Chocolate Chip Cookie Monster Cookies & Random Acts of Kindness

Chocolate Chip Cookie Monster Cookies & Random Acts of Kindness
Om nom nom!
I’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth. I know, I know, it’s hard to believe… but it’s true. To be completely honest, sometimes I don’t even get past the dough portion of making cookies. It’s an understatement to say I like them under-baked. Then again, there’s really no pleasure to be had from dunking raw dough into milk, so there is that.
Yes, I’m a bit of a Cookie Monster. I am of the belief that there is no such thing as a ‘bad cookie’. Any variety will do, but I will always have a place in my stomach for the classic chocolate chip.
As many of you already know, this has been a very special month. I’ve set out on a mission to complete 30 Random Acts of Kindness in 30 Days, and as the month is drawing to an end I can honestly say I have no intention of stopping there. I’ve always enjoyed finding little ways to make people smile, but pushing myself to think about it every single day has honestly made me smile… a lot! Of course, there are some days when I think it would be an act of kindness to just stay in bed… but then the moment passes and I’m back to plotting my next good deed.
Some of my favorites from the past week have been volunteering at a local food bank, writing a nice letter to an old babysitter of mine, and leaving change on parking meters for people to use. Oh, and these cookies!
I made these cookies, and restrained myself from eating them all long enough to set some aside as gifts. I packaged the cookies individually in little boxes, with this note:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Mons_MG_6725 2 bter Cookies & Random Acts of KindnessChocolate Chip Cookie Monster Cookies & Random Acts of Kindness
“Sometimes me think, “what is friend?” and then me say, “friend is someone to share the last cookie with.” – Cookie Monster

Then I boxed them up and mailed them off to friends of mine! I addressed the packages “From: The Cookie Monster”, but somehow everyone managed to figure out who they were really from… I can’t imagine what gave it away.

Now, there are a lot of recipes out there for chocolate chip cookies… in fact, a quick web-search results in over a dozen “Best” recipes – “Best chocolate chip cookies”, “Best EVER chocolate chip cookies”, “ULTIMATE chocolate chip cookies!” – alright, already! But did you know that every chocolate chip cookie recipe out there is, technically, adapted from Tollhouse? That’s right – when you look up chocolate chip cookies and you see Tollhouse “Original”, they aren’t lying, because they invented them. The story goes that Ruth Wakefield, owner of The Tollhouse Inn, was mixing up a batch of sugar cookies when she decided to add (or accidentally added, as the story varies) some Nestle semisweet chocolate. Thus was born the chocolate chip cookie. Of course, there are plenty of recipes that differ from the original now, but they all hang from the branches of the Tollhouse Family Tree. (Some of my favorite variations include mixing up the chocolate, nuts, and extracts, or swapping some of the softened butter for browned butter – divine!)

For these specific cookies, I decided to try the New York Time’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe, which has been floating around the interwebs with many rave reviews. The primary difference between this recipe and Tollhouse is the use of both cake flour and bread flour – which, when combined, make a very close approximation of all-purpose flour. Amazing! The recipe also uses more leavening, less egg to flour ratio, and insists on chilling the dough overnight before baking (something I like to do with any chocolate chip cookie recipe anyway).

The recipe mixed up perfectly, and baked a delicious batch of chocolate chip cookies. However, unlike many a food blogger before me, I am not prepared to call them the “Best” or the “Ultimate”. They’re very good, but just good. I thought they turned out a little crunchy for my taste.

Of course, I am a Cookie Monster, so that didn’t stop me.

So instead of giving you yet another chocolate chip cookie recipe, I thought I would give you a few tips on how to bake-up a batch of cookies that looks like the best, the ultimate, the most perfect cookies ever. Also, I’ve got a few notes on packaging and shipping cookies, for those who might be interested in recreating my little stunt.

