Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies

There is a simple beauty in the chocolate chip cookie. While it means different things to different people, for most of us the chocolate chip cookie is a reminder of home. The smell of a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie is like a security blanket. The scent wraps around your shoulders, calming with a sense of familiarity and comfort. The taste brings back memories of childhood. After a long day at school, feet dangling off the kitchen stool, the cookie had the ability to make an ordinary day feel special. With a glass of milk, you knew everything was going to be okay.

The chocolate chip cookie never loses that power.

The "sprinkles" on top are the fleur de sel, or flaked sea salt. This special salt gives the cookies a sweet and salty vibe, a coveted contrast in the world of dessert. Do be aware that flaked sea salt is not the same as table salt. It is coarser and less salty, which keeps it from becoming overbearing.

Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (113 grams) butter, room temperature
• 2/3 cup (150 grams) brown sugar, packed
• 1/3 cup (75 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons espresso powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup (88 grams) whole wheat flour
• 4 ounces (113 grams) bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• Fleur de sel or flaked sea salt, for sprinkling (not table salt)

How to Make : 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and continue beating until smooth. Gradually add the espresso powder, baking soda, salt, and flours, mixing until uniform. Stir in the chopped chocolate chunks.
3. Form cookies using 2 tablespoons of cookie dough (or 1 tablespoon for standard sized cookies). Drop onto a cookie sheet and sprinkle lightly with fleur de sel. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Allow the cookies to rest on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Recipe Source : Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies @ pastryaffair