Super Versatile Chewy Cookies Recipe

I made this recipe twice, once with smarties, and once with chocolate chips, but you could add pretty much anything! Its really versatile, and they are gorgeous and chewy!

Ingredients
100g softened butter or margerine
100g light brown soft sugar
1 tbsp golden syrup
150g self raising flour
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
50-60g your chosen ingredients, here's a few ideas to try...

• 50g dark chocolate chips and the zest of 1/2 an orange
• 30g chopped macadamia nuts and 30g white chocolate chips
• Replace the golden syrup with the same amount of honey and add a crushed crunchie bar
• 30g fudge pieces 30g milk chocolate chips
• 30g chopped pistachios and 30g dried cranberries
• 30g white chocolate chips and 30g dried cranberries

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170C fan.

2. Beat or whisk together the butter, sugar, syrup and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.

3. Add the flour and stir until combined. 

4. Add in your chosen ingredients and mix until well distributed.
Holly's Hints- If you want some of the added ingredients to be visible on the top of your cookies after they are baked, keep some back at this stage then press them gently into the top of the balls once they are on the baking trays later.

5. With your hands, roll the mixture into little balls, about ping pong ball sized, and spread out well on two greased baking trays. it should make around 12-15 cookies.

6. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes until very pale golden. They will look a little puffed up and not completely cooked at this stage but do not be tempted to leave them or they will loose their chewy goodness. They will flatten a little and continue to cook on the tray after you have removed them from the oven. 

7. Leave to cool a little on the tray for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

8. Chow down!!!