by Tdarcos » Thu Apr 02, 2020 2:49 am
Good quality chocolate. Doesn't have to be expensive but when they've cheapened the product by stretching (diluting) the cocoa with shortening, you can taste the difference. This is when you notice there's a "waxy" film on the roof of your mouth.
When not done as blatantly in an attempt to cut quality to save money, but as a legitimate change in recipe it can be useful. One time I was in a Southern California Ralph's Grocery, and I was talking to the bakery manager. The stores bake their own cookies for the bulk, self-service cookie jars. I mentioned that I like the oatmeal raisin, it's softer than the chocolate chip. I mentioned that Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies are soft.
He explained the difference is shortening vs. flour. To get softer cookies, you add more flour to the dough. To get crisper cookies, you add more shortening. It's customer interest. Customers expect oatmeal raisin to be soft (and oatmeal flour is naturally softer), and they prefer crispy chocolate chip over chewy, so the stores make them that way.
I never did ask if they ate any leftover cookie dough.
Good quality chocolate. Doesn't have to be expensive but when they've cheapened the product by stretching (diluting) the cocoa with shortening, you can taste the difference. This is when you notice there's a "waxy" film on the roof of your mouth.
When not done as blatantly in an attempt to cut quality to save money, but as a legitimate change in recipe it can be useful. One time I was in a Southern California Ralph's Grocery, and I was talking to the bakery manager. The stores bake their own cookies for the bulk, self-service cookie jars. I mentioned that I like the oatmeal raisin, it's softer than the chocolate chip. I mentioned that Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies are soft.
He explained the difference is shortening vs. flour. To get softer cookies, you add more flour to the dough. To get crisper cookies, you add more shortening. It's customer interest. Customers expect oatmeal raisin to be soft (and oatmeal flour is naturally softer), and they prefer crispy chocolate chip over chewy, so the stores make them that way.
I never did ask if they ate any leftover cookie dough.