Bigger isn’t always better. Despite the incessant urging to scale up, go big or go home, and supersize me, there’s wisdom in thinking small. Small is approachable, unintimidating; small tasks are easier to check off than more sizeable to-dos, but every bit as satisfying to cross off the list.
Miniature Cookies For Maximum Enjoyment
Most bakeries are pushing in the opposite direction, cranking out monstrous treats that could sustain an active adult for a full day. Speaking as an inactive quasi-adult that likes to snack, teeny, tiny cookies are more my speed. Long before Trader Joe’s got on board and launched their version, my Microchip Cookies were already in the oven. Inspired by the size of Cookie Crisp cereal, honed by a taste for buttery decadence, each mini morsel satisfies like a whole Tollhouse behemoth. Sweetened with warm brown sugar, mini chocolate chips speckle the batter for a blast of nostalgic flavor. The combination is far from earthshaking, which is a large part of the appeal. You’ll never be disappointed when you just want a smidgen of home-style comfort.
Big Benefits
The benefits of downsizing your baked goods are multitudinous. I’m not talking about health benefits, although I’d argue they’re proven mood-boosters, but more about the quality of life benefits that come with working on the micro level.
- Faster bake time: You can whip up dozens of treats in minutes, with little cooling time needed, too.
- Better portions: Go ahead, eat 4 – 6 cookies at a time! That’s equal to roughly 1 standard chocolate chip cookie when you add them all together.
- Share the love: Great for gifting, it’s easy to dress up a small handful of mini cookies in a nice gift pouch to treat your loved ones, while still minding your budget.
Sweet Swaps
Like the best chocolate chip cookie recipes, this one is entirely open to creative interpretation. The smaller output does limit the types of mix-ins that would fit, but you have so many other options to consider.
- Chocolate chips: Since I first started making these, Enjoy Life unleashed mini white chocolate chips, which is somewhat of a game-changer. I love using these instead and spiking the dough with fresh lime or lemon zest for brighter flavor. Alternately, try chocolate sprinkles, cacao nibs, or finely shaved dark chocolate if you can’t get any mini chips.
- Brown sugar: Dark brown sugar is key for that homemade chocolate chip cookie taste, but you can use coconut sugar or date sugar for a lower glycemic option.
- Vanilla extract: Splurge on vanilla bean paste for a bigger flavor impact, or take this treat in a different direction with root beer extract, chocolate extract, peppermint extract, or any other concentrated baking emulsion you’ve got. Don’t be afraid to split the measure between two or more options to add complexity.
Baking Up Magic
Though modeled after the classic, Microchip Cookies are not just shrunken versions of their traditional counterparts; they have a unique charm that’s hard to resist. The ratio of crisp exterior to soft interior shifts accordingly, offering a perfect balance of crunchy and chewy textures in the very same mouthful. For anyone torn between doughy cookies and crisp ones, there’s no need to compromise when you can have both at once.
Serving Smiles
While I couldn’t resist serving mine en masse in a bowl of oat milk to feed my inner child, the diminutive size of these cookies makes them a perfect fit for many other serving suggestions. Snacking out of hand is my go-to, of course, but they’re also right at home…
- On a dessert charcuterie board
- As part of a cookie gift box or platter
- Floating in a cup of coffee or hot cocoa
A little bit goes a long way here. A handful of basic ingredients and a little bit of patience reap great rewards. No matter how you enjoy them, or who you enjoy them with, these little sweets add up in a big way.
Microchip Cookies
Though modeled after classic chocolate chip cookies, Microchip Cookies are not just shrunken versions of their traditional counterparts. The ratio of crisp exterior to soft interior shifts accordingly, offering a perfect balance of crunchy and chewy textures in the very same mouthful. For anyone torn between doughy cookies and crisp ones, there's no need to compromise when you can have both at once.
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Vegan Butter
- 2/3 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
- 3 Tablespoons Unsweetened Applesauce
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Flaxseeds
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees and line two sheet pans with silicone baking mats or parchment paper; set aside.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream together the vegan butter and brown sugar with the paddle attachment. Beat for about 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the apple sauce, flaxseeds, and vanilla, stirring to incorporate. Pause to scrape the side of the bowl with your spatula as needed.
- Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and chocolate chips. Mix gently until just combined.
- Scoop out 1-teaspoon sized balls of cookie dough onto sheet pans, spacing them about 1/2-inch apart. You may need to bake them in batches if they don't all fit.
- Bake one sheet pan at a time at for 8 - 9 minutes for softer cookies, or 10 - 12 minutes for crunchier cookies. Let cool on the baking sheet before moving to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for 1 week.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
120Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 20Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 11mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g
All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.