One of my newest cookbook acquisitions is The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookbook. I’ll admit that I wasn’t immediately sold on the book on first sight. After spending a few minutes flipping through its pages, I was definitely intrigued. Its recipes proved far more interesting and varied than I would have thought.
This book is full of tempting recipes, all packed with chocolate chips. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars, Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding, Hazelnut and Chocolate Chip Tart. Don’t those all sound delicious? These cookies were one of the first recipes that caught my attention. A buttery sandwich cookie with a sweet chocolate chip filling. How could I resist?
I started making these a little later in the day than I would have preferred. While they aren’t difficult or time intensive, the cookies do have a long baking time. With multiple baking sheets, that really added up.
I had one slight problem with making these cookies. I couldn’t seem to get the size of them right. I inferred from the cookbook’s photo that they would be dainty and small cookies. The first batch spread a good bit and were much larger than I had anticipated. I resized and reshaped the remaining dough, put the baking sheets in the refrigerator for several minutes before baking them, and got a more reasonable sized cookie. In retrospect, I think that the butter was a bit too warm. It was to be at room temperature, but I think just getting it softened would have kept them from spreading so much.
That little hitch aside, I adore these little cookies. The name “Melting Moments” is really quite appropriate, as the cookies seem to melt in your mouth. On its own, the filling is very sweet, but combined with the light cookies it is just right. And, of course, they are so lovely to look at.
Now, for a little treat for one of you. I have an extra copy of The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookbook that I will gladly send you. To be the lucky recipient, just be the first to guess how many chocolate chips are in the container pictured above. The only information I will give you is that these are standard-sized Ghirardelli chocolate chips. Leave your guess in the comments for this post by 12:01 AM Central Time Friday, April 25, 2008. The first person who guesses correctly (or gets the closest) will have this new cookbook for their collection. Please, limit yourself to one guess. I’ll announce the lucky winner some time on that day. Good luck!
UPDATE: Contest is closed as of 4/25/2008.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cake flour
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
To make the cookies:
Preheat oven to 300°.
Sift both flours, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl. Set aside.
Using an electric mixer, beat together butter and sugar at medium speed until smooth. Scrape sides as needed. Mix in vanilla until blended. Decrease mixer speed to low and add flour mixture. Mix just until combined and a smooth dough has formed.
Use about 1/2 tablespoon of dough for each cookie. Roll each into a ball and place about 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets. Flatten each with a fork to about 1 & 1/4 inches in diameter.
Bake sheets one at a time until the bottoms of the cookies begin to brown, about 25-30 minutes. The tops should not change color. Cool on pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
To make the filling:
Stir together butter, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips.
Turn half of the cookies over and spread about a teaspoonful of filling on each. Place the remaining cookies on top of the filling. Press gently.
Notes
Recipe adapted from The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookbook.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I guess 700. Completely random, but who knows…
April 17th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I’m gonna guess 410. The idea of a whole book dedicated to those yummy morsels is right up my alley. I’m excited to see the future treats you are gonna test here.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Will guess 1000, nice even number. Though, I dare say a better question to ask would be, “How long did it take me to count the number of chocolate chips in here?” =]
Going to try this out this weekend. Cheers!
April 17th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
My guess is 546 chocolate chips! These cookies look mighty delicious! I’ll have to try them out VERY soon!
April 17th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
My guess is 649 chocolate chips! The cookies look great! I’m always up for a good chocolate chip recipe.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Hi! Wow those cookies look so yummy!!!
At this time of the morning they really are an attempt to my diet!
Really good.
Silvia
Ahh..maybe 1650 chips?
April 17th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
those really looks great, surely going to try them out…
my guess is 765 chocolate chips (just a nice number
)
April 18th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Chocolate flows in deep dark, sweet waves, a river to ignite my mind and alert my senses.Chocolate doesn’t make the world go around … but it certainly makes the ride worthwhile!
