Bacon Fat Chocolate Chip Cookies

The hint of smokehouse fire and a subtle warmth from allspice make these chocolate chunk cookies so incredibly special. A wonderful change of pace when you’re seeking something familiar but exciting all at once.

Author: Lauren McDuffie
Yield: Makes about 30 cookies 1x

Ingredients

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2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1.5 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
8 to 12 oz. chopped semi-sweet chocolate (from 2 or 3, 4-oz. bars, depending on how chocolatey you like things)
1 stick unsalted butter
½ cup bacon fat, at room temperature
1/2 tsp molasses
1 packed cup light brown sugar
2 cup granulated sugar
3 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp allspice
1 large egg
Crunchy, flaky sea salt for sprinkling on top

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil, shiny side facing up.
In a medium bowl, thoroughly whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, bacon fat, molasses, brown and white sugars, vanilla, and allspice until very fluffy; about 3 minutes. Add the egg, beat to combine. Add the flour mixture and chopped chocolate and mix just until evenly combined.
Using a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon measure, scoop 2 TBSP mounds of dough onto the baking sheets, keeping them at least 2 inches apart (I do 6 cookies per sheet at a time, working in batches). Sprinkle with a little sea salt, if desired.
Bake for 7 minutes. Open the oven, lift a corner of the baking sheet and let it BANG! Back down on the oven rack, flattening the cookies (see NOTE). Do this every minute until the cookies are done; a total of about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the cookies when they’re just golden brown and still a little doughy in the centers. They’ll set up as they cool.

Notes

This pan-banging method was created by blogger and cookbook author, Sarah Kieffer. I use it in all my cookies but cannot take credit for its inception. I’m just glad someone figured it out. Amen.

Find it online: https://mykitchenlittle.com/2021/07/14/bacon-fat-chocolate-chip-cookies/