How to Make Gourmet Chocolate Chip Cookies

Almost everyone grew up making chocolate chip cookies. It's one of the first recipes that many kids learned to make. When you grow up though, the recipe seems to lack the adult flavors you now love. It's easy to incorporate those gourmet flavors into a chocolate chip cookie recipe. You just need to follow a few easy steps.

Instructions

1. Use real butter. When making gourmet baked goods, you never want to use margarine. You want the rich flavor that only butter can add. Not to mention that butter provides a better texture.

2. Add vanilla sugar. Vanilla sugar adds wonderful flavor to your baked goods. Best of all, it's an easy substitute. The creamy flavor of the vanilla will work beautifully with the caramel flavor of the brown sugar.

3. Incorporate espresso. Espresso makes chocolate taste more chocolaty. It also adds a complexity to your cookies. This is exactly what you want from gourmet cookies.

4. Choose high quality dark chocolate. Many recipes call for semi-sweet chips. This isn't exactly gourmet. Instead, you want a high-quality chocolate that has a rich flavor.

5. Stir in nuts and dried fruits. Adding additional flavors and textures is a great way to make chocolate chip cookies more gourmet. The combination of flavors should work together to create one complex flavor. For example, dark chocolate and dried cranberries work beautifully together.

Tips & Warnings

• There are several brands of high quality chocolate made in America.

• Dried cherries are also a great addition.

• Don't be afraid to switch out vanilla extract for other flavors.