These are the cookies Mom’s kitchen is famous for. “Barb’s Chocolate Chip Cookies”, or possibly “Klein Chocolate Chip Cookies”, the term is interchangeable. They are the only chocolate chip cookies I will ever make. And to make them properly, in true Barb fashion, they must be just slightly underbaked, so they are mostly soft with a light crispiness at the edges. Besides being totally yummy, I believe that this soft cookie dough texture is what makes these so appealing to the kid in all of us.
I know there were very few days growing up that a container of these wasn’t stashed away in the freezer. My dad is quite staunch that these are the only real cookies out there. And they were the steady request from some of my friends and cousins. They might even be considered life-saving, as I can distinctly remember my hungry cousin Samina moaning for another of Mom’s cookies while we were stuck for hours on an icy Black Hills road many winters ago.
While packing for last weekend’s camping trip to Hartford Beach State Park, on the South Dakota side of Big Stone Lake, I was reminded of a plan I had not yet implemented this summer. A plan that involved s’mores. Now I’m all for roasting marshmallows and combining them with chocolate. But I’m really not a huge fan of graham crackers. I like graham cracker crusts for pies and such, but just do not enjoy eating them in their whole cracker form.
When we vacationed in Custer State Park earlier this summer, we made s’mores using Fudge Stripe Cookies. And that got me thinkin’. What would it be like to sandwich a campfire-softened marshmallow between mini versions of Mom’s chocolate chip cookies? So I whipped up a batch of minis and threw them in the camping cooler for the test.
Around the campfire, some ate their chocolate chip cookie s’mores with an added piece of chocolate bar, while others double-stacked their marshmallows for an extra gooey treat (that would be Dad). And still others just had fun eating cookies, sans marshmallow. Personally, this was just what I’ve been needing all these years. I enjoyed every bite of the ooey-gooey campfire classic in this fun chocolate chip cookie revamp.
The camping trip was a real hoot. It was great fun watching the next generation explore the park’s lake, streams, and beautiful shaded trails as we once did as kids. We talked about how it used to be, surrounded by campers and tents of aunts, uncles, cousins, and neighbors. We were quite the pack back then, rolling in with enough eager people (Grandma Renelt included!) to fill two team rosters for a game of kickball. And camping at Hartford Beach was our Memorial Day weekend tradition.
This past weekend didn’t include quite as many participants as in our childhood, but it still had much of the same feel, as we were joined by some very special aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was also the first time in two years that my immediate family was together in its entirety, an event that’s challenging to orchestrate when we live on different continents.
Barb’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 c. shortening
- 1-1/2 c. sugar
- 1-1/2 c. brown sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. water
- 4 large eggs
- 4-1/2 c. flour
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 2 tsp. salt
- 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips I like Guittard.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Mix shortening and sugars together until well combined. Add vanilla, water, and eggs. Mix well again. Gently mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt, just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips by hand.
- Drop by teaspoonfuls onto baking sheet (if making mini cookies for s’mores, make balls of dough about 1″ in diameter) and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they just start to turn golden at the edges. Remove from oven and let pan sit for a minute or two, then move cookies to rack to cool.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Our Favorite CCC Recipe!
Well…I substituted shortening for butter and halved the recipe. Cookie fail. More like flat pancakes.Â
Hello Diane – that change alone will alter the cookies significantly.
such good memories. The kids have grown so much. Making Mom’s cookies for company arriving this week! Gotta have the freezer full.
Just like Mom. ;)
This post was fun to revisit. My how the cousins have grown!!!
Thank you for preserving so much of our family history.
Great to see you and T today! I am jonesing for some good cookies, but I don’t keep shortening in the house. Is that a “secret” ingredient? Or can I substitute butter? Let me know if I need to add Crisco to my shopping list. Hmmm…I wonder if I can find a coupon??
It was SO GOOD to reconnect today! This is a recipe I don’t mess with, so I haven’t tried butter. But I will not be offended in the least if you do! Please let me know how it goes. I don’t use shortening very much at all, but this recipe is exactly why I always have some on hand.
Brenda
I now have a new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe! Thank you. They are amazing, especially hot out of the oven.
Yay! Welcome to the Klein Kitchen!! You’ll have to let Jessica know, she’d love to hear it.
Made these today with my 2 1/2 year old son (a chocolate chip connoisseur) and he said these are his “most favorite chocolate chip cookies ever”! Thank you!
Hello Jessica – well, that just makes me smile! Thank you for letting me know. Enjoy!
TOOTIES! Isn’t that what Dad always called them???
You kinda stumped me there for a bit, until I pronounced it the way he did. You’re right! :-)
K, so the little exchange between mom and daughter just choked me up a little. And I know you think I’m kidding cause well, I’m who I am… but I’m not. Cookies look delish. I’ve always wondered if shortening were better than butter in a cookie recipe. Pics are terrific and so are you!
Love the pictures, Brenda. Thanks for the great family post.
Thanks, Mom. It was a fantastic weekend!!
How nice that your entire family was able to get together. I love the two little girls in the foreground of the family photo and again in their own shot with the older one’s arm over the younger one’s. Too darn cute.
Your chocolate chip smores cookie was a great idea. The (the cookies) look delicious and who couldn’t use another chocolate chip cookie recipe. I love a moist and chewy cookie. Thanks for this lovely post.
Hi Paula! How did your cookies turn out today?! Those two little girls – the older one is mine, the other one is my niece. They don’t get to see eachother that often, but when they do, they love eachother up!
I am so glad I found your blog! Reading your post brought back so many memories for me. Back in the 60’s and maybe 70’s my grandparents owned a cabin on Big Stone Lake on the South Dakota side. I don’t remember how far they were from Hartford Beach, but I remember it in conversations. Their cabin was the place where family gathered for relaxing, laughing and many card games. My grandma kept a guest book and I ran across it a few months ago…such good memories.
The chocolate chip cookie s’mores sound fabulous. My family is coming to visit this weekend and this sounds like a great thing to try!
Hi Susan – nice to meet you! It’s so fun to share these special places and memories. What a wonderful idea, for your grandma to keep a guest book – I love it! Have a great time with your family this weekend!
Okay, you are officially amazing in my book. Great post!
Mary, you are officially making me smile. Thank you!