Five ways to tweak your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe

November 8, 6:58 PMSF Dessert ExaminerJessica Park

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Giant oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. One of the many ideas to change a classic.
Jessica Park

The chocolate chip cookie has long been a favorite amongst all ages. But sometimes, it's nice to change things up a bit. Here are a few ideas to add a little flare to that classic cookie.

1. Try other chocolate chip alternatives such as butterscotch chips, bittersweet chocolate, white chocolate, cocoa nibs or M and M’s.

2. Add nuts and/or dried fruits. Instead of just chocolate chips, add dried cherries or chopped dried apricots. Any nut pretty much works well in the chocolate chip cookie. For a Christmas flare, add dried cherries and pistachios. 

3. Mix in spices and other ingredients such as cinnamon and ground espresso. (Use about 1 teaspoon each.) A few other suggestions: rolled oats, orange zest, shredded coconut or candied ginger.

4. Tweak the existing ingredients and see what happens. Instead of creaming the butter and sugar, melt the butter and then mix with the sugar. Or, try using all brown sugar instead of a combination of granulated and brown sugar. Instead of mixing the salt in the dough. Sprinkle a few granules over the cookies before they bake.

5. Leave the chocolate chips completely out of the dough. Scoop the cookie dough onto a baking sheet and flatten each one slightly.  Bake the cookie dough and let them cool. Place chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Melt the chocolate chips  in 15 second intervals. Stirring after each interval. Repeat until chocolate is melted. Drizzle over cookies, or pipe out decorations onto the cookie.