3 1/2 c Flour
1 1/2 ts Baking soda
1 1/2 ts Salt
2 Vanilla beans, split length-
-wise
3 Sticks (1 1/2 c) unsalted
.butter, softened
1 c +2 T firmly packed brown
.sugar
1 c +2 T granulated sugar
3 lg Eggs
1 1/2 ts Vanilla extract
3 c Semisweet chocolate chips
(or chocolate chunks about
1 pound)
1 1/2 c Chopped walnuts (about 1/3
.lb)
Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking
soda, and salt. Scrape vanilla bean seeds from pods into standing
electric mixer, reserving pods for another use if desired, and add
butter and sugars, beating until light and fluffy. One at a time,
beat in eggs, beating well after each addition, and beat in vanilla
extract. Add flour mixture and beat until dough just comes together.
Stir in chocolate chips or chunks and walnuts (do not overmix). Form
dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and arrange about 2 inches apart on
parchment-lined baking sheet. Flatten balls slightly with a metal
spatula and bake cookies in batches in middle of the oven until
golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer cookies with spatula to racks to
cool.
Yields
60 Cookies