Heritage Grain Blend Chocolate Chip Cookies with Cultured Butter Recipe

Learn how to make the best homemade heritage grain chocolate chip cookies using tangy cultured butter for extraordinary depth of flavor. This easy baking recipe combines ancient grains with classic technique for cookies with crisp edges and chewy centers that elevate the humble chocolate chip cookie to artisanal heights.

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Prep Time:

20 mins

Cook Time:

12 mins

Serves:

24 cookies

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"><li class="ingredients-single-item">125g cultured butter, room temperature (or European-style butter)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">110g light brown sugar</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">100g granulated sugar</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1 large egg, room temperature</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1 large egg yolk, room temperature</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">2 tsp vanilla extract</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">90g spelt flour (or whole wheat flour)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">90g einkorn flour (or all-purpose flour)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">45g rye flour (or whole wheat flour)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1 tsp baking soda</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">½ tsp fine sea salt</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa), chopped into chunks</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">Flaky sea salt for sprinkling</li></ul>

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"><li class="equipment-single-item">Stand mixer with paddle attachment (or electric hand mixer)</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Digital kitchen scale</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Baking sheets</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Parchment paper or silicone baking mats</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Cookie scoop (4cm/1.5-inch diameter)</li></ul>

Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4>Begin by placing the cultured butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer. Beat on medium speed for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy. This extended creaming time is crucial as it incorporates air into the dough, helping your cookies spread properly and develop that perfect texture. The cultured butter will lend a complex, slightly tangy note that elevates these cookies beyond the ordinary.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4>Add the egg and egg yolk one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated. Then mix in the vanilla extract. The extra yolk adds richness and contributes to a chewier texture in the finished cookie.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4>In a separate bowl, whisk together the spelt, einkorn, and rye flours with the baking soda and fine sea salt. The blend of heritage grains provides a nutty, complex flavor profile that standard all-purpose flour simply can't match. Each grain contributes its own character: spelt adds sweetness, einkorn brings butteriness, and rye provides earthiness.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4>With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until no flour streaks remain. Overmixing develops gluten and can make your cookies tough rather than tender, so be gentle at this stage.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4>Fold in the chopped chocolate by hand using a spatula. Using chopped chocolate rather than chips creates varied pockets of chocolate throughout the cookie and melts more beautifully during baking. Make sure to distribute the chocolate evenly throughout the dough.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4>Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. This resting period is non-negotiable – it allows the flour to fully hydrate and the flavors to develop, while also preventing excessive spreading during baking. The heritage grains in particular benefit from this hydration time.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4>When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 180°C and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to soften slightly for easier scooping.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4>Using a cookie scoop, portion the dough into 24 equal balls (about 45g each) and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving 5cm between each cookie to allow for spreading. Gently press down on each dough ball to slightly flatten.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 9</h4>Sprinkle each cookie with a small amount of flaky sea salt – this creates a delightful contrast to the sweet dough and rich chocolate.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 10</h4>Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are set and golden brown but the centers still look slightly underbaked. The cookies may seem too soft, but they'll continue to firm up as they cool. For bakery-style cookies with a perfect texture contrast, it's better to slightly underbake than overbake.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 11</h4>Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. As they cool, you'll notice the varied textures developing: crisp edges giving way to chewy middles and soft centers.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 12</h4>Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. The flavor of these heritage grain cookies actually improves after a day as the grains continue to develop their complex, nutty notes. For longer storage, freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months, or freeze portioned dough balls to bake fresh cookies whenever the craving strikes.</li></ol>

FAQs

Find answers to your most pressing questions about this delicious recipe right here.

What ingredients are used in Heritage Grain Blend Chocolate Chip Cookies with Cultured Butter Recipe?

The recipe uses cultured butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, a blend of spelt, einkorn and rye flours, baking soda, sea salt, dark chocolate chunks, and flaky sea salt for finishing. These heritage grains create a nutty, complex flavour profile.

How to cook Heritage Grain Blend Chocolate Chip Cookies with Cultured Butter Recipe at home?

Learn how to cook Heritage Grain Blend Chocolate Chip Cookies with Cultured Butter by creaming butter with sugars, adding eggs and vanilla, mixing in the heritage flour blend, folding in chocolate chunks, chilling the dough thoroughly, portioning into balls, and baking at 180°C for 10-12 minutes until golden at the edges with slightly soft centres.

Why use cultured butter in chocolate chip cookies?

Cultured butter provides a rich tanginess and complexity that regular butter lacks. The fermentation process develops lactic acid cultures that create a slight sourness, elevating the cookie's flavour profile while complementing the nutty heritage grains and balancing the sweetness of the chocolate.

Can I substitute heritage grains if I can't find them locally?

Yes, you can substitute with more accessible flours: use whole wheat flour for spelt and rye, and all-purpose flour for einkorn. While you'll miss some of the unique nutty complexity, the cookies will still turn out delicious. Try specialty food shops or online retailers to source heritage grains.

Why is chilling cookie dough important for this recipe?

Chilling the dough is crucial as it allows the heritage flours to fully hydrate, developing their complex flavours. It also solidifies the butter, preventing excessive spreading during baking and creating that perfect texture contrast between crisp edges and chewy centres.

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