Michelle Obama's Winning Chocolate Chip Cookies

By [e-mail]

Michelle Obama was declared the winner of the Family Circle Presidential Cookie Bake-Off with these scrumptious white and dark chocolate-chip cookies with chopped walnuts. One bite and you'll see why she won!

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 stick Crisco butter-flavored solid vegetable shortening
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup each white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips (or Andes mint pieces)
• 2 cups walnuts, chopped

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 375°F.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract.

Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

On low speed, beat in flour, baking soda and salt. By hand, stir in white and milk chocolate chips, mint chips and walnuts.

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto un-greased baking sheets.

Bake at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.