Makesabout 6 1/2 dozen
                    
                
                
                    
                        
                            - Active time:30 min
 
                        
                            - Start to Finish:2 hr
 
                        
                    
                
             
            
            
                
                
                
    
      
          
          
          
              
              
              
          
          
          
          
          
              
              
              January 2007
            
          
          
      
  
                
                
            
            
            
                We were captivated by these perfect chocolate chip cookies—with a crisp yet yielding texture—and we dare anyone to detect that they weren’t made with traditional wheat flour.
Watch this Diary of a Foodie episode and view its accompanying recipes.  Plus, explore all episodes and more recipes from the show. 
            
            
            
            
            
                
                    
                    
                    
                        
                            
                            
                            
                                
                                    
                                        - 
                                            1
                                            cup
                                            vegetable shortening (preferably trans-fat-free) plus additional for greasing baking sheets
                                            
                                        
 
                                    
                                        - 
                                            2 cups plus 2
                                            tablespoons
                                            brown-rice flour mix
                                            
                                        
 
                                    
                                        - 
                                            1 1/2
                                            teaspoons
                                            baking soda
                                            
                                        
 
                                    
                                        - 
                                            1/2
                                            teaspoon
                                            salt
                                            
                                        
 
                                    
                                        - 
                                            1
                                            teaspoon
                                            xanthan gum
                                            
                                        
 
                                    
                                        - 
                                            1
                                            cup
                                            granulated sugar
                                            
                                        
 
                                    
                                        - 
                                            1/2
                                            cup
                                            packed brown sugar
                                            
                                        
 
                                    
                                        - 
                                            2
                                            
                                            large eggs
                                            
                                        
 
                                    
                                        - 
                                            1
                                            tablespoon
                                            vanilla
                                            
                                        
 
                                    
                                        - 
                                            12
                                            oz
                                            semisweet chocolate chips
                                            
                                        
 
                                    
                                        - 
                                            1
                                            cup
                                            finely chopped walnuts (optional)
                                            
                                        
 
                                    
                                
                            
                         
                    
                 
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
                
                    
                    
                    
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                
                                    
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Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease 2 large baking sheets.
                                         
                                    
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Whisk together flour mix, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum in a small bowl.
                                         
                                    
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Beat together shortening (1 cup) and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour mixture until just incorporated, then stir in chips and walnuts if using.
                                         
                                    
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Drop heaping teaspoons of dough 2 inches apart onto baking sheets.
                                         
                                    
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Bake, 1 sheet at a time, until golden, 9 to 15 minutes. Let stand 1 minute, then transfer cookies to a rack to cool and continue making cookies using cooled baking sheets.
                                         
                                    
                                
                             
                        
                    
                    Cooks’ note: Cooled cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature 1 week.