Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes

Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes Recipe - American Dessert

Region / culture: USA | Preparation time: 20 minutes | Cooking time: 12 minutes | Servings: 24 cookies

Introduction

Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes are a delightful treat perfect for the holiday season. These buttery cookies are studded with Nestlé ® Toll House ® semi-sweet chocolate morsels and chopped nuts, making them a decadent and delicious dessert option.

History

Tea cakes have been a popular treat for centuries, with variations found in many different cultures around the world. The addition of chocolate chips to this classic recipe gives it a modern twist that is sure to please any chocolate lover.

Ingredients

1 cup of butter
0.5 cup of sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp of vanilla
2 cups of flour
0.67 cup of finely chopped nuts
1 package of Nestlé ® Toll House ® semi-sweet chocolate morsels

How to prepare

Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
In a large mixer bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar until creamy.
Beat in the vanilla extract.
Gradually beat in the flour and nuts.
Stir in 1.5 cups of morsels.
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookies are set and light golden brown on the bottom.
Allow the cookies to cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
In a heavy-duty plastic bag, microwave the remaining morsels on high (100%) power for 30 to 45 seconds. Knead the bag.
Continue microwaving at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, kneading until the morsels are smooth.
Cut a tiny corner from the bag and squeeze to drizzle the melted chocolate over the cookies.
Refrigerate the cookies for about 5 minutes or until the chocolate is set.
Store the cookies at room temperature in airtight containers.
Note: For a spicier cookie, add 2 to 2.5 tsp of ground cinnamon to the flour before adding it to the butter mixture.

Variations

Swap out the semi-sweet chocolate morsels for milk chocolate or white chocolate for a different flavor profile.
Add dried fruit, such as cranberries or cherries, for a festive touch.
Experiment with different types of nuts, such as pecans or almonds, for added crunch.

Cooking Tips & Tricks

Make sure to cream the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy to ensure a tender cookie.

- Be careful not to overmix the dough once the flour is added, as this can result in tough cookies.

- Allow the cookies to cool completely before drizzling with melted chocolate to prevent it from melting too quickly.

Serving Suggestions

Serve Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes with a cup of hot tea or coffee for a cozy and indulgent treat.

Cooking Techniques

Creaming the butter and sugar until light and fluffy is essential for a tender cookie.

- Be sure to allow the cookies to cool completely before drizzling with melted chocolate to prevent it from melting too quickly.

Ingredient Substitutions

If you don't have powdered sugar on hand, you can use granulated sugar, but the texture of the cookies may be slightly different.

- Feel free to use your favorite type of nut in place of the chopped nuts called for in the recipe.

Make Ahead Tips

Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Presentation Ideas

Arrange the cookies on a festive platter and dust with powdered sugar for a beautiful presentation.

Pairing Recommendations

Enjoy Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes with a glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious dessert pairing.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Store Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. To reheat, place the cookies in a 350°F (177°C) oven for a few minutes until warm.

Nutrition Information

Calories per serving

Each serving of Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes contains approximately 150 calories.

Carbohydrates

Each serving of Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes contains approximately 15 grams of carbohydrates.

Fats

Each serving of Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes contains approximately 10 grams of fat.

Proteins

Each serving of Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes contains approximately 2 grams of protein.

Vitamins and minerals

Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes are not a significant source of vitamins or minerals.

Alergens

Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes contain dairy, nuts, and wheat.

Summary

Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes are a delicious treat that is relatively low in calories but high in fat and carbohydrates. They are best enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Summary

How did I get this recipe?

The moment I found this recipe is etched in my memory forever. It was a crisp autumn day, with a hint of winter chill in the air. I was rummaging through an old wooden chest in the attic, searching for my favorite scarf, when I stumbled upon a dusty old cookbook. As I leafed through its yellowed pages, I came across a recipe for Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes that caught my eye.

I remember my excitement as I carefully read through the ingredients and instructions. It seemed like the perfect treat for the upcoming holiday season. I could already imagine the warm, buttery aroma filling my cozy kitchen as I baked these delicious little cakes.

I decided to give the recipe a try that very afternoon. I gathered all the necessary ingredients – flour, sugar, butter, chocolate chips, and a few secret ingredients that the recipe called for. As I mixed and stirred, the sweet scent of vanilla and chocolate wafted through the air, making my mouth water in anticipation.

When the tea cakes finally emerged from the oven, golden brown and fragrant, I couldn't wait to taste them. I took a bite and savored the rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture, the perfect balance of sweetness and chocolate. They were absolutely divine.

From that moment on, Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes became a staple in my holiday baking repertoire. I made them every year, delighting my family and friends with their deliciousness. They became a symbol of warmth and love, a reminder of cozy evenings spent by the fire, savoring the simple pleasures of life.

Over the years, I made a few tweaks to the original recipe, adding a dash of cinnamon here, a sprinkle of sea salt there. Each tweak brought a new depth of flavor, a new layer of complexity to the already perfect tea cakes. I loved experimenting in the kitchen, playing with flavors and textures, always striving to create the perfect bite of sweetness.

I learned the recipe for Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes from various sources – a dear friend who shared her family's secret ingredient, a cookbook from a quaint little bakery in Paris, a cooking show on TV that inspired me to try something new. Each source brought a little something special to the recipe, a touch of magic that made it truly my own.

But the most important source of inspiration for this recipe was my grandmother. She was the one who instilled in me a love for cooking, a passion for creating delicious meals and treats for the ones I love. She taught me that food is more than just sustenance – it is a way to express love and care, to create memories that last a lifetime.

My grandmother's kitchen was always filled with the warm, comforting aromas of home-cooked meals and freshly baked treats. She would spend hours at the stove, stirring pots and pans, kneading dough, sprinkling spices with a practiced hand. And every time I visited her, she would have a new recipe to share, a new dish to tantalize my taste buds.

One of my fondest memories of my grandmother is baking with her during the holidays. We would spend hours in the kitchen, laughing and talking, as we rolled out dough, cut out shapes, and decorated cookies with colorful frosting and sprinkles. She would tell me stories about her own childhood, about the recipes she learned from her mother and grandmother, passing down the wisdom and knowledge that had been handed down through generations.

It was in my grandmother's kitchen that I learned the true secret to great cooking – love. Love for the ingredients, love for the process, love for the people who would enjoy the final result. And it was this love that I poured into every batch of Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes that I made, infusing them with warmth and sweetness, with memories and joy.

As I sit here now, surrounded by the comforting scents of cinnamon and chocolate, I can't help but feel grateful for all the experiences and people that have inspired me along the way. My grandmother, with her wise words and gentle guidance. My friends, with their shared recipes and creative ideas. And most of all, the simple joy of creating something delicious and sharing it with the ones I love.

So here's to Chocolate Chip Holiday Tea Cakes, a recipe that has brought me so much joy and happiness over the years. May they continue to be a symbol of love and warmth, of sweet moments shared with family and friends. And may they always remind me of the magic of cooking, of the simple pleasure of creating something beautiful and delicious out of a few humble ingredients.