Minnesota Mom Shares “Pan Banging” Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Can you guess what America’s favorite cookie is? There are a heck of a lot of yummy options out there, from peanut butter to oatmeal raisin to those simple, yet oh-so-classic sugar cookies, but the one that has the highest vote is none other than the chocolate chip cookie.

Not so surprising, once you think about it. But, what IS surprising is the fact that one suburban Minnesota mom has actually been able to put a twist on these dessert staples. In fact, her unusual-looking chocolate chip cookies have caused such a big stir on social media that international news agencies are even starting to take notice.

Amateur baker Sarah Kieffer tells new station WCCO that she has been “banging pans since high school.” Yep, sounds a little bit off, but once you get a load of her distinct chocolate chip cookies, her unusual motto will begin to make more sense.

You see, Kieffer has found a way to revolutionize—and dare we say, improve upon—what is perhaps the most delectably simple dessert of all time. No, she hasn’t come up with a secret ingredient or a more potent chocolatey flavor, her special cookies have everything to do with their shape.

But we won’t get too far ahead of ourselves just yet. Let’s start at the beginning…

When the Twin Cities native was first learning how to bake back in high school, she was on a mission to produce a batch of chocolate chip cookies that had that sought-after perfect balance between “ooey-gooey” and “super crunchy.” (Anyone who has so much dipped their little toe into the practice of baking knows that this is a hard thing to achieve!)

That being said, Kieffer actually managed to find a way to succeed in her mission—and she did so by making a fair bit of noise. The home baker realized that if she gently, yet firmly dropped the metal sheet in the oven several times as the cookies were baking, the force would alter the dessert’s texture.

So, with a couple “bangs” of the pan, #panbanging chocolate chip cookies were born. Now, we’re well aware that most chocolate chip cookies recipes don’t come equipped with a hashtag, but Kieffer’s are just so unique that they have earned one!

As a matter of fact, since the home baker first posted her special cookie-making technique online, she has become somewhat of a celebrity in the baking world. She has a whopping 118,000 followers on Instagram and has her own cookbook on the shelves. Kieffer even managed to attract the attention of The New York Times. How impressive is that?!

We, for one, can’t wait to try out these chocolate chip wonders for ourselves! To see how Kieffer makes her Instagram-famous chocolate chip cookies, be sure to watch the video below.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on these “loud” chocolate chip cookies. Have you ever made cookies this way before? If so, do you think they taste any different? Do you have a special chocolate chip cookie recipe that you would like to share?