Dessert Surveillance

Ghiradelli Milk Chocolate Chips – Photo Courtesy of Ghiradelli

Chocolate Chip Cookies are a truly classic American dessert.

So what would make them stand out?  An extremely unconventional baking method?  Sounds like that might do it.

As reported in The New York Times in 2009, (and it originally appeared on MSNBC),  a New Hampshire woman baked Chocolate Chip Cookies on the dash of her Toyota RAV4.  Since the temperature inside a car can get quite high, it can function as an oven.

For those seeking Chocolate Chip Cookies prepared in a somewhat more traditional manner, what varieties are available and what’s popular?

Levain Bakery’s Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie – Photo Courtesy of Levain Bakery (NYC)

New York City-based Levain Bakery offers a Classic Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie as well as a Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie.  A spokesperson for Levain said “All of our Cookies are popular, but the Classic (Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie) tends to get the most press so it is our most popular Cookie…….Chocolate Chip Cookies offer so many options:  large or small; with or without nuts; fat or thin; soft or crunchy; super sweet or salty; so many variations so people can be satisfied with their own favorite “Chocolate Chip Cookie.”  The Levain spokesperson also observed that foreigners are fascinated by American Cookies.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies from Broadway Baker (NYC) – Photo Courtesy of Broadway Baker

Chocolate Chip Cookies are one of the most popular Cookies for New York City-based Broadway Baker.  (The number one spot goes to Lemon Raspberry Shortbread Cookies.)  Jim Osorno, owner of Broadway Baker said he has also made Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies.  And he’s working on a gluten-free version with unsweetened coconut and crushed pecans.

Wildflour Pastry in Charleston, South Carolina – Photo Courtesy of Wildflour Pastry

Lauren Mitterer of WildFlour Pastry in Charleston, South Carolina, reported:  “We offer a regular Chocolate Chip Cookie and a Double Chocolate Chip Cookie.  We have occasionally done Mint Chocolate Chip and Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies, although they are not in the daily offerings.  I think they [Chocolate Chip Cookies] are holding steady….with chefs pushing the envelope in flavor combinations, they are a nice return home.”

Classic Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip Cookie from Bumzy’s – Photo Courtesy of Bumzy’s (San Francisco)

Toni of San Francisco-based Bumzy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies pointed out that National Chip Cookie Day is May 15^th.  She also noted that the “Bumzy’s Classic,” a plain semi-sweet Chocolate Chip Cookie, tends to sell out first.  But the Double Chocolate Chip Cookie is also very popular.  And the “Bumzy’s Classic with Nuts” also goes over well with customers.

I’m ready to dig into a piece of Americana!