Chocolate chip cookies

[fred mertz]

Yesterday, my wife Ethel, baked chocolate chip cookies for the first time in BA. She used the same recipe that she used for many years in N.Y.C. (EEUU). Every time that she used our neighbor, Mrs. Ricardo´s recipe, the cookies were perfect. Not so, yesterday. AWFUL. They didn´t even look the same. I wonder if she used the wrong kind of flour?

 

[PhilipDT]

1. Thank you for clarifying the location of NYC.

2. What kind of oven are you using here, is it the same kind as you used in the states?

 

[scotttswan]

did she buy the right flour? 000 or 0000.

 

[Ashley]

sounds like it could be a flour issue to me. Self raising flour comes in quite different packets to regular flour so make sure you check the label (it should say harina leudante). I don't find it as strong as the self-raising flour in the UK, so I generally add a half spoonful of baking powder to the mix.
Also, if the recipe calls for brown sugar, be careful that a lot of "brown" sugar is, in fact, white sugar dyed brown! Actual brown sugar is quite a bit more expensive.
Ovens here also have little temperature regulation...I have to watch my baked goods like a hawk!

 

[lejohnson]

Did she try to replace the brown sugar with something? Chocolate chip cookies are not the same without U.S. style brown sugar which is not the same as azucar moreno or whatever they try to say brown sugar is here. Also, if the cookies were flat, you will definitely need to chill the dough before you cook it. I always make my little balls of cookie dough and put it on the cookie sheet then chill the dough on the sheet for about 30 minutes before I cook them and they turn out fine. I never had to do this in the states, but here it's imperative!

 

[bebero]

Did she try to replace the brown sugar with something? Chocolate chip cookies are not the same without U.S. style brown sugar which is not the same as azucar moreno or whatever they try to say brown sugar is here. Also, if the cookies were flat, you will definitely need to chill the dough before you cook it. I always make my little balls of cookie dough and put it on the cookie sheet then chill the dough on the sheet for about 30 minutes before I cook them and they turn out fine. I never had to do this in the states, but here it's imperative!

there's no such thing as "US style brown sugar".
here you can get the dyed sugar (it clealty states what it is on the package) or brown sugar (unrefined or partially refined)

 

[rihornos]

I recommend self rasing flour Blancaflor that is the best quality and brown sugar you can get at Dietètica Bellgrano a health store that has many branches and they also probably have chocolate chips.
Reina

 

[hannstew]

If you have a neighbor named Mrs. Cleaver, her recipe is sure to please

 

[CarverFan]

Fred, could you please post the recipe. It might help us detect what didn't translate well and also I would like to try it myself!!

 

[dr__dawggy]

If you have a neighbor named Mrs. Cleaver, her recipe is sure to please

This one time, Mrs. Norton brought a batch of chocolate chip cookies down to the Kramden's. They looked great. Must have tasted wonderful too. Ralph, Mr. Kramden, ate the whole pan.

Maybe Mrs. Norton would share her recipe with you.