Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

You have probably noticed that most of my cookie recipes make small batches of cookies. There was a time when I had two growing boys in the house and I couldn't keep the cookie jar full, but now that it's just the two of us again those "big batch" recipes aren't very practical. I've slowly been reworking my recipes to better suit a smaller family, but I have always been afraid to tamper with my chocolate chip cookie recipe...until now. I really wanted to make chocolate chip cookies for my Christmas cookie platter, but I didn't want to make 6+ dozen chocolate chip cookies, so out of necessity I came up with the following recipe. I believe it's a keeper!

Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Combine first five ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well. Add flour, baking soda and salt gradually, mixing well after each addition. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes or until light brown. Cool on cookie sheet for two minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Yield: 2 dozen

(To jazz up your plain chocolate chip cookies for the holiday just press a few red and green M&M's into the top of each unbaked cookie!)