Aussie Walnut & Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients
130g butter
140g brown sugar
40g caster sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence or paste
185g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
80g walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
130g dark chocolate, roughly chopped

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Roast the walnuts for about 5 minutes until fragrant and just browned. Set aside to cool.
  2. In a small pot (ideally with a light coloured bottom) over medium heat, melt the butter. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula to prevent the milk solids from sticking to the bottom, until browned – the butter will foam first and the milk solids separate out and gradually get darker and start to smell toasty. Pour into a large bowl, scraping any residual milk solids from the bottom in too – they hold lots of flavour. Leave to cool for 5-10 minutes.
  3. Add both sugars and vanilla paste and stir to combine.
  4. Add the egg and vanilla and beat vigorously with a spoon for 2-3 minutes until lighter in colour and really smooth and glossy.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the egg mixture and stir to just combine. Add the chopped walnuts and chocolate and fold to just combine.
  6. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30min – 1 hour before baking. You can leave them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, but let the dough warm up a little from fridge temperature before baking if completely cold, as they won’t spread much at all otherwise.
  7. Scoop even balls of dough onto lined baking trays, leaving at least 4cm between cookies. Bake for 8 minutes, then open the oven door and quickly lift and tap/bang the baking tray down a few times on your bench- this helps the cookie spread.
  8. Bake for a further 1-2 minutes or until done to your liking. Leave on the trays to cool. Sprinkle with sea salt. Store in an airtight container.

Walnuts contain antioxidants

Walnuts are low in sodium and contain potassium

Walnuts are a source of plant protein

Walnuts contain plant omega 3

Walnuts are a source of plant protein