Blue Ridge Mountains Chocolate Chip Cookies

Roxygirl in Colorado's Note:

These cookies have been served for over 75 years in the quiet village of Orkney Springs, VA. We have stayed in this retreat center called Shrine Mont where people come for rest, devotion, and fellowship. A couple of things set these cookies apart: butter and shortening ensure a thick cookie, soft in the middle, with a touch of almond extract.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 24

Yield: 2.0 dozen

• ½ cup shortening
• ½ cup butter
• ¾ cup white sugar
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 2 ¾ cups bleached all purpose flour (see note below)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli brand)

Directions:

1. Note: The recipe initially calls for 2 1/2 cups flour, but with the added note if you want them more softer and rounder cookie to add 1/4 cup flour. I add the 1/4 cup making it 2 3/4 cups total.
2. Cream shortening, butter, sugars, then eggs and vanilla and almond extracts.
3. Blend dry ingredients and add to mixture.
4. Stir in Chocolate chips.
5. Drop by large tablespoons (I use cookie scoop) onto ungreased cookie sheet, leaving 2-inches room in between to allow cookies to spread. I press down lightly with a measuring cup to bake more uniform cookies).
6. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes until lightly brown.
7. Makes 2-3 dozen cookies depending on size.

Reviews

[KiwiGaz]

Beautiful. The ones I made looked nothing like the picture but they were sooooo good. Thanks Roxygirl! Note: I used at least 1/4 cup less of each of the sugars, with the huge amount of choc chips that much sugar isn't needed. I also had less choc chips (coz I ran out) but there were still plenty in the cookies.

[~*Miss Diggy*~]

These were a bit salty for me... not sure why, maybe it was because I doubled it... ??? BUT, they are very good with the addition of kisses and chocolate chips, so next time I will make sure they have a bit of chocolate in every bite. ;)

[5hungrykids]

These cookies are fabulous! I did use the 2 3/4 c. flour and they were thick and chewy and did not spread much at all. I used a cookie scoop for mine. I do not like flat crisp cookies, so these were perfect for me. The kids loved these and they couldn't get enough. Same with their friends. I did not care much for the taste of the dough and as my husband loves to eat cookie dough, he didn't like it much either, but he absolutely loved the baked cookie! These will be made often. Thanks for another fabulous chocolate chip cookie.