Picture-Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies      Picture-Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Refrigerate the dough – for most chocolate chip cookie recipes, refrigerating the dough overnight will help it to spread and brown more evenly. The dough will become fairly solid once chilled, so instead of scooping or spooning them onto the tray you will need to break off chunks and roll them into balls. I find this helps make the cookies perfectly round, and evenly sized.
  • Preheat the oven well in advance – it can take some ovens as long as fifteen to twenty minutes to fully preheat. Also, I suggest having an oven thermometer to be sure the oven reaches the proper temperature – too hot, and your cookies will burn!
  • Do not grease the pan – if anything, place your cookies on a silpat or parchment paper. Do not grease the pan unless the recipe specifies to do so, as this can cause your cookies to spread like pancakes.
  • Extra chocolate – once your dough is portioned out onto the pan, stick a few extra chocolate chips (or chunks of chocolate) onto the top. This will make the cookies come out with a truly picture-perfect appearance! (See the photos above)
  • If you plan to mail your cookies – bake them the same day you plan to ship them. Have food-safe boxes or tins, tissue paper, and any other packing supplies already on hand.
  • For packaging – always let the cookies cool completely before wrapping them up to ship. Once completely cooled, seal the cookies in a plastic baggie, and then inside of a box or tin. The baggie will keep the cookies clean, and the box will help keep them from getting damaged. This can then be placed in a larger cardboard box for shipping, along with plenty of bubble-wrap, tissue paper, or packing peanuts.
  • Shipping – I suggest using priority mail, which typically arrives within 2-3 days of the ship date, and for me cost just over five bucks a package (this will vary depending on weight). If you’re mailing a larger package, you might want to try flat-rate boxes. Always ship cookies, and other perishables, near the beginning of the week, or else they may end up sitting around over the weekend. Some cookies ship better than others, so try not to choose something too delicate, or that might go bad before it arrives.
  • For more tips on packaging and shipping cookies – check out this post from Julie over at The Little Kitchen: Packaging and Shipping Cookies

As for the recipe you choose, well, that’s up to you. If you’d like to try the New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies, just click for the recipe. Or you can try this Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe from Cook’s Illustrated, or maybe these Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt, or perhaps you might be interested in a batch of Candied Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookiesyes, you heard me. Or, just stick with your own favorite recipe. Whatever floats your cookie-lovin’ boat.

Speaking of which… what is your favorite chocolate chip cookie? I’m still looking for mine, and would love to hear your suggestions in the comments below!

To see a round-up of all of my Random Acts of Kindness from this month, click here: 30 Random Acts of Kindness in 30 Days (and then some!)

UPDATE: I’ve received so many requests for the graphics I used (the cookie monster label and card), that I decided to include them right here just to make things easy. To use them yourself, simply right-click on each image and select “save image as.” Select the destination for the file (i.e., your desktop, or My Pictures folder), and then navigate to the saved file and print. Enjoy!

Cookie Monster gift tag | Will Cook For Friends Cookie Monster Quote | Will Cook For Friends

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26 Responses to Chocolate Chip Cookie Monster Cookies & Random Acts of Kindness

  1. Abby March 26, 2013 at 10:45 pm #

    Such a great post, the whole thing has left me with a smile :) I’m a believer in Tollhouse’s recipe but I can’t wait to try your tips for making a pretty cookie !

  2. Spencer March 27, 2013 at 12:52 am #

    Those cookies look amazing!

  3. allyson Alvarez March 28, 2013 at 5:51 am #

    They’re delicious. You have an awesome tip! Thanks for putting it up.

    KatzGlutenFree.com

  4. Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes March 28, 2013 at 12:42 pm #

    Those are picture perfect cookies Willow! I love all your tips, I have not perfected the chocolate chip cookie and I just realized it is probably because I am super impatient and have never chilled my dough….well it is obvious that I need too – seriously these are the most perfect cookies I have ever seen!

  5. Baker Bettie April 3, 2013 at 2:43 pm #

    Beautiful Willow! Any chance you know the size of those boxes and where you got them? I would love to do something like this for bridal shower favors!

    • Willow April 3, 2013 at 3:14 pm #

      Thanks, Bettie! The box is right around 3×3 inches wide, and maybe 4-5 inches tall. I found them at Michael’s Arts and Crafts (they’re probably at places like JoAnn Fabrics, too), and they come flat and you fold them to make the box. I stuffed a bit of tissue paper into the bottom, and after snapping these pictures I sealed the cookie in a plastic baggie to keep it protected. Any cute little gift box you find should work, though – good luck!

