Chocolate Chip Cookies - Soft Ones!

Another recipe from my childhood - Joy Verhey brought these to church for after-worship fellowship.  My mom had to tell me to stop eating them, because I was taking more than my share (Sorry, not sorry!).  I was probably about twelve years old, and I got up the nerve to ask AN ADULT for a recipe - and I have been making (and devouring) them ever since.  The secret ingredient for softness is a small package of Instant Vanilla Pudding mix.

Tip 1:  The key to these staying soft is to make sure not to over-bake.  They will look slightly under-done when you take them out, and that is how you want them.

Tip 2:  ANY cookie can be softened: you won't need to do this for these, but you can store any cookies in an airtight container, along with a fresh slice of bread - the cookies absorb the moisture from the bread, and become nice and soft!

Tip 3:  This recipe, like many, calls for softened butter.  If your butter is cold, microwave on power 1 for 1 minute.  Repeat until the butter is somewhat soft, but not melted.

Joy Verhey's SOFT Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 Cup Butter, softened
1/4 C Granulated Sugar
3/4 C Brown Sugar
1 t Vanilla Extract
1 small package Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
2 Eggs
2 1/4 C Flour
1 t Baking Soda
10oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

My Favorite Variation - SOFT Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
Swap the Vanilla Pudding mix for Chocolate Pudding mix (I like Chocolate Fudge flavor), and swap the Chocolate Chips for Reese's Peanut Butter Chips.  You're welcome! :)

Preheat over to 375F

• Beat together the Butter and Sugars until very well combined.  
• Beat in each Egg until well mixed.  
• Add the Vanilla, the Pudding Mix, and the Baking Soda.  
• Next, add the Flour gradually, mix until well combined but don't over-mix.  
• Finally, mix or stir in the Chocolate Chips.

On parchment-lined baking sheets (you can also use greased baking sheets) drop spoonfuls of cookie dough, about 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart.

Bake 8-10 minutes, or until edges are just starting to brown and the cookies look slightly underdone in the middle.

Remove from oven, let set for a few minutes before removing to cooling rack or parchment-lined counter top.

Once cool, store in airtight container.  And eat as many as you want to, you're a grown up now! :)