover/best friend/the coolest person I know.

Have a lovely weekend everyone! Xoxo