The empty flour section at supermarkets all over the world from New York to Sydney, and of course, Milan, says it loud and clear: a lot of us are finding solace in baking these days. I found out that over the last week or so we've even created the appropriately trending hashtags for it too: #QuarantineCookies, #stressbaking, even #CoronavirusBaking.
Baking is therapeutic, and if you've ever made a loaf of some sort of bread (most likely banana bread) or cookie (most likely chocolate chip) in your life, you know you agree. Now, confined to our homes, we are all kneading, shaping and baking breads, cakes and cookies more than ever.
#Quarantinis and #AperiVirus can only do so much. When everything seems to be spinning out of control, we need other ways to cope, and baking, getting your hands involved and your mind focused only on that dough, fits the bill so perfectly.
But it also occurred to me - what about all my single friends out there who are passing these weeks in the company of one + the internet?
Sure, you can freeze doughs and breads. But sometimes you just want one single cookie (also because we all could do with less temptation from the cookie jar these days).
That's where this chocolate chip cookie comes in. Adapted from my favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe which usually makes a batch of 20, this instead makes one giant cookie.
It's a big round sweet chocolatey hug, when you can't get any hugs elsewhere, literally.
How to Make One Chocolate Chip Cookie
Making one cookie means less flour (just 44 grams of it) which is useful since flour seems to be the hottest thing right now at the shops. You will need the usual suspects: baking soda (bicarbonate of soda), a pinch of salt, butter (melted in this case since it's such a small amount), sugar, an egg yolk, and chocolate chips. Couldn't grab chocolate chips at the stores? Chop up some of your coronavirus stash chocolate bar if you like. It's ok, it will be fine.
The process is simplified too. It's a matter of mixing the butter with the sugars, adding the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda and salt) then stirring in the chocolate chips. Bake until golden brown, about 14 minutes.
So, grab yourself a glass of wine or whatever #quarantini you are into these days, crank up the oven and make a giant chocolate chip cookie for one, you, yourself, just you and no one else. Enjoy it with a glass of warm milk as you watch the next episode of Tiger King on Netflix. You've survived another day of isolation.
You deserve this.
Recipe for a Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie for One
This recipe makes one big cookie for one big source of joy that lasts more than a bite. It is a version of my favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe adapted for one cookie, using just about a fifth of the ingredients and a whole lot less of the effort. It's really just a matter of mixing the butter, sugar and egg yolk, then stirring in the rest of the dry ingredients. Nothing more, nothing less, there are no hidden tricks here.
You can also freeze the dough, if that's the case, roll it into a ball, slightly press it down, and freeze it in a plastic bag. Bake it straight from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time. Remember always to follow your nose and eyes for baking times, since all ovens are notoriously different.
Ingredients
25g butter, melted, cooled slightly 1 tsp granulated sugar 35 g brown sugar 1 egg yolk 44g flour
1/8 tsp of bicarbonate soda
small pinch of salt
44g chocolate chips (about three large tablespoons)
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 175C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together the butter sugars, egg yolk.
3. Add the flour, baking soda, pinch of salt and stir to combine. Add the chocolate chips, stir through.
4. Gather the cookie dough and shape roughly into a ball. Place on the tray and flatten slightly.
5. Bake for 13-15 minutes until edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool on the tray, the cookie will harden as it cools down.
