How It's Made: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Summary

This video delves into the fascinating process of chocolate chip cookie production, starting from the invention of the cookie in 1930 by an American innkeeper. It details the industrial mixing of ingredients like sugars, butter, flour, and semi-sweet chocolate chips, followed by the forming and freezing of dough rounds. Safety measures, such as metal detection, ensure quality control, while automated packaging streamlines the process for shipping to foodservice customers. Additionally, it showcases how gift tins of cookies are prepared and baked in-house, presenting a way to enjoy homemade cookies without the need for baking.

Takeaways

• 🍪 Chocolate-chip cookies were invented in 1930 by an American innkeeper who ran out of baker's chocolate.
• 🔄 The cookie-making process begins with an industrial-sized mixer that blends white sugar, brown sugar, and butter.
• 🍫 Semi-sweet chocolate chips are added to the dough, combining bitter and sweet flavors.
• 🌾 Flour, baking soda, and salt are incorporated to create the cookie dough.
• 🥚 Whole eggs and vanilla extract from Madagascar are mixed into the dough for flavor.
• ⚙️ A machine called the former shapes the dough into round pieces, weighing 1.4 ounces each.
• ❄️ The cookie dough is flash-frozen using liquid nitrogen to ensure quality and safety.
• 🔍 A metal detector checks the frozen dough rounds for any metal particles as a safety measure.
• 📦 The packaging process is fully automated, from box erection to sealing and labeling.
• 🎁 Gift tins of cookies are baked in-house, with dough rounds carefully arranged for presentation.

Q & A

What year were chocolate chip cookies invented?

Chocolate chip cookies were invented in 1930 by an American innkeeper.

How did the invention of chocolate chip cookies come about?

The innkeeper ran out of baker's chocolate and improvised by breaking a semi-sweet chocolate bar into small pieces.

What is the first step in the industrial cookie-making process?

The first step is to mix white sugar, brown sugar, and butter in an industrial-sized mixer.

What type of chocolate is used in chocolate chip cookies?

Semi-sweet chocolate is used, which is a mixture of bitter and sweet chocolate.

What ingredients are added after the sugars and butter in the mixing process?

Flour, baking soda, salt, whole eggs, and vanilla are added next.

What is the purpose of using baking soda in the cookie dough?

Baking soda helps the dough rise during baking.

How does the factory ensure the safety of the cookie dough?

The dough rounds pass under a metal detector to ensure they don't contain any metal particles.

What method is used to freeze the dough rounds?

The factory uses a freeze tunnel with liquid nitrogen to freeze the dough rounds quickly.

How long do the cookies bake and at what temperature?

The cookies bake for seven minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

What quality control measures are taken during cookie production?

A quality control tester measures the diameter and height of the cookies to ensure consistency in size and chip content.

How are gift tins of cookies prepared for shipping?

The bottom of the gift tin is lined with a decorative cellophane bag, and the correct number of fresh cookies is layered inside before sealing.