Are you ready to bake the most incredible chocolate chip pecan cookies you've ever tasted? Forget those store-bought disappointments; this recipe delivers unbelievably chewy, nutty, and intensely chocolatey cookies that will become your new go-to dessert. Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or simply a cozy night in, these easy recipes are guaranteed to impress. Let's get baking!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup pecan halves, roughly chopped
Instructions:
Step 1: Prep the Dough
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze! Cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This is easiest with an electric mixer, but a good workout with a whisk works too!
Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Make sure everything is well combined before moving on to the dry ingredients.
Step 3: Combine Dry and Wet
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix – slightly lumpy dough is perfectly fine. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
Step 4: Add Chocolate Chips and Pecans
Stir in the chocolate chips and chopped pecans. The beauty of these cookies lies in the generous amount of both!
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Drop rounded tablespoons of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft. Remember that they'll firm up as they cool.
Step 6: Cool and Enjoy!
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from becoming soggy.
Tips for the Best Cookies Ever:
- Use good quality ingredients: The flavor of your cookies will be directly impacted by the quality of your ingredients, especially the butter and chocolate.
- Don't overbake: Slightly underbaked cookies will be chewier. Start checking for doneness around 10 minutes.
- Chill the dough (optional): For thicker, chewier cookies, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. This allows the flavors to meld and prevents the cookies from spreading too thin.
- Experiment with nuts: Walnuts or macadamia nuts would also be delicious additions.
Variations:
- White Chocolate Pecan: Substitute white chocolate chips for semi-sweet.
- Salted Caramel: Add a swirl of salted caramel sauce to the dough before baking.
- Spiced Pecan: Add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg to the dry ingredients.
Nutritional Information (per cookie, approximate):
Calories: Approximately 250 Fat: 12g Saturated Fat: 7g Cholesterol: 25mg Sodium: 100mg Carbohydrates: 30g Sugar: 18g Protein: 3g
Note: Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on specific ingredients used.
These easy recipes for healthy meals are always a crowd-pleaser! Enjoy your delicious homemade chocolate chip pecan cookies! They're the perfect treat for any occasion.