Chunky Choc Chip Cookies #2

This super simple recipe is easy and quick to make. It has only 5 basic ingredients - butter, sugar, egg, flour and chocolate. And I have also added sea salt to bring out the flavour. And baking soda as the rising agent.

Baking soda, along with baking powder are both leavening agents. Leavening agents create a foaming effect that incorporate air into the dough through air bubbles and cause the mixture to be lighter and softer. Baking Soda or Soda Bicarbonate requires an acid like brown sugar or chocolate to activate. Alternatively, you can use Baking Powder which is Baking Soda that has already been mixed with an acid, most often Cream of Tartar, but is less effective so would require more to be used and also has a shorter shelf life. You can test your Baking Powder to see if it is still effective by adding a teaspoon to a cup of warm water. If the water bubbles it is still good to use.

If it is not so important that your cookies rise you can leave out the Baking Soda or leavening agents. The end result may be a little more firm. You could also add another egg instead which is an alternate to helping baked goods to rise. 

If you have time, get the butter out before you get started so as to soften to room temperature. If you are pressed for time you can melt the butter on low. Either way you just want to make sure the butter is combined evenly with the sugar.

And if you have the time, you could try resting the cookie dough in the freezer for 24 hours before you bake to allow the flavours to develop.
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Ingredients:
150g softened unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar and 
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
300g roasted almond dark chocolate 
pinch of sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180 *C / 350*F & canola spray your baking tin.
2. Combined the softened butter and sugars into a cream paste. 
3. Add the egg and combine.
4. Combine the dry ingredients: flour, salt and baking soda and then mix with the remainder of the mixture.
5. Break or chop the chocolate into pieces and add to the mixture.
6. Then shape the mixture and place into the baking tray. Try to add the pieces of chocolate evenly and press some into the top of each piece Make sure to space the cookies a few centimetres apart.
7. Place the baking tray in the oven for 20 - 35 minutes depending on your oven. Remove from the oven when they are lightly golden brown. 
8. Cool on a wire rack.
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