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This one specifically, but probably because they're so yummy: https://www.janespatisserie.com/2020/04/25/nyc-chocolate-chip-cookies/

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Giant, Gooey and Utterly Epic NYC Chocolate Chip Cookies based on the famous Cookies from New York City!!

Can we take a minute, right at the beginning of this blog post, to appreciate... that I have given you guys this recipe. I have finally given you all the recipe that you have been after, for such a long long time. QUEUE THE APPLAUSE.

I'm joking - seriously. But anyway... I will say the reason they took this long to come to my blog, is because I only, finally, went to New York four months ago on my Mini-Moon, so I finally got to try some classic NYC Cookies for myself!

I wasn't prepared or willing to post an NYC Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe before I had actually eaten some for myself! I feel like that is pushing the limit really... can you make a recipe for something as famous as this, if you haven't even there and eaten them?!

Anyway. When I was in New York, I ate so. many. cookies. The best of all, for me personally, was the ones from Levain Bakery. Oh, holy geeeeeeee they were insanely epic. I heard lots and lots of talk about Levain Bakery on my social channels before I went, and my gosh they did not disappoint.

My husband and I managed to get in when there was absolutely no queue, and we then trotted over to Central Park to enjoy them, and my gosh it was the best thing ever. Not only was I finally taking in the sites of Central Park, in actual New York City, but the cookies... wow.

When it comes to making a recipe for them though, I will say that these are not authentic Levain Bakery cookies, as I just don't think they can be recreated. I really don't. There are many great NYC Chocolate Chip Cookies recipes out there - this recipe from Modern Honey is great, so is this one from Cupcake Jemma, or this one from Kirbie Cravings!

I have honestly made about 20 batches of cookies now, to get these right. There are so many factors when it comes to making these cookies - and jeez it's hard to get them all right.

When researching into recipes, what Levain Bakery and other bakeries such as Creme in London and so on do.. it is a bit of a mix. What flavours actually go into them, what order you put the ingredients in, and so on! Lots of recipes use a mix of two flours, but I like to stick to just one!

I basically just wanted to create giant chocolate chip cookies, that resemble NYC Chocolate Chip Cookies, that are easier to make. They are definitely different from the rest of my cookies, but that's what we want - NYC Cookies are a world of their own. I teased this post on my Instagram a little while ago and you guys went crazy for them... so I hope you are READY!!

One key to these cookies is genuinely, as annoying as it's going to sound... but trusting the recipe. If you want the cookies that are in the photos, you want to STICK TO THE RECIPE. Stick to the recipe for at least the first time, and then you can try altering it to different sugars and so on!

I use a mix of two sugars... light brown sugar (soft), and white granulated sugar. This is similar to my other recipes, such as my Mini Egg Cookie Bars - in the fact that it gives the best flavour and texture. You really want to stick to these if you can - but you can use all brown, or all white if you have to.

Switch the sugars to caster sugar can really change the texture. I'm not the biggest fan of caster sugar in cookies anymore - and if you try this recipe as listed, you will agree with me!

Now when it comes to the flour... I stand by using cornflour in my other recipes. I really honestly do. I even think these are better with a bit of cornflour. The cornflour creates a softer texture in the cookie, without drying the cookie out. It's perfection. However, a lot of you don't like using it.

I will admit, I don't really get it... but hey ho. I purposely made this recipe to not use it, to simplify it for you guys. However, as noted below - you can use a bit if you can, and you'll love the result. Promise!

A lot of NYC Cookie recipes use a mix of flours, but again I wasn't a fan... I wanted to make it be fewer ingredients. However, you can switch it up. You can easily use self-raising flour instead of plain, but you would then only use 1/4tsp bicarbonate of soda, and no baking powder!

I use all plain flour and add in the baking powder to get the texture, and I love it. You want the rise from the raising agents to create the perfect texture.. and it really works! You want a decent amount of flour, and to help it raise to get the classic texture so that when you bite into it... heaven.

I use salt in my cookie dough as I do in all my cookies, but it has to be the right kind of salt. I much much MUCH prefer to use sea salt in the cookies. Not only does it create a better flavour, but the salt is also just nicer in general.

When it comes to the chocolate chips, I, as always, use actual chocolate chips. I use a 50/50 mix of Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate. You get the sweetness from the Milk Chocolate, but also some bitterness from the Dark Chocolate which creates the balance. You can, of course, use all of one or the other.

