Learn how to make Mercer’s legendary chocolate chip cookies

Students make their home away from home at Mercer University, and many of them get their meals from Mercer Dining. No meal is complete without a soft, fresh-baked “caf cookie” — a nickname lovingly bestowed by students. 

“The cookies are absolutely decadent, and I look forward to eating them every time I go to the Farm,” said Jacqueline Lamothe, a junior journalism major.

On the Macon campus, the Farmer’s Market (also know as “the Farm”) in the University Center and Fresh Food Company (also known as “the Caf”) in the Connell Student Center serve up chocolate chip, sugar, oatmeal raisin and M&M cookies. Together, these two dining locations make nearly 500 cookies daily, the majority of them chocolate chip. Over 65,000 cookies have been served this semester alone!

“The Farm’s cookies, especially their chocolate chip cookies, are delicious, and they are a nice treat when going to the Farmer’s Market,” said Taylor Porterfield, a junior computer science major.

Now, Mercer Dining is sharing its chocolate chip cookie recipe so Mercerians far and wide can make them at home. Check out our cooking demonstration video with Food Services Director Jarvis Napier and Executive Chef Jimmy Brown and get the full recipe below. 

And when you go to make your cookies, don’t forget the secret ingredient.

“These cookies right here are made with love,” Napier said.

Chocolate Chip ‘Caf Cookies’

Servings

12

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cook time

10

minutes

Calories

183

kcal

Ingredients

• 1 cup salted butter, softened

• 1 cup white (granulated) sugar

• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed

• 2 large eggs

• 2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon sea salt

• 2 cups chocolate chips or chunks

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
• Cream together butter and sugars until combined.
• Beat in eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• Add the dry ingredients to wet mixture until combined.
• Add chocolate chips and mix well.
• Roll 2-3 tbs (depending on how large you like your cookies) of dough at a time into balls and place them evenly spaced on your prepared cookie sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven for approximately 10-12 minutes. Take them out when they are just barely starting to turn brown.
• Let them sit on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before removing to cooling racks.