Chocolate chip cookies can get old. Thankfully, my best friend’s mom Betsy has the recipe to spice up the traditional treat — literally.
Betsy first discovered Sweet Dreams years ago while staying at a bed and breakfast in Montecito, Calif. As a guest, she experienced the perks of the inn’s nightly turndown service — fresh linens, fluffed down comforters, and these baked bits of heaven on her pillow.
She fell in love with the concept of these cookies and tweaked and perfected the recipe when she started her baking business, Desserts and Company, in 1985 in Tacoma, Wash. They were a favorite among customers and remain her family and friends’ top dessert pick today.
Sweet dreams are the perfect combination of sugar and spice and capture the traditional
texture and taste of chocolate chip cookies … with an added kick.
Whether she pulls them out of her own oven, or mine when she comes to visit, Betsy always scores points with these cookies. Somehow two dozen seem to vanish in an instant.
Aromatic, simple and delicious just the same, this recipe proves you don’t have to be asleep to have Sweet Dreams.
Ingredients:
1 c. unsalted butter (softened)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ½ c. brown sugar
¾ tsp. cinnamon
¾ tsp. ginger
1 tsp. baking soda
2 c. all-purpose flour
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)
1 c. powdered sugar 
Instructions:
In a bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until fully combined.
Add egg and vanilla to the mixture.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, ginger and baking soda.
Fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture and stir until combined. Do not over mix.
Add nuts and chocolate chips.
Chill dough for at least 30 minutes.Form dough into 1½-inch balls and roll in powdered sugar.
Place dough balls onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 11-12 minutes at 375º or until soft in the center and lightly golden in color.