The 85-Year-Old Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe That Started It All
The Original 1938 Toll House Cookies
It's funny how sometimes the greatest ideas and recipes are created by accident. Yogurt, potato chips, Coca-Cola...the list is considerably endless when it comes to the now-iconic food and beverage brands that got here just by happenstance. While the above are pretty well-known experiments gone right, there's one recipe that many of us probably didn't know to fit in the category: The Original 1938 Toll House Cookie Recipe.
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While scouring one of my favorite Reddit threads, r/Old_Recipes, I stumbled across the Toll House cookie recipe that was said to have originated from "The Famous New England Inn." To confirm that this was in fact the correct recipe, I did a bit of research and discovered Nestlé's story of how the cookie was actually created (along with a recipe) and as you can guess, the Reddit thread checked out.
Though Ruth Graves Wakefield accidentally produced the chocolate chip cookie after thinking the semi-sweet bits she added to her cookie dough would melt, what wasn't an accident was my instant need to give this recipe a try. As someone who loves sweet treats — and especially a good chocolate chip cookie — I was eager to jump in the kitchen and give this traditional recipe a try. And, the best part was I had all the ingredients needed to make this a reality. Here's how it went.
Get the recipe: The Original 1938 Toll House Cookie Recipe
Courtesy of Choya Johnson
Ingredients for the Original 1938 Toll House Cookie Recipe
You probably have everything needed to make this recipe already at home. You'll need to grab flour, baking soda, salt, butter, granulated and brown sugar, vanilla extract, eggs and (optional) chopped nuts.
While the torn recipe on Reddit notes that you need "economy size bars" of Nestlé's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Nestlé's website says you can use the more easily found Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels instead.
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How to Make the Original 1938 Toll House Cookie Recipe
To start, you'll combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk or beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Add in your eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, then stir in the chocolate chips and optional nuts. If you skip the nuts, add in an additional 1-2 tablespoons of flour.
Courtesy of Choya Johnson
Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of the cookie dough on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake the cookies at 375°F for 9 to 11 minutes or until they're golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool 2 minutes before consuming.
What I Thought of the Original 1938 Toll House Cookie Recipe
Just like the 150-year-old cookie recipe I recently tried, this one was a hit! I honestly can see why this recipe has been around for so long and why it has become so loved all over the world.
The cookies were perfectly chewy and while they weren't as sweet as many of the other cookie recipes you may make, they were equally delicious. Another thing I loved about these cookies was how quickly they came together.
So the big question: Would I make these cookies again? Absolutely! And, the next time, I'll enjoy them with a healthy scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Courtesy of Choya Johnson
Tips for Making the Original 1938 Toll House Cookie Recipe
1. Use a stand mixer. While you can use a whisk, if you have a stand mixer (or an electric hand mixer), the blending process will be much easier.
2. Add more sugar if desired. Though this recipe uses both granulated and brown sugar, the final result isn't as sweet as you would think. If you would like a sweeter finished product, increase the sugar a bit.
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