I do have a chocolate site too, check this out
http://www.sarahs-sweet-fountains.co.uk
Thanks for letting me comment on your site
April 18th, 2008 at 3:57 am
956!
Those look good!
April 18th, 2008 at 5:44 am
1324 chips in the container.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:56 am
My guess is 503 chips!
April 18th, 2008 at 5:57 am
these look really good….i might have to make them this weekend
i guess….825.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:57 am
I enjoy your blog so very much!
I believe there are 324 chocolate chips in the carafe.
Happy Day!
Julie
April 18th, 2008 at 6:34 am
453 chips! love your blog!
April 18th, 2008 at 6:45 am
357! Your pictures are fantastic!!
April 18th, 2008 at 6:46 am
757! I love your pictures
April 18th, 2008 at 6:47 am
865 Chips….yummy!
April 18th, 2008 at 6:59 am
538?
that picture is gorgeous! just when you think you’ve seen every type of cookie out there…!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Hmmm…810. i love new ways to eat chocolate! great photos, too.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:10 am
I guess 761.
I can’t wait to try this recipe!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:10 am
1335
it would change by the minute if I were there. I’d be eating them right out of the jar.
great pictures, love your blog.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:16 am
My guess is 463.
A whole book of chocolate chip recipes sounds wonderful. Great photos!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:19 am
254…yum.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:25 am
267!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:26 am
555
April 18th, 2008 at 7:33 am
I guess 874
April 18th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Come on # 389!!! Your blog is gorgeous!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:37 am
345 is my guess. the cookies look yummy!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:43 am
492 and I’m definitely going to be trying this recipe out soon! yum!
April 18th, 2008 at 8:02 am
I’m guessing 378.
Boy, those cookies look good!
April 18th, 2008 at 8:05 am
587!
April 18th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Those cookies look amazing, Jen. I love melting moments, and adding choc chips to them is just genius!
I’m guessing 289 choc chips.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I can’t wait to see the cookbook! Chocolate runs through our blood! My guess is 533.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:18 am
My guess…350. Wonderful looking cookies!!
April 18th, 2008 at 8:27 am
My guess is 377 yummy chocolate chips.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:32 am
yummmm! the best t-shirt i have ever seen had a pic of a choc chip cookie with the words, ‘stupid raisins, stay out of my cookies’!! long live ccc’s! my guess is 475.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I’m going to guess 226.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I’m terrible at guessing games but I’ll give it a shot anyways… I’ll say 450!
April 18th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Well, you can’t really go wrong with a book about chocolate chips!! I’m really horrible at guessing, but I’ll say 418.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I think around 532 chips.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:07 am
300
April 18th, 2008 at 9:09 am
The cookies look great. My guess is 240.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:20 am
those are lovely cookies!
my guess is 540!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:27 am
352 chips!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I would guess the number of “delicious” chips to be 512. But then again, we don’t know if you might have placed a “fake” middle inside, to hide the little guys you ate!……LOL
April 18th, 2008 at 9:41 am
420 chips!!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Yum. 563?
April 18th, 2008 at 9:42 am
303 chips!!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:45 am
erm. 731?
April 18th, 2008 at 9:56 am
I think 515!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:56 am
430?
April 18th, 2008 at 9:58 am
800
April 18th, 2008 at 10:08 am
900 chips?
Beautiful pictures. Thx!
April 18th, 2008 at 10:26 am
941 YUMMY MORSELS
April 18th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Um…I’ll guess 256??
April 18th, 2008 at 10:54 am
302
April 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I’m going to guess 324?
April 18th, 2008 at 11:02 am
308
April 18th, 2008 at 11:02 am
My guess is 444! Would love that cookbook!
April 18th, 2008 at 11:03 am
408?
April 18th, 2008 at 11:10 am
1041!
April 18th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I’m guessing 660
April 18th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I’m going to guess 516! Thanks!
April 18th, 2008 at 11:35 am
660
April 18th, 2008 at 11:48 am
1273! The cookbook sounds so fun!
April 18th, 2008 at 11:50 am
301?
