Recipe: Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies from Our Cooking for Life Kitchen

Food has a way of bringing people together. It builds fond memories and plays an important role in the celebration of culture, as well as the important relationships in our lives. It can also have therapeutic benefits as a creative outlet and a way to de-stress.

Beyond the joy that being in the kitchen can bring, it can also help set youth on a path to future success. Through our Cooking for Life program, we not only help to build connection with the young people we serve, but important life skills as well. Our program provides training in important learning areas that are critical to career paths in the hospitality industry and beyond, including time management, teamwork and accountability.

This Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe is one that was tried and enjoyed by the young people working in our Cooking for Life kitchen. We hope you enjoy it as much as they did!

  • 1 cup butter, softened at room temperature
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, unsifted
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 12 oz package of semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
  1. Preheat oven to 375°. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment.
  2. In a large bowl cream butter, light brown sugar and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs, then vanilla – mixing with each addition until blended.
  3. Measure flour, baking soda and salt into separate bowl. Setting mixer speed to low, add flor mixture in batches to the butter mixture until a uniform dough forms, taking care to scrape the bottom and sides as you mix.
  4. Add chocolate chips and incorporate with a spoon.
  5. Drop the dough by heaping teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets.
  6. Bake 9-12 minutes until golden, remove and cool on wire racks. Recipe will make 3-3 ½ doze