Simple Homemade Baked Treats (Printable version)
Soft, golden baked treats customizable with chocolate, nuts, or dried fruit, ideal for sharing or snacking.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
→ Optional Mix-ins
10 - 1 cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
11 - 1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans)
12 - 1/2 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Using an electric mixer or whisk, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined.
06 - Fold in your choice of chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit evenly.
07 - Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
09 - Let cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- They're ready in under 30 minutes, which means fresh cookies before anyone even knows you're making them.
- The dough is forgiving and begs for your own additions, turning a simple recipe into your signature treat.
- Soft and chewy when still warm, but still hold up nicely in an airtight container for days of snacking.
02 -
- Room temperature butter creams properly; cold butter won't incorporate air, and your cookies will be dense and sad.
- That moment when the edges look golden but the center looks soft is exactly when you want to pull them out, even if it feels too early.
03 -
- Slightly underbaking by a minute or even two gives you that soft, chewy texture that stays tender for days.
- Using a cookie scoop keeps your cookies uniform in size, so they all bake at the same rate and finish perfectly together.