Cooking 101 - Dessert: Cookies

Cookies provide sweet alternative to other desserts

It’s late, and college students still are up studying. The stores are closed, and suddenly it hits — a craving for something sweet. This common problem may be solved with ingredients already in the kitchen — the simple solution is cookies.

Cookies didn’t always start out in the easy form they can be in today. A long time ago, in order to check oven temperature, bakers cooked a small amount of cake batter, which they called "koekje," meaning "little cake," in Dutch, according to Linda Stradleys’ book, "I’ll Have What They’re Having — Legendary Local Cuisine." These small cakes have evolved from a mistake into the modern cookie.

The origin doesn’t really matter, though. What does matter is that cookies are fun and can be easy to make.

Original Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 2/3 cups (11-oz. pkg.) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixing bowl until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for nine to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for two minutes. Remove cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

Quick and easy cake cookies

1 packet yellow cake mix (Pillsbury works well)
2 eggs
1/3 cup melted butter or vegetable oil

Mix above ingredients together until they are of a cookie dough consistency. This makes a plain cookie mix. Add additional ingredients — such as chocolate chips — for your favorite type of cookie.

Experiment with different types of cake mixes and additional ingredients. Place dough on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 to 14 minutes. Cooking times vary by oven.

Source: Nestle Toll House