Black Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

The other day I was taking my friend Susan Christmas shopping and she asked me if we were making any chocolate chip cookies for Christmas. I told her I hadn’t thought about it but that we could.  She said “Oh I would just love some homemade chocolate chip cookies!”  Chocolate chip cookies are so classic and yet at the holidays I think we tend to forget what a wonderful gift these cookies make.
There are a zillion chocolate chip cookie recipes available with each one having just a little difference in one ingredient or another.  What I particularly like about this recipe is cookie will have soft, chewy insides and a crispy outside.
I wrote this recipe using black walnuts.  If you are lucky enough to have some to use they are outstanding in this little cookie. Since they fall from our trees, my chief gardener spends hours and hours, days and days harvesting them.   If black walnuts aren’t in your pantry or on your budget (they are quite expensive) then English walnuts will work as well.
This recipe makes 4 to 5 dozen depending on the size you make them.  One batch will fill several plates for neighbors, teachers, and anyone on your gift list this year!
Ah yes, and I have it on good authority that these are Santa’s favorite cookies!

Black Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookie

2 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped black walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
1. In a medium bowl mix flour, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.
2. In a large bowl beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs and mix well.
3. Gradually stir in flour mixture.  When cookie dough is well mixed stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
4. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly brown.
5. Cool slightly; then remove from cookie sheet to completely cool.

Makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies.

Black Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookie

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Chewy on the inside, crispy on the outside!

Ingredients

• 2¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¾ cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 large eggs
• 12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped black walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs and mix well.
4. Gradually stir in flour mixture. When cookie dough is well mixed stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
5. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly brown.
6. Cool slightly; then remove from cookie sheet to completely cool.

Notes

Makes 4 to 5 dozen.

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