You can add in walnuts, macadamia nuts, so on and so on... but more NYC style cookies will be on their way to this blog soon... These really are the most adaptable and delicious cookies EVER so happy baking! x

ENJOY!

Find my other Traybake Recipes on my Recipes Page!

J x

© Jane's Patisserie. All images & content are copyright protected. Do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words and credit me, or link back to this post for the recipe.

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NYC Chocolate Chip Cookies! - Jane's Patisserie

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Giant, Gooey and Utterly Epic NYC Chocolate Chip Cookies based on the famous Cookies from New York City!! Can we take a minute, right at the beginning of this blog post, to appreciate... that I have given you guys this recipe.

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A snack that contains veggies and some protein is a winning combination in my book and these Ants on a Log tick both boxes. Not only is the snack nutritious but it is fun and a great way to encourage kids to get involved with preparing food.

Teaching Kids Through Preparing Snacks

Getting kids to help prepare healthy snacks, not only encourages them to be more adventurous eaters but can help young kids develop their fine motor skills, math skills, language skills and so much more.

When I was a teacher I used to love using food to bring mathematical concepts to life, to teach instructional writing and to create phonics activities etc.

When cooking with our kids at home, we often automatically teach these skills without even realising.

Below you can see Rory counting how many ants are on his log. He predicted he could fit five ants on the log. After counting only four, he said that he would need one more to make five. The teacher in me was delighted at hearing this ;).

Ants on a Log Variations

I believe the "traditional way" to make Ants on a Log is to fill celery stalks with peanut butter or cream cheese and add raisins as the ants.

However, we like to make various versions, depending on what we have available at the time.

Below I have detailed a range of ideas for the log, filling, and ants. Hopefully, there is a variation included that would suit even the fussiest of kids.

Log Ideas

Carrots

Cucumber (slice in half, lengthways and scrape out seeds)

Banana (slice in half, lengthways)

Apple (cut into wedges)

Pear (cut into wedges)

Peach / Nectarine (cut into wedges)

Filling Ideas

Ant Ideas

Raisins

Other dried fruit (apricot, dates, figs, pineapple etc) cut into raisin-sized pieces.

Peas

Sweetcorn

Olives

Cherry tomatoes

Grapes

Blueberries

Seeds

Nuts

I have also heard of some other variations and fun names for this snack

Ants on Vacation - where there are no ants on the log!

Ants on a Slide / Slip and Slide / Slippery Dip - a layer of honey on top of the peanut butter!

Other healthy snack recipes to make with your kids... Do your kids love Ants on a Log? What is their favourite combination? Do you make any other variations? Please leave a comment below or tag me on your photos on Instagram or Facebook.
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Ants on a Log Recipe

A delicious, healthy and fun snack to make with your kids. Easily adapted to suit tastes.

Hover over "serves" value to reveal recipe scaler

Wash the celery sticks and cut each stick in half.

Add peanut butter into the concave part of each celery stick and spread.

Push raisins into the peanut butter to represent "ants"

1)Alternatives to celery include

Carrots

Cucumber (slice in half, lengthways and scrape out seeds)

Banana (slice in half, lengthways)

Apple (cut into wedges)

Pear (cut into wedges)

Peach / Nectarine (cut into wedges)

2) Alternatives to peanut butter include

Any nut butter

Cream Cheese

Cottage Cheese

Mashed avocado/guacamole

Greek Yoghurt

Other dips/spreads (beetroot dip, carrot hummus, bean dip, tzatziki etc)

3) Alternatives to raisins include

Other dried fruit (apricot, dates, figs, pineapple etc) cut into raisin-sized pieces.

Peas

Sweetcorn

Olives

Cherry tomatoes

Grapes

Blueberries

Seeds

Nuts

Nutritional information is a GUIDE only, calculated using an online nutrition calculator. Facts were calculated using the original recipe but will differ depending on the size of celery, the brand of peanut butter etc. If you choose different logs, filling and ants the facts will vary greatly.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Ants on a Log are a healthy and fun snack for kids. The traditional peanut butter and raisin version are delicious but this post covers a range of other ideas for the "log", filling and "ants". Get your children to help for a fun, educational activity.