It turns out, chocolate chip cookies are a much newer invention than I would have thought.
An article on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library website notes that the famous cookies were first invented in 1938 by Ruth Wakefield.
Wakefield and her husband, Kenneth, ran the Toll House Restaurant in Massachusetts, hence the enduring “Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie” name.
There’s apparently plenty of debate surrounding the true lore of how Wakefield managed to create them, but that’s kind of how all of the stories of famous recipes seem to play out.
Regardless, her invention has become such a part of culture that most of us probably don’t even think about them having an origin. The only reason I looked into it was because I wondered where this week’s recipe for a Toll House chocolate chip cookie pie originally came from and stumbled on the history of the cookie. It makes for good reading along with a slice of pie.
The version of this recipe I tried comes from the blog, “A Family Feast” by Jack and Martha Pesa. You can find the original post at https://www.afamilyfeast.com/toll-house-chocolate-chip-pie/. I added vanilla and whipped cream to my version.
Toll House Chocolate Chip Pie
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup butter room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips plus a few for decorating
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
- about 2 cups whipped cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Roll out your pie crust and place it in a deep, nine-inch pie plate. Crimp the edges to your liking and set it aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs for about two minutes or until they are light yellow.
- Beat in the flour, sugar and brown sugar, and then beat in the butter and vanilla until the batter is smooth.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts, and spread the batter into your pie crust.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
- Let the pie cool completely and top with whipped cream and some extra chocolate chips.
When my pie came out of the oven, I didn’t think the top was very pretty, which is why I decided to slather it in whipped cream and chocolate chips. It gave it a real visual wow factor, and the flavors were great together.
This is also a great recipe for a beginning pie baker to try. It’s really easy to put together, and it’s easy to tell when it’s done.
It’s also a great way to enjoy a classic, 85-year-old recipe in a slightly different way. The only drawback is that you probably can’t dip this into a glass of milk, but I won’t fault you for trying.
This piece first appeared in print on Dec. 7, 2023.
Spice Up Your Life is a weekly newspaper column written by Lindsey Young in south central Kansas. If you are interested in sponsoring this column, please contact us through the “Contact Lindsey” link at the top of the page.
