Levain Bakery's Famous Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies: A Recipe Inspired by the Iconic NYC Bakery
Levain Bakery in New York City is renowned for its gigantic, gooey, and utterly irresistible chocolate chip walnut cookies. These aren't your average cookies; they're a decadent experience, a perfect blend of chewy and crispy, with a rich, intensely flavorful profile. While the exact recipe remains a closely guarded secret, this recipe offers a delicious approximation, capturing the essence of the Levain Bakery experience.
Understanding the Levain Bakery Cookie Magic
The key to replicating Levain's legendary cookies lies in understanding a few crucial elements:
- Brown Butter: This adds a nutty depth of flavor and enhances the overall richness of the cookie.
- High-Quality Ingredients: Using good quality butter, vanilla extract, and chocolate contributes significantly to the final flavor profile. Don't skimp here!
- Generous Amounts of Chocolate and Walnuts: The cookies are known for their generous inclusion of both. Don't be shy!
- Baking Technique: The large size and specific baking method are crucial for achieving that signature gooey center and crisp edges.
The Inspired Levain Bakery Cookie Recipe
This recipe yields approximately 6 large cookies.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup walnut halves
Instructions:
- Brown the Butter: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the butter foams, then browns and smells nutty (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Important: Don't burn the butter.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together the browned butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Add Chocolate and Walnuts: Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the bowl and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. This helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Shape the Cookies: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Scoop large balls of dough (about ¼ cup each) onto ungreased baking sheets, leaving ample space between them.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft. The cookies will continue to bake slightly as they cool.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips for Levain-Like Perfection:
- Don't Overbake: Slightly underbaked cookies will have that signature gooey center.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: This ensures consistent cookie size and baking time.
- Experiment with Mix-Ins: Try adding other nuts, dried fruits, or different types of chocolate.
Enjoy your incredibly delicious, Levain Bakery-inspired cookies! Remember to share your baking adventures using #LevainInspiredCookies. Happy baking!
