THE SECRET TO KATIE’S COOKIES

I can’t believe November is almost here and along with it, another Anchor at Home! I look forward to hosting a watch party and am already thinking about whom I will invite and what I will serve my guests.

Besides my tried-and-true appetizer platter/charcuterie board which I shared in September, I also have a dessert I am known for among my family and friends. I like to include it in my array of snacks and treats. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been known for my chocolate chip cookies, better known as “Katie’s Cookies”.

Since I was a young girl, I have had an obsession with this favorite treat. It all started when I would sneak spoonfuls of chocolate chip cookie dough from the mixing bowl while my older sisters were baking. I would wait for just the right moment when they weren’t looking and dip my spoon into the creamy dough and make a fast dash out of the kitchen.

My KitchenAid mixer creaming the dough

As I grew older and was able to make them myself, I was able to learn the secrets of making the perfect chocolate chip cookie. I LOVE cookie dough, and I found myself longing for the weekend so I could make cookie dough as a reward and treat for finishing a week of work. In college during my summers off from the University of Washington, I worked at a summer camp as a counselor and my camp name was NESTLE after my favorite cookie ingredient. This name and the chocolate chip cookies I brought weekly to camp were a hit among the campers!

I loved chocolate chip cookie dough and the baked cookies SO much I perfected my recipe to be a “lighter” version so I could eat twice as many 😉 (jump to the recipe where I share my secrets below!).

I made these cookies for every event and for every Young Life Campaigners group I led over the years. Often, I would just plop a big bowl of cookie dough and some spoons on the counter and it was the treat everyone longed for and devoured. I kept the baked cookies in my freezer and would find that over the years when Young Life kids would come into our home, they made a beeline for the freezer! I even dreamed of having a “Katie’s Cookies” business.

As time went on I shared, the “true confessions of Katie” and called myself a cookie dough addict and wondered if any one else craved this sugary delight as much as I did! I remember the first time I saw cookie dough ice cream and cookie dough bites in my local grocery store and was relieved to find I wasn’t the only one. Can any of you relate?!

For many years I have been asked for my special chocolate chip cookie recipe, and I always give it to whoever asks. There is just one slight problem in that some just can’t seem to make them turn out exactly like my “Katie’s Cookies” so I began sharing my methods and would hold cookie classes in my kitchen.

I would always start with my most prized possession — the KitchenAid mixer my parents gave me 34 years ago as a wedding gift. Each participant was required to bring their own mixer and ingredients, and we would set up, ready for our cookie baking adventure. Step by step, I would share how to make my chocolate chip cookies.

Baking together in person was the key to a successful cookie!

Freshly baked “Katie’s Cookies”

So for those who would like to make a very delicious cookie, I am providing the secrets and steps to my “Katie’s cookies” below, both with the recipe and a video bake-along!

Confession: I’ve always used the Nestle Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe found on the back of the chocolate chip bag (albeit with a few modifications). The steps and recipe below are for a double batch. I find a KitchenAid works best but any mixer will do.

Katie's Cookies

The Anchor's Founder & Director shares her "famous" chocolate-chip cookie recipe adapted from the back of the Nestle Chocolate Chip bag.
Course: Dessert
Keyword: cookies

Equipment

  • KitchenAid mixer (or other mixer)
  • Oven

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • cups sugar
  • cups brown sugar
  • ½ cup Crisco
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 3 tsp vanilla extract (one extra than the original recipe)
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • cups flour
  • 3 cups Nestle chocolate chips semi-sweet, 1½ bags

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Cream together on high: eggs, sugar, brown sugar, Crisco, butter, and vanilla extract. Cream until the consistency is smooth and creamy. (Note: I add one extra teaspoon of vanilla which is one more than the original recipe requires.)
    4 eggs, 1½ cups sugar, 1½ cups brown sugar, ½ cup Crisco, ¼ cup butter, 3 tsp vanilla extract
  • Add the baking soda, salt, flour and chocolate chips and mix to combine.
    2 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 3½ cups flour, 3 cups Nestle chocolate chips
  • Drop by the spoonful onto cookie sheets.
  • Bake for 4 minutes.
  • Rotate the cookie sheets and bake for an additional 4 minutes.
  • Use a spatula to transfer the cookies onto parchment paper or a paper towel to cool.
  • After the cookies have cooled, you can place them carefully into a Ziplog bag and freeze to store or serve warm on a plate and enjoy!

Video

Ready for my watch party — ENJOY!

I am excited for our November Anchor at Home on Thursday, November 4th. I hope and pray you’ll be able to gather together with friends and family and be encouraged and anchored in faith and friendship AND enjoy a delicious cookie!

Feel free to post YOUR cookies on our Facebook and Instagram. I would LOVE to see them!

With hope and light,

Catch up on last week’s journal entry!

Anchor Moment with Elizabeth Kreiselmaier