The following “Chew This!” column originally appeared in “The Courier-Times” and / or “The Shelbyville News”. Check their websites for further information and dates.

No Rules Chocolate Chip Cookies
Blaise Doubman

Forget everything you know about chocolate chip cookies! Seriously. Forget about softening the butter to room temperature, using room temperature eggs, mixing the wet and dry ingredients separately, being careful not to over mix the dough and forget all about chilling the dough before baking too. I know, you may be thinking, what on earth is he talking about? Trust me on this though, I promise I know what I am talking about! After years and years of developing and writing about recipes, I got to thinking about one of my favorite desserts – chocolate chip cookies. Why is there not a simple recipe that literally everyone could do without too much thinking and laboring? Sounds lazy right? But at the same time, who really enjoys creaming the butter and sugar together before adding the sifted dry ingredients a little at a time? Ok, I will admit that I do occasionally, I find it stress reducing, but I have a feeling others will disagree.

I decided to just throw all the rules out of the window and go for it with this recipe. I softened the butter for this recipe in the microwave – gasp! I also literally dumped everything in the bowl at the same time – double gasp! The only rules I followed for this recipe was, of course, measuring out the ingredients properly, which yes, you must do. Well, I also did make sure the oven was preheated, I recommend that too. But only those two rules you need to follow. Everything else, for this recipe, you can forget! Measure everything out, dump it into the bowl at the same time and mix together until a dough forms! How easy is that? These cookies take on a life of their own, due to their taste and way of mixing and you will want to make them again and again! This is the perfect recipe for kids or for those who are just starting their baking or cooking journey. It is so easy! It may be my new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe!

No Rules Chocolate Chip Cookies

Feel free to add nuts to this recipe or swapping out the flavor of chocolate chips to fit your tastes.

1 1/4 cups white all-purpose flour
1 stick unsalted butter, soft
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup white granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl combine the white all-purpose flour, softened unsalted butter, packed light brown sugar, white granulated sugar, large egg, pure vanilla extract, baking soda and salt. Mix together until thoroughly combined.

Stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Place teaspoon size amounts of dough onto the prepared baking sheets.

Bake, one sheet at a time, in preheated oven for 11 minutes.

Remove, cool slightly and enjoy.

Ask and Answer: I have been getting a couple of questions lately about my favorite type of lemon dessert. I am really a fan of lemon bars, but if you want something really different, I recommend making a lemon loaf. It is a delicious lemon cake with a lemon syrup soaked in and a lemon glaze spread over the top. The full recipe can be found online on my website.