Cookies

There are many variations of cookies, but I’ll provide you with a basic recipe for classic Italian-style chocolate chip cookies, which you can then customize as you like. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 225 g of unsalted butter, softened
• 200 g of brown sugar
• 100 g of granulated sugar
• 2 eggs at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 300 g of type 00 flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 200 g of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar until it is fluffy and frothy.
2. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Incorporate the vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the butter and sugar mixture, mixing until a homogeneous dough is formed.
5. Add the chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate) and mix until evenly distributed.
6. Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes; this will help to achieve thicker cookies that maintain their shape during baking.
7. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
8. Use a spoon to portion the dough and form balls, placing them on the baking sheet and leaving space between them.
9. Bake in the oven for about 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden, but the center is still soft.
10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a rack to finish cooling.

Curiosity

Chocolate chip cookies were born in the United States in the 1930s and since then have become an iconic dessert. The classic version involves the use of milk chocolate, but you can vary by using dark chocolate, white chocolate, or adding dried fruit or other flavors to customize them to your liking. In Italy, you might find variations with typical ingredients like chopped hazelnuts or almonds.