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Three-in-One Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe makes a dense blondie bar cookie or a chewy chocolate chip cookie. The difference is how you bake it. The recipe makes blondies that are chewy and moist or quality chocolate chip cookies in either a drop cookie or refrigerator cookie. The refrigerator cookie has a little different appearance and texture than does the drop cookie. It is thinner, more wafer-like, crisper, and more formal looking. Because the refrigerator cookie is sliced with many of the chips and nuts cut into smaller pieces, these cookies have a more formal, flecked appearance.

Which do we prefer? We love rich, moist bar cookies and these blondies are very good. But then, that’s just our preference. To see another rich, moist bar cookie, check out Hermits in a Bar.

If you like, you can divide this recipe. Place about half of the dough in an 8 x 8-inch baking pan to make bar cookies and use the rest of the dough for drop or refrigerator cookies. This is an ideal solution for a smaller family: bake a half-batch of bar cookies now and refrigerator cookies several days later.

Blondie Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup walnuts
1 cup milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

1. Cream 1/2 cup of the butter, sugar, and salt together. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each. Beat until light and fluffy.
2. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the second 1/2 cup of butter in the microwave until it is mostly melted, about 45 seconds at high power. Stir in the brown sugar to make a thick syrup. Stir in the vanilla extract.
3. Measure the flour by spooning it into the measuring cups. (If you scoop the flour from the bag, it will be packed and you will have too much flour.) Mix in the baking soda so that it is dispersed.
4. Beat the brown sugar mixture into the creamed sugar mixture. Add the flour mixture in two or three additions mixing only until combined. Add the chocolate chips and nuts.
5. Line an 8 1/2 x 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. If you use aluminum foil, press the foil into the pan with it extending from both ends of the pan. Grease the foil. Spread the batter in the pan. The dough is heavy and thick. Use a spatula to pat the dough down and distribute it evenly in the pan.
6. Bake for 24 to 28 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Remove the pan to cool on a wire rack. After the cookies have cooled for 45 minutes or so, remove the cookies from the pan by grasping the ends of the foil or parchment paper and lift from the pan. Remove the cookies to a cutting board and cut them into the desired sizes and shapes using a ruler to measure the cuts uniformly and a sharp, serrated knife to cut through the nuts cleanly.

Chocolate Chip Drop Cookies
Use the same recipe to make chocolate chip drop cookies. Instead of baking in a pan, drop rounded spoonfuls of dough on a greased baking sheet. Bake for nine to eleven minutes at 350 degrees. Remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool.

Chocolate Chip Refrigerator Cookies
Use the same recipe to make chocolate chip refrigerator cookies. Roll the dough into two logs in wax paper with the logs being about 1 3/4 inches in diameter. Refrigerate the logs for a couple hours. Slice the logs into 3/8-inch thick slices with a sharp, serrated knife. Place the slices on a greased baking sheet. Bake for ten to twelve minutes at 350 degrees. Remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool.

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