Chocolate Chip Cookies

Let's talk about cookies. I think cookies should have a crisp exterior that gives way to a soft, gooey inside. For years, I struggled to find the perfect recipe. I'd read different theories, melted butter vs. room temp butter, self raising vs. plain, the list goes on, but none of them made that cookie. You know the one I mean.

And then a book appeared in our flat. It isn't the prettiest book, I'd never have picked it up off a shelf. But someone gave it to my flatmate for her birthday, so we gave it a whirl, and decided to use the cookie recipe. We have never looked back. The answer was not brown sugar, or cornflour, or anything else I'd ever read. It was condensed milk. And the best thing about these cookies? No egg. So when you want to crawl under a blanket, watch The Notebook and eat raw cookie dough, this recipe is your friend. The dough also keeps in the fridge in an airtight container for about a week.

The Best Cookies Ever

225g Caster sugar
225g Unsalted butter
170g Condensed milk
350g Self-raising flour
125g Sultanas
125g Plain chocolate chips

1. In a large bowl, weigh out the caster sugar and butter

2. Pour in the condensed milk. Scrape out every last drop, then lick the spoon. It's mandatory.

3. Cream it all together, then stir in the flour. Add the chocolate chips and sultanas.

4. Spoon out little balls and place on greased baking tray topped off with greaseproof paper. I also     grease that slightly - I don't take risks when it comes to cookies.

5. Pop them into the oven at 180°.

6. Take them out after 10-15 minutes, or when they're just starting to turn golden around the edges. Leave to cool on the tray for a minute, then transfer to a cooling wrack. If you move them off the baking tray too soon, they'll fall apart!

As soon as you can touch them, enjoy with a glass of cold milk. If there's any left, keep in an airtight container and microwave for 10 seconds when you come to eat them.

You don't have to go with sultanas and chocolate chips - the book suggests hazlenuts in place of the sultanas. I've used Smarties, M&Ms, raspberries with white chocoalte, the list in endless. I'm dying to try it with 75g of the flour replaced with cocoa powder. If you have a go with other fillings, let me know how it turns out!