  6. shannon weber April 5, 2013 at 1:26 pm #

    you know, it’s not often that i want to try someone else’s chocolate chip cookie recipe: I hesitated to even put my own on the blog because, yes, everyone is all over the “IT’S THE BEST EVER/MOST AWESOME/CHOCOLATIEST CHOCOLATE/IT WILL END THE WORLD WITH IT’S DELICIOUSNESS COOKIE! EVER!!” thing. I’m like you; most of the time i hate calling things “the best” because how would i even know? It’s just the best to me. But these; these i want to try out, and they really are picture perfect. I’ve heard of the NYT cookie before, but have yet to make it. Now i’m thinking of having a chocolate chip cookie-off…hmmm.. :)

  7. Anonymous September 21, 2013 at 2:57 pm #

    Where did you find the Cookie Monster Card and seal for the boxes? These are just adorable!

    • Willow Arlen September 22, 2013 at 3:34 am #

      Thanks! I made them — the seal is a printable sticker label (you can find them at office supply stores, and they came with a template where you can insert your own text or graphics). :)

  8. tapanga May 19, 2015 at 5:35 pm #

    Do you know how to make that box?

    • Willow Arlen May 20, 2015 at 11:24 am #

      The box was purchased from a craft supply store (I think Michaels). They come in different sizes, and are sold flat and you just fold them together at the bottom. I’m sure you could make something similar from scratch, but I’m not sure how. Hope that helps!

  9. Donna September 30, 2015 at 9:45 am #

    Was wondering if you would be willing to share the card and label to print out. I belong to a women’s cancer support group and would love to make them for some of the ladies. I am not computer savvy and wouldn’t know how to make them myself. Thanks Donna

    • Willow Arlen October 3, 2015 at 12:25 pm #

      Hi Donna, my apologies for not getting back to you sooner! I’ve sent you an email with the card and label graphics attached. :)

      • Leah October 3, 2015 at 3:54 pm #

        Hey willow! Adorable card with cookie monster! Where did you find it????

        • Willow Arlen October 3, 2015 at 10:09 pm #

          Hi Leah! I found the cookie monster images via google, then added the text and backgrounds myself.

  10. Heather January 6, 2016 at 11:45 am #

    Willow,

    I am trying to start a month of kindness at work for my elderly residents and I was wondering if you might be willing to share the card with me? I figured out the label but not the card!

    • Willow Arlen January 6, 2016 at 11:53 am #

      Hi Heather,

      I just sent you an email with the graphic for the card. Good luck with your month of kindness!!!

  11. Kathleen January 12, 2016 at 12:54 pm #

    Hi Willow,

    I am definitely trying this chocolate chip cookie recipe! My son is a huge Cookie Monster fan! Would you be willing to share the card and label you created with us?

    Thanks so much for this adorable idea!
    Kathleen

    • Willow Arlen January 13, 2016 at 1:00 pm #

      Sure thing, Kathleen! I just sent you an email with the card and label.

      • Kathleen January 13, 2016 at 1:40 pm #

        Thank you so much! And, thank you for the great cookie baking tips above. I always thought baking the cookies right away was best, but I am going to try refrigerating the dough over night.

        Thanks again for the cute idea and baking tips!

  12. Inna January 15, 2016 at 12:27 pm #

    I would love to do this for some of my friends. Would you be willing to share the card and label with me? Thank you!

    • Willow Arlen January 17, 2016 at 1:10 am #

      Sure thing, Inna! I just sent you an email with the card and label attached. :)

  13. chani February 10, 2016 at 12:06 pm #

    My son is a huge Cookie Monster fan! Would you be willing to share the card and label you created with us?

    • Willow Arlen February 10, 2016 at 12:22 pm #

      Hi Chani! I just sent you an email with the card and label. Have fun making cookies with your son!

  14. Denise June 7, 2016 at 1:19 pm #

    Hi Willow,
    These are adorable!! Would you be able to send the graphics? I would love to make this for a friend of mine who’s birthday is coming up and she LOVES cookie monster!

    • Willow Arlen June 8, 2016 at 12:59 pm #

      Hi Denise! Absolutely, you’re welcome to use the graphics! I’ve actually gotten a ton of requests for them, so I went ahead and added them to the bottom of the post. Just right-click the images and select “save image as” and you should be all set! Let me know if you run into any issues with it. :)

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