The Secret to Bakery-Style Chocolate Walnut Chip Cookies

Today on Chewed Up, Michael Symon and Clinton Kelly welcome back Danielle Sepsy - the Scone Queen, bestselling cookbook author, and founder of The Hungry Gnome -for the ultimate chocolate chip cookie episode. They begin with a blind tasting of four popular store-bought cookies, comparing everything from artificial vanilla and milk chocolate to buttery flavor, crisp edges, chewiness, and dunkability before unanimously choosing their favorite.

Then Danielle shares her recipe for a thick, New York bakery-style chocolate chip walnut cookie with a caramelized exterior, crisp edges, a tender center, and plenty of semisweet chocolate. She explains why cold butter, light brown sugar, chilled dough, and a hotter oven help cookies stay tall and thick; how resting the dough improves both flavor and texture; and why adding vanilla directly to the butter makes its flavor more pronounced. She also demonstrates how to balance baking soda and baking powder, avoid overmixing the flour, freeze pre-portioned dough, and bake fresh cookies whenever the craving hits.

Along the way, Michael admits that he cannot stop after one cookie, Clinton revisits his infamous baking curse, and the group debates Long Island accents, astrology, group chats, staying friends with an ex, and which American cities deserve more recognition for their food. Michael argues that Los Angeles may currently be the best food city in America, while Cleveland and Pittsburgh also get their moment. Most importantly, the finished cookies are declared nearly perfect - although Michael insists he will only be able to eat four.

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About Chewed Up:

Three lifestyle icons reunite with zero filter, strong opinions, and even stronger flavors. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon are back in the kitchen with comedy, comfort food, and unfiltered conversation — served loud. Episodes drop 3x a week:

• Monday – Appetizers
• Wednesday – Mains
• Friday – Desserts

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