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So you want to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies but don’t have any chocolate chips? Or, are you like me and live in a country where chocolate chips aren’t even available? Or perhaps you’ve always wondered what chocolate chip cookies would taste like without the chocolate chips at all? If you’ve been in any of these situations, then you’re sure to love this recipe for chocolate chip cookies without chocolate chips!
Living in Tbilisi, Georgia, I’ve learned how to make substitutions and get by when some ingredients that are staples back home are nowhere to be found here. One thing that is impossible to find if I wanted to make a batch of cookies are chocolate chips, the other is brown sugar. And while I’ve been rationing a jar of molasses that my mom sent me months ago and making a batch of brown sugar every so often, I did realise that I needed to develop a chocolate chip cookie recipe that I could easily make when the molasses ran out.
So if you’re craving some incredible cookies that will take you right back to your childhood but, for whatever reason, you happen to be missing some essential ingredients, then look no further than these chocolate chip cookies without chocolate chip cookies or brown sugar! Despite the substitutions, these may well be the best cookies you’ll ever make!
How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies without Chocolate Chips or Brown Sugar
There were a few considerations I had to make when devising this chocolate chip cookie without brown sugar recipe – namely, moisture and flavour. For one, brown sugar tastes remarkably more complex (which is why I use it in my banana bread recipe, as well) and, well, better than plain white granulated or castor sugar and it lends a deeper flavour to the cookies. Second, the moisture from the molasses in the brown sugar lends to a chewy and moist consistency that is hard to achieve when using white sugar.
To account for these shortcomings, I’ve included brown butter and a bit of honey in this recipe and I doubt you will miss the addition of brown sugar at all.
Another consideration I’ve had to account for is the addition of “chocolate chips.” Whether you’re searching for chocolate chip cookies without chocolate chips because you don’t have chips or because you want them without chocolate at all, I believe that this recipe accounts for both scenarios.
The final thing about this recipe is that it doesn’t require a mixer at all, whether that be a hand mixer or a stand mixer. It is super easy to mix together by hand meaning that you can whip these cookies up wherever you are. So if you were wondering how to make chocolate chip cookies without a mixer, I’ve got you covered!
A bag of chocolate chips isn’t something that I can find at all where I live so I’ve been chopping up chocolate bars for ages and I, personally, find this to be the preferable method and will likely continue doing so even when I have chocolate chips available to me. However, I’ve made the addition of chocolate optional and if you’re after chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips at all, then I’ve got you covered!
To begin with, you need to brown your butter. I recommend doing this as the first step as you need time for the butter to cool down before you mix it in with your cookies (you can cause your eggs to curdle if you don’t!). Browning butter is easy, but it does require you to be attentive.
Basically, all you need to do is melt your butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. It will start to foam and then, as the foam begins to dissipate, the milk solids will begin to toast. If you’re new to this, I recommend using a light-coloured pan so you can see how the butter is browning more easily, but it isn’t a requirement.
After a couple of minutes, you will notice that there will be some brown bits beginning to settle on the bottom of the pan and the butter will emit a very pleasant, nutty aroma. When you reach this stage, turn off the heat and immediately transfer the butter to a large mixing bowl to prevent it from burning from the residual heat in the pan. Set the bowl aside for about ten minutes or so to allow it to cool.
In the meantime in another bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda and salt and set the bowl aside.
After your butter has cooled down, add your egg, egg yolks, granulated sugar, honey and a generous splash of vanilla extract. Whisk this mixture vigorously until it is thoroughly combined and becomes very pale, light and fluffy, about one minute. The addition of honey and the melted butter will ensure that you end up with soft chocolate chip cookies without brown sugar.
Once the wet ingredients have been mixed, pour your dry ingredients over them and fold together just until all of the flour is incorporated — be careful not to overmix at this stage as that will result in a tough cookie. Now, if you’re looking to make chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips at all, this is where you can stop and be finished with your dough!
If you do want some chocolate, however, and just have no access to chips, this is where you should finely chop a bar of dark chocolate (I like to use about 60-70% cocoa to counteract the sweetness of the cookie) and then add it unto the dough. Stir it just until the chocolate is well-incorporated.
Next, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and transfer it to the refrigerator for about thirty minutes. This will help the dough set up more and make it easier to portion out the cookies. While they’re chilling, preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F) and line two sheet trays with parchment paper.
Once your dough has chilled sufficiently (you can do this overnight, as well, for an even better flavour!), portion out your dough using a large spoon or a scoop into sixteen even balls distributed over the two trays (eight on each tray). I
f you have a smaller oven like I do, I recommend baking one tray at a time, however, if you have a large oven then you can position the trays in the upper and lower quarters of the oven and bake both trays at once, making sure to rotate the trays halfway through.
Bake your cookie for twelve to fifteen minutes or until they are golden brown and lightly cracked on the exterior. Allow to cool on the sheets for about five minutes before transferring to a wire rack and cooling completely.
The cookies will keep for a number of days if stored in an airtight container. You can also freeze the portioned out dough (freeze on baking sheets until solid and then transfer to a zip-top bag), thaw and bake the cookies whenever you feel like it. This recipe can also be easily doubled.
Chocolate Chip Cookies Without Chocolate Chips or Brown Sugar
Yield: 16 cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
These chewy, flavourful cookies get their consistency and complexity with the addition of brown butter and a touch of honey. With the option to add a chopped chocolate bar if you desire, they are absolutely delicious either way!
Ingredients
- 150g (5.3oz or 11 tablespoons) unsalted butter
- 300g (10.6oz or 2 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 3g (1 teaspoon) salt
- 3g (1/2 teaspoon) baking soda
- 200g (3.5oz or 1 cup) granulated sugar
- 20g (0.7oz or 1 tablespoon) honey
- 1 large egg
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 100g (3.5 ounces) dark chocolate (60-70% cacao), chopped (optional)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, stirring occasionally, until it begins to foam, the foam dissipates and the milk solids begin to brown and it takes on a pleasant, nutty aroma. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and set aside to cool.
- In another large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
- Once the butter has cooled but not solidified, add the sugar, honey, egg, yolks and vanilla to the bowl. Whisk together vigorously until very well combined and the mixture has become pale, light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Pour your dry ingredients over your wet ingredients and fold together until the flour is just incorporated - be careful not to overmix here!
- If using, add your chopped chocolate and mix until just incorporated. Cover with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove dough from the refrigerator and using a spoon or scoop, portion the dough into sixteen even balls. Position eight balls on each sheet, ensuring they are evenly spaced.
- One sheet at a time, bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cookies are browned and lightly cracked at the edges but still soft in the centre. Allow to cool for five minutes on the sheets before transferring to a wire rack and allowing to cool completely.
Notes
The cookies will keep for a number of days if stored in an airtight container. You can also freeze the portioned out dough (freeze on baking sheets until solid and then transfer to a zip-top bag), thaw and bake the cookies whenever you feel like it. This recipe can also be easily doubled.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 200Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 131mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 3g
Nutritional information is automatically generated and provided as guidance only. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
As you can see, making delicious chocolate chip cookies without chocolate chips or brown sugar needn’t be an impossible undertaking. This recipe ensures that you cookies will be soft, chewy, crispy in the right places and deeply flavourful even if you can’t get your hands on some “essential” ingredients!
Are you looking for a chocolate chip cookie recipe without brown sugar or chocolate chips? Have any questions about this recipe? Let me know in the comments!
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