April 18th, 2008 at 11:50 am
300?
April 18th, 2008 at 11:51 am
299?
April 18th, 2008 at 11:56 am
The cookies look great, my guess is 263.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:57 am
901! (hope nobody already guessed that). p.s. love your recipes!!
April 18th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
321……i love your website. your pictures always leave me hungry!
April 18th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
SAD. That is how you feel when you have eaten all of these cookies. We devoured the cookies last night. They didn’t even last 24 hours. They were wonderful! I don’t know what it is about that filling; but, it is just right whatever it is. It is just the right amount of “sweet.” No more and no less.
No need for me to guess on the chips since you are my personal baker and there is no need for me to have a cookbook!
April 18th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
My guess is 816. I can only look at your website after lunch, when I’m already full, or I have a diet catastrophe….
April 18th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
501 chips.
I once counted 15, 555 beans for a jar for a project for my son. That was a lot of beans! Hidden inside was $5 for whoever in his class guessed the closest.
Love your blog, recipes and photos!
April 18th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
those look amazing!
601 chips.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Hi!!
I’m guessing that there are around 1250 chocolate chips in that vase!
April 18th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
194
April 18th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
My guess is 216.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Yummy! Chocolate chips! Leah, I want that shirt! 333?
April 18th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
i’m guessing 270 looks like a lot, but not.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I’ll say 278. They look yummy too:)
April 18th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I’ll guess 668. Yummy!
April 18th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
It is a trick question. The jar has zero chips. The chips are only a picture and not real.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
355 chips? (After I get my hands on that jar, I don’t know how many chips will be left haha…)
April 18th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I guess 324 chips!
April 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
426?
April 18th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I guess 417 chocolate chips!
April 18th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I’m guessing 378.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
My guess is 415 chips.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I’m going to guess 435 chocolate chips!
April 18th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I’ll guess 498 chips.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
564 is my best guess.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
199
April 18th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I love melting moments.
I’m guessing 416 chips
April 18th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Hum, one more delicious recipe!
I guess 833 chips.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I am guessing …. 622 chips ???
April 18th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
My guess is 637 chips????
April 18th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I’ll say 493 chips.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
These look delicious!
My guess: 342
Looks like it’s a great cookbook
April 18th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Mmm, somewhere around 800? How did you manage to count them in the first place?
April 18th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I am guessing 545 chips!
April 18th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
1011
April 18th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
1011 chips?
April 18th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
365
April 18th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
My guess is 982 chocolate chips
April 18th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
These look so good! Now I’m craving a cookie I’m guessing 888.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Wow! I certainly didn’t expect this kind of response! As far as my counting them, I did indeed count every single one. It took a while, but this seemed like a fun way to give away a cookbook.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
600?
April 18th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
These look amazing… I have added the book to my wish list….
…. Great photo…
April 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
my guess is 400
April 18th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
372, she says. I can’t wait to make these!
April 18th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I’m guessing 523.
April 18th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
723, there can never be too many chocolate chips.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
425
April 18th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
526?
April 18th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
My guess is 987!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
How about 714?
April 18th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
475 is my guess
April 18th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
383.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Lovely cookies!!
My guess is 385 chips.
I love your blog
April 18th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
1182
April 18th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I’ll guess 275.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I believe there are 995 chips in the jar.
thanks
April 18th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
These coolies look amazing!! I am a HUGE chocolate chip cookie fan! I will guess 888–and I love your blog!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
my guess is 1219 chips(:
April 18th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Ooo, those look awesome!!!
My guess is 444 chips!
April 19th, 2008 at 9:45 am
cmooon 275!
April 19th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I love games. I’m going with 893 chips!
April 19th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Those look so good with the creamy chocolate chip filling!
April 19th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I can’t wait to make these! I guess 404 chips…
April 19th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
These remind me of our double doozies!
My guess is 811:)
April 19th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
My guess is 287
April 19th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I guess 433!
April 19th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
701 for me.
