Description
Delight in the iconic Levain Bakery-style chocolate chip cookies, known for their thick, gooey centers and crisp edges. These cookies combine rich dark or milk chocolate chunks with crunchy walnuts, finished with a delicate sprinkle of sea salt flakes for a perfect balance of sweet and savory. Easy to prepare and baked to golden perfection, these cookies make a wonderful treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 115 grams unsalted butter (cold)
- 190 grams brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg (cold)
- 245 grams all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- 225 grams dark or milk chocolate (chopped)
- 50 grams walnuts (roughly chopped)
Topping
- Sea salt flakes (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line two baking trays with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the cold unsalted butter and brown sugar until the mixture is well combined and smooth. Add the vanilla extract and cold egg, then beat until just mixed to maintain the dough’s texture.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and a pinch of salt to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until a soft dough forms, being careful not to overmix for tender cookies.
- Add chocolate and walnuts: Gently fold in the chopped chocolate and roughly chopped walnuts to distribute them evenly throughout the dough without breaking the pieces.
- Shape the cookies: Using a spoon or cookie scoop, scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie onto the prepared trays. Leave adequate space between each cookie to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake the cookies: Place the trays in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown but still soft in the center.
- Cool and finish: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. Once cooled slightly, sprinkle sea salt flakes on top to enhance the flavor with a hint of saltiness.
Notes
- Ensure the butter and egg are kept cold to maintain the texture and thickness of the cookies.
- Do not overmix the dough; stop as soon as the ingredients are combined to avoid tough cookies.
- The sea salt flakes are optional but highly recommended to balance the sweetness and enhance the chocolate flavor.
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or omit nuts for a nut-free version.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to 5 days.
