Cookies for Sweetie Mama's First Birthday

So, I've baked literally dozens of cakes and desserts for my family's special occasions (birthdays, weddings, engagement parties, etc.), so how could I pass up on making something for my daughter's first birthday. Yes - there will be almost 200 people there, but I'm crazy enough to attempt to bake something. I cannot let go...

So, I decided the most practical items for me to make are cookies. I'm planning on having chocolate chocolate chip, sugar cookies, and chocolate chip cookies. Now, you might be thinking, "Well that's boring." But actually, purchasing good quality cookies is rather expensive. Supermarket bakery cookies just don't cut it for me. I love the chocolate, chocolate chip cookies from Panera. Mmmmmmm, so good.

So, here's my version minus the nuts (due to my nephew's allergies to nuts) and white chocolate.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups chocolate chips (I like to use bittersweet chocolate chips)

Sift the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Then beat in the egg and vanilla until well combined. Beat in the flour mixture until just combined and stir in the chips.

Make sure to space the cookies about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

For these cookies I used Hershey's special dark chocolate cocoa powder. It gave the cookies a nice, deep, chocolate taste without a lot of sweetness. I felt like it was as chocolaty as a Dutch process cocoa.

I have a rather strong type A personality (I think that's the only strength Type A personalities actually come in - honestly, have you ever heard of a mild Type A personality? Mild and Type A do not fit together), so I like to be organized, clean, and efficient when I cook/bake. Below are my ingredients all measured out, ready to be mixed, rolled, baked, and devoured in the form of a chocolaty bundle of satisfaction (otherwise known as a chocolate chocolate chip cookie).

Here's the batter ready to be scooped and baked:


Finally - behold the cookie! (I can't tell you how many of these I had to eat before packing them away for the party. Let's just say that I probably gained about five pounds worth of cookies!)