April 19th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
359
April 19th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
250
April 19th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Love your website!
My guess is 376 chocolate chips
April 19th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
hmm, 500, maybe.
April 19th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Hehe…I bet you never get this many comments!
The cookies look delicious. I just made your chocolate chunk & cherry oatmeal cookies & they were phenomenal!
I’ll guess…567.
April 19th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
This is tough, but I’m guessing 270?
April 20th, 2008 at 12:07 am
572
April 20th, 2008 at 1:36 am
824?
April 20th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Im going to say…. 777 chocolate chips
April 20th, 2008 at 3:46 am
743?
April 20th, 2008 at 10:44 am
836 chocolate chips in the container!
April 20th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I’ll go with 444 — 4 is my lucky number, and it looks about right.
April 20th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
683!
April 20th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
476 chips!
April 20th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
387 chips is me bet, lassie!! And totally scientific, too…
April 20th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
657 is my guess.
April 20th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
736! I hope I’m right.
April 20th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
There are 188 chips in the jar.
April 20th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
oooh, I’m going to guess there’s 283 in there!
April 20th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I’m going with 462. The cookies look divine!
April 20th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I’d say about 394
P.S. This is a great recipe, so refreshing and unique. The concept of having the chocolate chips on the inside is fabulous
.
April 20th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I guess 428, don’t ask how or why, it just typed itself.
April 21st, 2008 at 6:38 am
I am guessing 633! Wish I could test taste a cookie…or two.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:35 am
I’ll throw in a guess of 256. And the cookies look wonderful!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:38 am
314
April 21st, 2008 at 9:44 am
Jennifer I made your Vanilla Bean Cheesecake bars this past week-end. They were a big hit with my family!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:55 am
I guess 301
The cookies look fabulous!
April 21st, 2008 at 11:21 am
I’m going to guess 425.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:29 pm
i’m going with 907!
love this website, thanks for the fun.
April 21st, 2008 at 1:23 pm
399 chips of deliciousness!!
April 21st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
789
April 21st, 2008 at 4:03 pm
584
April 21st, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I love your site!! I feel like I need to go to the dentist just looking at your photos! I guess 364! Here’s hoping!
April 21st, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I guess 301. I am officially de-lurking. I read your blog every week & enjoy it!
thanks.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:59 am
752. Love your recipes & your pictures. I just wish I could bake like you!
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
362. Thanks for a lovely contest!
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I don’t think anyone has guessed 549 yet…so that will be my guess!
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I’m guessing 420
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I’m going with 711
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
415 delicious chips
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
597?
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
765!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 am
guessing… 323
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
699!! Yummy…
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I’m gonna say…505.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
1001 chocolate chips!
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I think there are 210 chocolate chips.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I’m going to guess 712!
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:05 pm
1428 chips
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I’m going to say 587. Looks like a fabulous recipe – might just have to pick up that book anyway!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:52 am
There are 922 chips in there – I hope!
April 24th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
My guess is 531 chocolate chips!!! cant wait to try these!
April 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
336 chips
April 24th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
358
They look really good–I can’t wait to try them!
April 24th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Alright, guessing time is over. Find out who had the closest guess over here.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I made these today for my co-workers and everyone loves them. I too had trouble with the size, but it was more human error than anything else. Easy to make but they look like you put a lot of effort in.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:58 am
too late for a guess, but these cookies look delightful!
May 5th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Stacey, good to know I wasn’t alone in the cookie-sizing troubles. They’re delicious, though!
Thanks, mimi!
May 13th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
i think there are 300 chocolate chips
May 17th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I’m terrible at guessing, but I just made these cookies and I cannot express how. amazingly. delicious. they. are!! oh mannnnnnn, thank you for posting this!!
May 17th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Lizzie, I’m glad you liked them!
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
looks really good!, may i know how long does the cookies keep and how to store them ?
December 3rd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
vishali, I would keep them in an airtight container for about a week.
September 5th, 2011 at 9:18 am
I would say 389