Crazy Cooking Challenge-Chocolate Chip Cookies

When I joined the Crazy Cooking Challenge over at Moms Crazy Cooking and found out that Chocolate Chip Cookies were the theme for September, I knew immediately what cookies I wanted to make. 

When I first started following cooking blogs I was lucky enough to find Mel’s Kitchen Café.  This was one of the first blogs that I signed up to get emails from.  She always has great recipes.  I have made a number of her recipes, and they were always successful.

One of Mel’s biggest hits at our house has been her Chocolate Chip Treasure Cookies.  They are from 2008, and I am so glad that I stumbled across them while looking through her old posts.  The first time that I made these cookies, my husband decided that they were his new favorite chocolate chip cookie.

These are very different cookies, made using graham cracker crumbs and sweetened condensed milk.  There are no eggs in the dough which means that one can Eat The Cookie Dough.  Of course, I Would Never Do That.  To keep the cost of making these cookie down, I make homemade sweetened condensed milk which looks and tastes just like the commercial product.

Frugal Tip:  It takes about one sleeve of graham crackers to make the 1 1/2 cups needed for the recipe.  If I find that I am a tablespoon or two short, I just use some plain dry bread crumbs.  It doesn’t seem to make a difference.  Mel leaves the nuts out, but I use them; and I always toast them for better flavor.

Mel's directions said to use an ungreased baking pan, but the cookies stuck and were difficult to remove when I did that, so I grease the cookie sheets or use foil or parchment paper to bake the cookies.  I have changed the directions to reflect this.

Chocolate Chip Treasure Cookies
From Mel’s Kitchen Café
From Debbie R. via Aunt Marilyn

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
2 cups (1 package) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts, chopped (I usually leave these out due to my husband’s preference – the cookies are delicious with or without nuts)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, flour and baking powder. In a large bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk and butter until smooth. Add graham cracker crumb mixture; mix well. Stir in coconut, chocolate chips and walnuts.  Drop by rounded tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets. Bake 9-10 minutes or until lightly browned.  Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Please visit the other participants, pick you favorite recipe and vote for it.  Maybe your choice will be the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.