World-Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies from Channel Road Inn
Nestled just two blocks from the beach in a quiet Santa Monica neighborhood, the historic Channel Road Inn is an architectural gem and a welcome refuge from the city. Built in 1910, the inn is a rare West Coast example of a shingle-clad Colonial Revival home. Lovingly restored in 1989, the inn features many of its original Craftsman details including the massive oak front door and Batchelder tiles in the living room fireplace. Sitting by the fire or relaxing on the front porch, guests can listen to the soothing sound of the ocean waves traveling up the canyon.
But while Channel Road Inn’s location and historic charm hold tremendous appeal, the inn’s genuinely warm and welcoming hospitality is what sets it apart. A perfect example is Dominique, an incredibly talented cook and former ballet dancer who has been an innkeeper at the Channel Road Inn since 2007. Radiating joy, Dominque’s sunny disposition can make the rest of L.A. look downright overcast. She greets guests at the door, whips up magic in the kitchen, and provides a level of personalized service that exceeds all expectations.
Guests arriving in the afternoon are often greeted by the sweet aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Dominique has been refining the recipe for the inn’s famous chocolate chip cookies since her first day at the inn. It’s the inn’s most requested recipe and one that she graciously shared with CABBI.
While you’ll still have to book a stay at the inn to experience its unique setting, historic charm, and friendly staff, thanks to Dominique and the Channel Road Inn, you can now recreate some of that magic at home with her chocolate chip cookie recipe.
At first glance, you might dismiss this as “just another chocolate chip cookie recipe.” After all, there’s no secret, exotic ingredient or novel culinary technique involved. The beauty of this recipe is that it is quintessential, the perfect embodiment of what a chocolate chip cookie is supposed to be: an abundance of chocolate chips; the perfect balance of salty and sweet; and a texture that satisfies whether you prefer your cookies crispy or chewy.
In fact, with cookies this good, it’s not a bad idea to make a double batch and freeze the formed but unbaked leftovers. That way, you’ll have a stash for unexpected guests, or be able to bake off a couple at a time as a quick bedtime snack with a glass of milk.
World-Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies
Courtesy of Channel Road Inn
Makes 36 to 48 cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 sticks (8 ounces) salted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cream the sugar, brown sugar, and softened butter together in a large bowl until smooth and creamy.
Add the eggs one at a time until well combined, then add the vanilla.
In a smaller bowl combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, then slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Use a 1-ounce cookie scoop to place each cookie on a greased, non-stick, or parchment-lined baking sheet. Leave at least 1 ½ inches between each cookie.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the tops are golden and the edges start to brown (bottoms should be light brown all over).
Remove from the oven, allow to cool on a wire rack, then serve.
