The best chocolate chip cookie on the planet? There’s one way to find out!

Break out all the best ingredients you’ve been hoarding and make yourself a batch of these…now!

A couple of years ago, I read about a cookie that really sells for $8. Could I create a cookie worth such a price? Oh boy, yes! The secret to this cookie is not gold flecks or a butler to serve it, but fine ingredients and an investment of some time. The recipe demands high quality chocolates, browned butter, toasted almonds, and vanilla paste. Serving them slightly cooled from the oven is a key to the experience. I make a batch of dough, cookie scoop out portions and freeze them. When we are in the mood for these decadent beauties, I pop a couple in the oven while we are eating dinner in order to serve them as a perfectly warm $8 dessert.

The $8 Cookie

Ingredients

• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, browned
• 2 tsp vanilla paste
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• pinch salt
• 1/3 cup toasted almonds, chopped
• 1/3 cup good quality milk chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup good quality white chocolate, chopped

Directions

1. Mix the sugars and the egg well.
2. Add in the browned butter.
3. Mix in vanilla paste and almond extract.
4. Stir flour, baking soda and salt into the mixture.
5. Fold in the almonds and chocolate pieces.
6. Chill the dough for at least 1 hour.
7. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
8. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C).
9. Scoop tablespoon-sized balls using a small ice cream scoop onto the baking sheet. Bake for 8 – 10 minutes.
10. Let the cookies set on the baking sheet for about 3 minutes before removing them to a wire cooling rack.
11. Continue to cool for another two minutes on the wire rack.
12. Serve cookies while still warm.

Makes 12 cookies.