Baker's Notes

My favorite hometown brunch spot used to sell these giant chocolate chip cookies that used the crumbles from the bottom of the potato chip bag and a few pretzels. I’ve dreamed of those cookies and hoped to recreate them. Last week I saw a post reminding me of those cookies and I couldn’t resist trying to recreate a Missoula favorite.  We polished off a quick dozen here at the YCR roastery in less than an hour; proof that they pair perfectly with a good cup of coffee. 

Adapted from The Feed Feed

Yield 18 cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 stick (8 Tbl) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 6 oz. dark chocolate 
  • 6 oz. kettle cooked, thin style potato chips, divided
  • Flaky sea salt
  • Generous handful of thin pretzels sticks
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Tbsp boiling water

Instructions

  1.  Melt the dark chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl over a double boiler (reserve the hot water from the water bath to activate the baking soda).

  2. Add half of the potato chips to the melted chocolate and toss until well-coated.  Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with flaky sea slat.  Refrigerate until chocolate is set, about 15 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, add remaining potato chips, pretzels, flour, salt and baking powder to a food processor and pulse until chips and pretzels are finely ground (I left mine a bit chunky).

  4. Stir the cool, melted butter and brown sugar in a medium bowl for about 20 seconds.  Add the egg and vanilla extract, then stir vigorously for about 30 seconds.

  5. Add the hot water to the baking soda in a small bowl and stir to dissolve, then add to the dough.  Stir the mixture until it’s emulsified.  

  6. Add the dry ingredients to the dough, then stir until no patches of flour remain.

  7. Break up the chocolate covered potato chips with the back of a wooden spoon or a potato masher to ¼-½ inch pieces.  Add to the dough and stir until evenly distributed.

  8. Scoop cookie dough into 2-Tbl size portions, then refrigerate for 30 minutes.

  9. While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 350F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

  10. Arrange the cookie dough evenly among the prepared baking sheets, then bake 1 sheet at a time for about 12-13 minutes.  Repeat with the remaining dough.

  11. Allow cookies to cool completely for about 2 hours to get the most pronounced potato chip flavor, though they are delicious warm as well. 

Notes

  • Try brown butter.

  • Use dark chocolate melting wafers.

  • Save some whole chocolate-covered chips for decoration.

  • Press down the cookie dough balls before baking.

Emmy Kats