You know when you get together with friends, and you are glad to see them and are looking forward to getting down to talking about whatever it is you want to talk to them about, but first you have to suffer through their vacation pictures? Think of this as the blog version of that. I have a wicked good molasses chocolate chip cookie recipe to tell you about, but first….
My vacation. 🙂
Every year we go to my favorite, favorite place in the world, which is the beautiful green mountains of Vermont. If you really want to know how much I love this place, you can click here, or here. If you don’t, just take a look at this picture to see why.
I love both the gorgeous blue-green mountains AND the cows with equal amounts of love. Which is good, because Vermont has a ton of both. Here’s our little piece of paradise, otherwise known as the cabin. Where there is no cell phone service. Or paved roads. Nothing but corn and cows and quiet.
And this spectacular view from the south window, which makes me cry when I get there and cry when I leave.
Did I mention the cows?
This was breakfast. Still warm off the vine. Nothing else needed.
And here are my favorite chairs in the entire world, facing that view.
Anyway, going to Vermont always reminds me of my grandmother, and her amazing molasses cookies, and so when I found this recipe for molasses cookies with chocolate chunks on the fabulous Joy The Baker site RIGHT before I headed up there, I knew I had to make ’em. And while my grandma’s will always be my favorite recipe, these were pretty wonderful too!
Did I mention there were cows?
Here’s the recipe. 🙂
Molasses Chocolate Chunk Cookies, And My Summer Vacation!
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeIngredients
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 2 cups plus 2 Tablespoons bread flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon dark molasses, not blackstrap
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips or chunks
- sea salt for sprinkling on top of cookies just before baking
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl, mix the granulated sugar and molasses until no large molasses clumps remain.
- Pour the melted butter in the mixer’s work bowl. Add the homemade brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for about 3 minutes. Add the egg, yolk, and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Chill the dough for about 20 minutes, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Lightly sprinkle each dough ball with a few flecks of sea salt.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.
Recipe adapted slightly from Joy The Baker, who adapted it from Alton Brown.
Scrumptious cookie recipe and GREAT vacation photos!
I love your photos!!! I've been to Vermont on vacation too. Where are the Ben and Jerry photos?!! ^_^ Never mind. You don't need them! You've got mountains, beautiful scenery, and cow photos!!!
That looks like one gorgeous vacation spot. sounds like you had a fantastic summer with the cows 😛
These cookies look amazing! Molasses is one of my favorite sweeteners. It has such a rustic flavor.
that last cow photo was just incredible. Love the recipe also!
I have never seen such a photogenic cow , one with a little mohawk even !
Are those freckles or flies on that pink nose?
Cookies!!!
I never went to Vermont. I am sorry about that now.
I enjoyed your photos of Vermont, chairs with a great view, cute cows and these wonderful cookies. I love chocolate chips and these are so interesting with the molasses. Must try.
Yum!
No wonder Ben and Jerry's ice cream came from Vermont with these lovely cows! What a wonderful cabin. Will get on these cookies post haste.
I just checked out your vacation photos and now have extreme Vermont envy! Horses, Sissy's and the cabin? Y'all are one very lucky lady.
I can't decide which is more convincing..the Vermont photos or the cookie recipe? Either way, I want both 🙂
Lovely photos! My favourite is the one with the berries.
I love visiting Vermont because of the cows and views too. Thanks for sharing your photos and delicious cookie recipe.
Even if I'm here, seeing a refreshing place would be very exciting. I hope I could go to a place like this as well. Actually, I often had a dream, a dream that I'm in a place such as this. The feeling was very amusing, relaxing and silent. =) Thank you for posting and love your cookie recipe. By the way, you might like to try using a stainless steel container for your daily lunch pack. It's durable, and eco-friendly, suited for a healthier living. =)
I just checked your page (I've been so busy and my Google reader is back-logged), but this post made my day. I've lived in the Midwest my whole life, and in 9 short months, I will be moving to Vermont/New Hampshire border area for a one year fellowship. Your photos and the feelings you described are the reasons why I decided to go there. Thanks for making me excited about the big move…..I cannot wait. And, those cows are the best. 🙂
I was at home today with a feverish 4-year old and a new bottle of molasses. I did a web search and came upon your vacation/cookie combo post! I just made the cookies and have to tell you, and everyone that finds your site, how absolutely wonderful they are. The bit of sea salt on top made my day. Thank you for making a "sick" day into a wonderful baking day! The photos are great as well…. Vermont is awesome (in the winter as well!).
Wicked new reader of your blog from Massachusetts. Vermont is beautiful. Everyone should visit! I just made your Grandma's Molasses Cookie recipe. I am going to compete in the office cookie bake-off on Friday with these gems!!
Michelle – a belated thank you for your sweet comment! And Anonymous…hope the cookies brought you good luck in the bake-off!!!