I love to bake, and cookies are always fun. I came up with this recipe some time ago, and it never fails to please! As a warm-up to the Christmas in July event, here is a recipe for your Holiday Cookie Exchange. The combination of dark chocolate, sweet vanilla and tart blueberry blend very well in a tender cookie that is both crispy on the outside and soft inside. I call them my fantasy cookies because they will make you think you are in another world.
As usual, I start by gathering ingredients. Note that the chocolate chips are dark chocolate, not semi-sweet. I like to use Ghiradelli when I can find them but the Nestle brand is pretty good. The vanilla chips are only available in Hersheys. The other brands are called simply “white baking chips” or white chocolate, and they aren’t vanilla flavor. You need the vanilla flavor chips. You’ll only use half of the chips in the package, so you can make two batches. Blueberries are dried, in a 4 ounce package. If you buy in bulk, it is about 3/4 cup. A little more or less in chips or blueberries won’t matter.
Mix flour, soda and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Cream shortening and sugars until light and fluffy.
Add vanilla and eggs and beat on medium speed until mixed well.
Add 1/2 the flour mixture, and mix on low speed until fully incorporated. I spoon it in while the mixer runs on the low speed. Don’t over-mix. Add the rest of the flour and stir by hand until incorporated.
Add the chips and blueberries and fold until well distributed.
Using a 2-tablespoon scoop, scoop 12 cookies onto an insulated baking sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned and puffed.
Remove from oven and allow to cool five minutes on baking sheet. They will collapse, that’s OK.
Transfer to a rack to finish cooling.
Allow the baking sheet to cool a bit before scooping the next batch of cookies onto it. I use two sheets so one can be cooling while the other is baking. After I take one sheet of cookies out of the oven, I begin scooping the other sheet.
Try not to eat too many yourself before serving them, LOL!! Not an easy task I guarantee!!
When packing them into plastic containers, I put wax paper between the layers so the cookies don’t stick together.
Some cooling, some packed, and a few on a plate, cookie anyone?
I have to tell you that eating these while they are still warm is just dreamy! Was that a unicorn that just walked by?
Carole’s Fantasy Cookies
2-1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter flavor shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 large eggs
1 cup dark chocolate chips (about half the package)
1 cup vanilla chips (about half the package)
4 oz package dried blueberries (about 3/4 cup)
Mix flour, soda and salt in a bowl and set aside. Cream shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs and beat on medium speed until mixed well. Add 1/2 the flour mixture, and mix on low speed until fully incorporated. Don’t over-mix. Add the rest of the flour and stir by hand until incorporated. Add the chips and blueberries and fold until well distributed. Using a 2-tablespoon scoop, scoop 12 cookies onto an insulated baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned and puffed. Remove from oven and allow to cool five minutes on baking sheet before transferring to a rack to finish cooling. Allow the baking sheet to cool a bit before scooping the next batch of cookies onto it. Yield about 42 cookies.
Printable download – Carole’s Fantasy Cookies
What is your favorite cookie? Do you ever do a cookie exchange?
From My Carolina Home 
Sooo tempting!
Looks yummy….I would have never thought of adding the blueberries.
I am a cookie monster, LOL! I LOVE to bake cookies! Have you ever tried fresh blueberries in this recipe? It sure sounds good!!
OH YUMMY
These cookies are incredible.
Many years ago, we went college shopping. We went to James Madison University (off of I-81) for a formal tour gathering….
It was an okay college, My daughters were waaaay to smart for this college, but it was a nice drive.
So, we went to the cafeteria for our free meal (hahaha) and they had these cookies, much like yours, but with cranberries too!!
I think my daughter and I ate, right there in the cafeteria, about 100 each. Then, we snatched about 10 more, wrapped in paper towel. We were horrible thieves
This recipe is very good. I have made these. The dough freezes really well, so you can make the dough, stick in the fridge for about an hour, take out, make balls and put on a big plate and stick in the freezer.
Then, that evening…. after dinner, you can take them off of the plate and put in labeled zippie bags.
That way, you can make some, and not eat so many. Hubbs and I have a huge problem with — okay, just me. I have a huge problem with eating way too many. Unicorns indeedie
Now those do look so yummy!!! I’ve never used dried blueberries before and don’t know as if I’ve even seen them at the stores around here. I’ll have to look around.
Good Morning Carole! Your cookies sure look delicious! I have a few favorite cookie recipes, why choose one when we can make a different kind everyday? Just kidding. Oatmeal/Peanut Butter, my hubbies Snickerdoodles and then a recipe that tastes just like Reese’s. No, I have never had the opportunity to do a cookie exchange. It sounds like it would be fun though. Thank you for sharing your recipe and awesome post tutorial, I do believe a sampling would be in the making today. Have a fantastic creative day!
Looks wonderful! I will have to try this one.
Those look nice. I have a peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip recipe that’s addictive, friends love a date pinwheel cookie I make and there’s brownie cookie I love. Hard to pick just one!
My extended family (aunts, cousins) do a cookie swap in December. Always a lot of fun!
Sound yummy. Interesting to add blueberries to chocolate chip cookies. I bet they work really well together.
They do sound good. Will have to try
Thanks for the recipe……….I will make some for my Stashbusters group…..
The recipe sounds delicious, love the blueberry addition! Pam @ Everyday Living
Now those look really good. I’d be tempted to sub with dried cranberries….my favorite dried fruit!
Nancy
The perfect cookie for Christmas in July!
Jenna
Blueberries and chocolate, a winning combination. Will save this .
Oh my yum! All my favorites in one cookie. Thank you so much for joining the gathering at Thoughts of Home on Thursday.
Those cookies look so good. I rarely eat sweets I Do not like chocolate. But when I do eat sweets I love peanut butter cookies and Brendas husbands snikcerdoodles. I will save this recipe to share with my daughters. Have a great day.
Thanks for the recipe. I think I will make some to take to the family dinner. My second son always requests gingersnaps, but I will take these also. For many, many years my husband and I made cookie trays to distribute to neighbors on Christmas Eve. He loved going through December magazines looking for new recipes to try. Since he’s been gone I’ve only made the gingersnaps for Christmas but this year I’ll try your recipe in his memory. Thank you!