Thursday, August 4, 2005

Ritz-Carlton Now you can make the Ritz-Carlton's chocolate chip cookies at home.

Simply The Best

Go ahead, celebrate Chocolate Chip Day

By Kate Lawson / Detroit News Food Writer

More recipes More from Kate Lawson Dozens of cookie recipes in the Recipe Box Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

These days it seems there's a day for everything (even tubas have their 24 hours) and food gets its fair share of the designations (yesterday, for instance, was National Mustard Day). Ice cream, popcorn, cheese and waffles each get a share of the 365-day limelight along with pork, milk and blueberries.

But today is my favorite day of all -- National Chocolate Chip Day as deemed by the National Confectioners Association. I usually don't fall for that kind of obvious exploitation but we are talking chocolate here, after all, and to celebrate this esteemed occasion Chef Ramon Ramos of the Ritz-Carlton Dearborn has created a most fantastic chocolate chip cookie recipe that's worthy of the celebration. Today the hotel is revealing its signature cookie recipe to the public and, in addition, hotel guests will receive cookies and a glass of milk at evening turndown service.

Chef Ramos was trained in the pastry arts at The Le Notre Culinary Institute in Paris and most recently studied the latest pastry techniques at the World Pastry Forum in Phoenix, Arizona.

"I love these cookies," Ramos says. "I eat them every time I can." Ramos says he makes about 100 cookies per day for the hotel and offers several tips on successful cookie baking.

For instance, make sure the ingredients are at room temperature, never over mix the batter and always use half white sugar and half brown sugar. To make a nice, large cookie, use a 4-ounce ice cream scoop to make golf-ball sized rounds. Bake them at 335 degrees for 18-20 minutes to ensure a nice, soft, evenly baked cookie and use parchment paper so the cookies won't stick to the tray.

Ramos is so passionate about wanting to help people with their recipes he's offered his phone number so that anyone with questions or baking problems can give him a call. The number is (313) 441-2000, ext. 3547. Now that's what I call a dedicated chef. The cookies, by the way are magnificent. Happy Chocolate Chip Day!

The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn Chocolate Chip Cookie

30 Minutes: 10 minutes to make, 20 minutes to bake

1 pound, 4 ounces butter

2 cups sugar

2 cups brown sugar

5 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

6 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

4 cups chocolate chips

Mix butter until soft, add sugar and mix until incorporated. Add brown sugar until incorporated and scrape bowl. Add eggs a little at a time until fully incorporated and vanilla extract. Scrape bowl. Combine dry ingredients and add a little at a time to sugar mixture until fully incorporated and scrape bowl. Add chocolate chips all at once until incorporated. Use a 4-ounce ice cream scoop (or 1/2 cup measure) to scoop the raw cookie dough on to a cookie sheet.

Bake at 335 degrees until done, about 18-20 minutes. (Makes approximately 25 cookies)

Per serving:

Simply the best; You can reach Kate Lawson at (313) 222-6026 or klawson@detnews.com.