The Many Faces of the Chocolate Chip Cookie: Variations on This Classic Recipe

Chocolate chip cookies have been a favorite American cookie since it was introduced by the New England Toll House (as in Toll House Cookies) in 1939. These cookies are now part of mainstream snack time being found in cookie jars, snack bags, lunches, desert plates and mouths across the country. The recipe can be read from a worn cookbook, found on the back of a package of chocolate chips, premade mixes in bags and boxes, and premade dough in the refrigerator and frozen food sections of the grocery store. Even the dough has become a favorite snack being featured in ice cream!

Here's the original recipe as found in Betty Crocker's Cookie Book.

2/3 c shortening (part butter or margarine)

1 ½ c flour

½ c granulated sugar

½ tsp soda

½ c packed brown sugar

½ tsp salt

1 egg

½ c chopped nuts

1tsp vanilla

1 pkg (6oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375'. Mix shortening, sugars, egg, and vanilla thoroughly. Stir dry ingredients together. (For a softer, rounded cookie, add ¼ c more flour.) Blend in. Mix in nuts and chocolate chips. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough about 2: apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 min or until delicately browned. (Cookies should still be soft.) Cool slightly before removing from sheet. Makes 4-5 doz.

Here are some variations.

*Chocolate Chip Bars.

Make dough for Chocolate Chip Cookies - except spread in greased oblong pan. 19x9x2. Bake in 375' oven for 20-25 min. Makes 48 bars.

*Surprise Cookies.

Make Chocolate Chip Cookies - except use 1 ¼ cups chocolate-covered raisins or chocolate-covered peanuts in place of chocolate chips.

*Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies

Make Chocolate Chip Cookies - except add ½ cup crushed peppermint-stick candy.

If you don't have much time to bake or have children who want to "help"; here's a very simple chocolate chip cookie recipe that I found in the 1970's.

*Basic Cookie Recipe

1 box cake mix (white, yellow, or French Vanilla)

½ cup shortening

2 eggs

2 Tbsp water

1 c chocolate chips

Mix well. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough onto cookie sheets. Bake at 350' for 9-12 min or slightly browned.

For a bit of fun... use chocolate cake mix and add white chocolate chips. Add mint flavored chips and a few drops of green food coloring to white cake mix. Don't forget there are different types of chocolate available too: milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, white chocolate and chocolate bark.

Have fun in the kitchen. Don't eat too much dough!