Introduction: Chocolate Chip Cookies--Cookie Table

About: I am an author and a maker. My current project is Santa's Shop. I'm working on a science fiction type book--more later. @EngineerRigsby
I make these cookies every week for a "cookie table" (social gathering place) at our church.  I have been asked for the recipe so many times that I thought I would make an Instructable so that people could see exactly how to make them.  

These are large chewy cookies, but you must follow the steps exactly if you want good results.  I know some of the steps sound very picky, but any variation in the process will result in a different cookie.

First, use high quality ingredients.  Butter means butter, vanilla means real vanilla, chocolate chips should be quality name brand.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ingredients:

1.5 cups brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1.5 sticks butter (real butter) partially melted
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla (real vanilla)
1 extra large egg
2 1/3 cups plain flour (not self rising)
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 ounces milk chocolate chips

Step 1:

Partially melt 1 1/2 sticks of real butter.  Cut the full stick in half to facilitate the melting process.  Put in a microwave oven on the defrost setting for about 1/12 minutes.

Step 2:

The butter should look about like this.  If you melt it too much, or not enough the end results will be different.

Step 3:

Place the brown sugar, white sugar, egg, butter and baking powder into a bowl.  

Add the vanilla--away from the baking powder.  Do not let the vanilla touch the baking powder.

Mix for 90 seconds using medium speed on a mixer.

Step 4:

Add chocolate chips (both kinds) and 2 1/3 cups flour.  

Mix for two minutes.  This mixture will be very thick--dry.  It will look like there is not enough moisture to hold things together.  If you have a low quality mixer, it may stall or burn up.

Step 5:

Place the dough on an ungreased single layer cookie sheet (no teflon, no oil, no double layer cookie pans).

The cookie should be two inches in diameter, 3/4 inch thick.  Mash the cookie down with a spoon.  It should not be a ball, but look more like a tire.

Step 6:

Place the cookie sheet on the top rack of your preheated (325 degree) oven.  

Cook for 13 minutes and 30 seconds.

Immediately remove the cookies to a plate for cooling--they will continue cooking if you leave them on the sheet.

Wait until the cookie sheet has returned to room temperature before you add the next batch of dough.

This makes about 30 cookies.