Ne Plus Ultra Cookies

If you are a purist when it comes to chocolate chip cookies then turn the page now (oops, just scroll down).  If the thought of tasting chocolate chips, raisins and pecans all in one bite turns you on, this one is for you.  I loved these cookies.  Henry said he eats enough raisins in his morning oatmeal and doesn't need them in his cookies.  As they say, chacun a son gout.

This recipe is in Martha Stewart's Cookies (From the Editors of Martha Stewart Living).  The book was recommended by Jean, co-proprietor of Blackwood and Brouwer Booksellers Ltd. in Kinderhook NY and also cookiebaker supreme.  Despite my complex feelings about Martha Stewart, when Jean recommends a cookbook, I buy it. 

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 1/4 cups sifted flour

1/2 tsp. coarse salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup raisins (golden or dark)

1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put butter and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Add vanilla and eggs; mix until well combined. 

Sift flour, salt and baking soda into a small bowl;  add to butter mixture on low speed until just combined.  stir in chocolate chips, raisins and pecans.

Roll dough into 2 1/2 inch balls, then flatten them to 1 inch thick.  Transfer to baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing 2 inches apart.  Bake cookies until golden brown, about 20 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through.  Let cool on sheets on wire racks.  Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

Makes 1 dozen large cookies

Notes:I did all the mixing by hand with a wooden spoon.

I put 6 cookies on each baking sheet and flattened them once they were on the sheets.  The dough is sticky and I thought that would work better.

I froze half of the cookies wrapped well in plastic.  They were fine once defrosted and back to room temperature.