Classic cookies with a flavor flourish. # 382: Black Sesame & Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

How is this the first time I’ve done a chocolate chip cookie post? I’m in shock! If I could only have one dessert for the rest of my life it would probably be a thick chocolate chip cookie. Dark chocolate chunks, crispy edges and chewy middle, maybe a sprinkle of sea salt on top? Yes please.

There are an overwhelming number of recipes out there for classic chocolate chip cookies, to the point of causing decision fatigue. That doesn’t stop me from wanted to try them all anyway! From the recipe on the back of the Tollhouse chocolate chip bag to 2018’s trendy chocolate chunk shortbread, bring em on.

The trick is to find a recipe that gives you the texture you crave and hug it close.

• Thin and crispy? You’ll see more white sugar than brown sugar (the molasses in the brown sugar adds moisture to the baked cookie), less flour and sometimes milk for a looser dough that helps them spread in the oven.
• Thick and chewy? Melted butter babyy. Melting the butter instead of whipping it with the sugar means you’ll have less air bubbles trapped in the butterfat, leaving you with a denser, richer cookie.

The black sesame paste is a fun twist that I might not do again, but I’ll definitely incorporate cardamom and orange zest in chocolate chip cookies more often. Both were subtle while still making you go ooh what IS that?

PSA: Don’t be me and forget to soften your butter before trying to whip it by hand.

I didn’t have quite enough black sesame seeds, so I mixed in regular white sesame seeds as well. It’s giving salt and pepper.

Executive decision was made to not mix the paste in as much as the recipe calls for so they create little flavor pockets.

So much potential.

Banging the pan 3/4 of the way through baking feels completely unnecessary but don’t let that stop you if you need an excuse to be a noisy agent of chaos.

Its effect was purely aesthetic: some of the cookies got a few wrinkles around the edges.

The happiest cookie stack!

That melty dark chocolate chunk is calling my name.

Happy munching!

Recipe from: S.F. Chronicle