Thin, Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

To get a recipe for thin, crisp chocolate chip cookies that would still be tender and flavorful, we had to find just the right ingredients in just the right proportions. We used a combination of light brown sugar and white sugar to get a butterscotch flavor and sufficient crunch. We added baking soda and corn syrup to the sugar for maximum browning and caramelization. And we found that 2 tablespoons of milk added to the melted butter enhanced thinness and crispness.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour (7 1/2 ounces)
• ¼ teaspoon table salt
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), melted and cooled
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips (about 4 1/2 ounces)

KEY EQUIPMENT

• Measuring Spoons

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

The dough, en masse or shaped into balls and wrapped well, can be refrigerated up to 2 days or frozen up to 1 month. Be sure to bring it to room temperature before baking.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Sift flour, salt, and baking soda onto large sheet of parchment paper; set aside.
2. In bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and corn syrup at low speed until thoroughly blended, about 1 minute. Add yolk, milk, and vanilla; mix until fully incorporated and smooth, about 1 minute, scraping bottom and sides of bowl with rubber spatula as necessary. With mixer running on low speed, fold up 3 edges of parchment around dry ingredients to form a pouch (see illustrations below) and slowly shake dry ingredients into bowl; mix on low speed until just combined, about 2 minutes. Do not overbeat. Add chips and mix on low speed until distributed evenly throughout batter, about 5 seconds.
3. Leaving about 2 inches between each ball, scoop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets with 1 1/4-inch (1 tablespoon capacity) ice cream scoop. Bake 1 sheet at a time, until cookies are deep golden brown and flat, about 12 minutes.
4. Cool cookies on baking sheet 3 minutes. Using wide metal spatula, transfer cookies to wire rack and let sit until crisped and cooled to room temperature. (Can be stored in airtight container for up to 1 week.)