From time to time I ask myself the question, why would someone buy chocolate chip cookies when it takes only minutes to make a batch from scratch.  Okay, on occasion I have been known to purchase a cookie from the market, but never a chocolate chip cookie.  I realize that not everyone is a baker, but seriously, ANYONE can make these cookies.  I intentionally made this recipe as simple as possible.  No mixer needed, just stir, scoop, and bake.  Although not complicated, I have added the extra step of chopping the chocolate instead of using bagged chips, but honestly, it only takes a few extra minutes and the results are so worth it.  If you’re not into chopping chocolate, or you already have chips in your pantry – by all means go for it.  Okay, I’m lying.  I really want you to make your own chips.  You’ll thank me later.
And while we’re on the subject of chocolate and not taking short cuts, let’s talk cocoa.  Please! please! buy the best quality cocoa you can afford.  There are some really great brands out there and honestly, the difference in flavor is well worth the extra two or three dollars.  Give yourself the gift of deep, rich cocoa flavor whether you are using it for hot chocolate or in a recipe.

One last thing.  While shopping at Penzeys Spice recently, I spotted a jar labeled Cake Spice.  It is a combination of cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cloves.  It is very similar to Pumpkin Pie Spice with the addition of star anise and nutmeg.  It was love at first sniff.  A jar came home with me and I have been putting it into everything.  The uses for this sweet and fragrant mix of spices is endless, the obvious being ‘cake’, but beyond that think french toast, oatmeal, donuts, and apple sauce, .  I tried a teaspoonful when testing this recipe and liked the results. Not everyone is going to have Cake Spice hanging around the pantry.  Pumpkin Pie Spice is a fine substitute, and you can even use pure cinnamon.

Fair warning, these are serious little chocolate bombs.  So ooey and gooey with big melted chunks of chocolate.  You can’t find that in a cellophane package sitting on the shelf at your market.