Have you ever smelled something and it immediately brought back memories? The scent of warm chocolate chip cookies, right out of the oven, do that for me. Instantly I’m transported to my childhood home, running up the driveway from the bus stop and opening the front door after the first day of school. Ahh, there they were. The traditional first-day-of-school chocolate chip cookies that my mom baked every year. And our recipe? Classic Tollhouse, printed on the back of that iconic yellow bag.
Anyone can bake chocolate chip cookies, but they seem like an inherently “Mom” thing. After all, they were invented by a mom! Ruth Graves Wakefield, co-owner of the Toll House Inn, added chopped pieces of a Nestle semi-sweet chocolate bar to her cookie dough…and the rest is history! In fact, August 4 is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day.
But what is the perfect recipe? Maybe you saw this image float around the internets awhile back, visualizing the differences a slight tweak in the recipe might make. I could dig deeper into that, but let’s be real–I’m not a food blogger. So, may I present…Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes for Every Mom:
The Exhausted Mom
(see also: The PMS Mom, The Pregnancy Craving Mom, etc.)
Whoever invented the “break & bake” style of pre-made cookie dough is a personal hero of mine. Who wouldn’t want to have warm cookies in ten minutes flat…or just make a few in the toaster oven of all places?! Perfect for when you’re exhausted, hormonal, or just plain don’t have time. And there’s even a plant-based kind! Pro-tip: roll that little cube of dough into a ball before baking, to avoid the tell-tale square edges.
The Fake-It-Till-Ya-Make-It Mom
(hi, it’s me)
Continuing in the trend of pre-mixed ingredients…may I present my dear friend Betty Crocker? Excellent for making cookies in a pinch or having a “from scratch” baking experience with your preschooler who will wander away after cracking the eggs. My favorite? Use the peanut butter cookie mix and add dark chocolate chips!
The Traditionalist Mom
(ISTJ on the Myers-Briggs, likely an Enneagram 1)
Why mess with a good thing? Thank you Ruth Wakefield and Nestle Tollhouse!
The Crunchy Mom
(You know who you are and we love you for it)
Try this recipe from Chelsea’s Messy Apron that has no butter, no white flour, and no refined sugar. Or shake things up even more and go for some No-Bake Energy Bites!
The Allergy Mom
(We salute you, Carrier of the Epi-Pen!)
When my oldest had an allergic reaction to eggs at nine months old, we realized quickly just how many recipes required eggs! Try these Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies or these Nut-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, good for dairy, egg, or nut allergies. Gluten free? Try substituting Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour Blend. Remember: not all allergies and reactions are alike. Read labels, talk to your doctors, and do your research!
The Adventurous Mom
(A little of this, a little of that…)
Got some red and green M&Ms? Mix them in and bam! Christmas cookies! We love rainbows in our house, so you better believe I’ll be trying these Rainbow Chocolate Chip Cookies. Paula Deen and her beloved stick of butter offers you this Monster Cookie recipe, which makes me wonder if I could crush up some extra Halloween candy and mix that in.
The Foodie Mom
(again, you know who you are…and we love you too!)
If you’re separating egg yolks to make chocolate chip cookies, you’re probably a foodie. If you follow Alton Brown recipes, you’re probably a foodie. If you make this recipe, you’re probably a foodie and I’ll be more than happy to taste test!
The Loves-A-Great-Deal Mom
(Should you save those Starbucks points for a latte or splurge on a cookie??)
On National Cookie Day, which is December 4, Great American Cookie Company gives away one free chocolate chip cookie to loyalty members! You’ve got a few months, so make sure you sign up for their app. You can also use your reward points at places like Starbucks and Chik-fil-a for some gooey chocolate goodness!
So…celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie however you choose…but savor each gooey bite!
