My Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie

After years and years of trying so many different recipes...the search is finally over! I found my holy grail chocolate chip cookie. And where, you might ask, did I find such a cookie? It was written on the back of a package of Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips. It's callled Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cookie, and once you sink your teeth into these chewy gooey cookies, you'll be swooning for more. Oh yeah...they're THAT good.

But once I had the perfect chocolate chip cookie, I had to find a way to make it for my son with food allergies. I don't know what possessed me to add cream cheese in place of eggs, but it worked! And come to think of it, I actually like this version better because it stays moist and chewy for days. I keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. Just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds and it's like having freshly baked cookies everyday. YUM!

My Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie
Yields about 4 dozen cookies
Allergy Note: contains dairy and wheat

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup butter or margarine, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Sift together flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In large mixer bowl, cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla. Gradually blend dry mixture into butter/sugar mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop heaping tablespoons (I use a 18/8 cookie scoop) onto ungreased cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375ºF for 9 to 11 minutes, or until golden brown.