OMG I must have made (and tasted) a dozen recipes before I discovered THE SECRET to The PERFECT Cookie for One — take advantage of all my ‘research’ and enjoy!
Of all the (many) things I find it hard to resist, a fresh baked homemade chocolate chip cookie is right up there with the big boys. So, sadly, I hardly ever make them. And that’s why I’m so excited to share this recipe for the perfect cookie for one with you…it makes a big beautiful delicious, warm gooey chocolate chip cookie. Just one. So basically — you’re protected from your bad self — how fabulous is that?
You might not realize it, but creating the perfect formula for a single cookie is not easy. You want it to be super delish, quick, and without unnecessary waste (no 1/4 of an egg, thank you.) You should be able to whip it up with a mug and a fork, with ingredients you always have on hand. Sounds simple. Not so much. There are kinks that need to be worked out, and fussy details to get right. But now that I’ve got it — I’m going to share it with you. And if you’re one of those people that needs to be restrained in a straitjacket around a batch of cookies, you’ll appreciate this. You won’t be tempted to sneak another, and another, because, guess what?… you can’t! (Bwahahahahah) It makes a lot of sense. And did I mention this makes one HEFTY cookie? So you won’t go away hungry.
Secret # 1 — Accuracy! This is not the kind of recipe you can fool around with, trust me. All baking depends on accuracy, but with something this small, that’s triple true. Every little discrepancy will be magnified in your final cookie, so take care! Use those handy little markers on the butter wrapper, and if your wrapper has gone wonky, line it back up. Use real honest to goodness measuring spoons, not stuff from the cutlery drawer. Fluff your flour first and level it off when you measure. Your oven needs to be at the correct temperature, I keep an oven thermometer in mine and always check before I put anything inside. Don’t panic, this isn’t hard at all, but it is specific.
Secret # 2 — Make sure you mix your dough well. Everything should be well combined, no dry flour left, so keep at it with the fork, until the butter and flour are one. After mixing, use your hands to compact the dough and roll it into a perfect ball. If you don’t combine the dough well enough your cookie won’t hold together well as it bakes.
Secret # 3 — Use a regular cookie sheet, not a super-duper insulated one; the cookies seem to cook better that way, (non-stick is ok.) Press down just slightly with your fingers on the ball of dough before you put it in the oven.
Secret # 4 — The oats. They add texture, flavor, and structure to the cookie.
Secret # 5 — I like to pop in a few extra chocolate chips once I have formed the ball of dough and set it on the pan. Add them on top, pushing into the dough well, so that when it comes out of the oven you’ll have a few tempting morsels staring up at you.
Truly perfect. And I don’t know about you, but when I see the ingredients laid out for the one cookie they look innocent enough — maybe we’ve hit on solution to the age old dilemma and maybe we can paraphrase Michael Pollen’s wise words…”Eat dessert. Not too much.”
The Secret To The Perfect Cookie For One!
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temp is best but not essential
- 1 Tbsp firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
- 2 Tbsp flour, fluff, scoop, and level
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- pinch salt
- 1 tsp rolled oats, old fashioned or quick cooking
- 1 Tbsp chocolate chips, plus a few extra for the top
Instructions
- Set oven to 350F
- Put the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl, or mug. Use a fork to blend them together really well.
- Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and oats and continue to mix until everything is well blended and there is no dry flour left.
- Stir in the chocolate chips and bring the dough together with your hands and roll into a smooth round ball.
- Set on a cookie sheet, you can line with a piece of parchment if you want, but it's not necessary. Flatten just slightly with your fingers, and pop in a couple of extra chips on tip. Push them in well but keep that nice round shape.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes
- If you like your cookie soft and gooey, eat it warm from the oven. If you like your cookie with a little bit of crunch, let it cool completely.
Notes
Don’t lose it — pin it!
I love the idea of making 1 very good chocolate chip cookie to satisfy my cookie craving, but am curious about the texture without a bit of egg? I probably should just make it, but I am thinking a crumbly?
It’s not crumbly, but I would say that when it cools it’s more of a crunchy cookie than a soft one. That’s why i said if you like your cookies soft eat it warm.
REALLY??? JUST ONE COOKIE? Are you all NUTS???!!! Sorry to sound like I’m screaming, but that’s what’s going on inside my head right now! I can appreciate the unusual concept, but I just don’t think I would be happy with myself if I pulled only ONE COOKIE out of the oven (not to mention the hatred coming from everyone else in the house!). Do you happen to have the math handy for a whole BATCH of these ‘perfect’ cookies? Maybe you shared a link and I missed it. I’d have to make at least FOUR of these cookies! LOL!
haha, well, Renate, the whole point is that it’s just one! it’s for people who don’t want to over do it. I have lots of regular recipes for chocolate chip cookies on the blog, here’s one of my favorites: https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/soft-batch-chocolate-chip-cookies/
Cool! This would be great for my Grandma who loves to bake, but doesn’t really have the energy to do huge batches anymore.
Dangerous, extremely dangerous! But what a wonderful little gift you have given us Sue – because sometimes you just need a good cookie! And this one looks really GOOD!
Love this! No need for willpower! (Which I have none of when it comes to homemade chocolate chips!
I’m not so good at the willpower thing…
Oh my…sounds like a great idea! Sometime you only need ONE cookie. Love it!!
I think most of the time we only ‘NEED’ one cookie 🙂
Heck, it’s easy to make a cookie for one. Mix up a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough. Sample the dough to make sure it’s edible. Be diligent! When finished, bake the cookie. 🙂 Anyway, this looks terrific — thanks.
That’s another way to do it, for sure!
So if I eat 16 of these at once, is it 16 cookies for one? 😀 Love this cookie recipe, and indeed, it looks perfect and simple to make! Thanks for sharing!! – Levan
Hah — maybe I should have provided the multiplied recipe!
Now you’ve done it. You should hear the conversation going on in my head. I must give this a try for the sheer culinary experience, or eating a warm chocolate chip cookie for breakfast should be okay right? I wonder what it would be like with nut butter? How about adding nuts? I am inspired!
I know, my mind is going to all those place with you…It would absolutely work with the nut butter, like my flourless cookies, but i decided to start with the original first…believe me, there’s a series coming on 😉
Will have to give it a try..I make them in bulk of course for all the boys:) And try every new recipe that catches my fancy..will try yours too:)
Nothing wrong with cookies ‘in bulk’ of course 🙂