Lecture Notes: How Chocolate Chip Cookies Are Made in a Factory

Introduction

• The legend of chocolate chip cookies' invention:
  • Invented in 1930 by an American innkeeper.
  • Used a semi-sweet chocolate bar, which didn't melt but dotted the cookie with chocolate chips.

Factory Production Process

• Factory vs. Homemade:
  • Though they taste homemade, these cookies are produced in a factory.

Ingredients and Mixing

• Ingredients:
  • Edible detergent (used for machinery cleaning).
  • Brown sugar.
  • Industrial-sized butter, varying in shape for different cookie types (cube, sphere, pyramid).
  • Chocolate chips (secret ingredient).
  • Flour (three types: regular, ground, powdered).
  • Beaten whole eggs and vanilla beans from Madagascar, New Jersey.
• Mixing Process:
  • Ingredients are pulverized thoroughly.
  • Mixing continues until dough resembles cookie dough.

Forming and Freezing

• Forming:
  • Dough transferred to a machine called a "former"; originally a chick crushing machine.
  • Forms dough into small rounds.
• Freezing:
  • Flash frozen in a freeze tunnel for distribution.
  • Adds an extra addictive ingredient.

Packaging and Distribution

• Conveyor Belt:
  • Cookies proceed on a conveyor belt.
  • Packaging is automated and skipped in the video.
• Weighing and Sealing:
  • Cookies are weighed and divided into portions.
  • Packaged in boxes for shipping.
• Online Sales:
  • Sold online as gifts; potential staleness due to postal delays.

Baking and Quality Control

• Baking:
  • Dough rounds are baked, doubling in diameter.
  • They rotate during baking.
• Quality Control:
  • Conducted to ensure cookies are chocolate chip cookies.

Final Production Steps

• Gift Area:
  • Cookies lined in decorative tins.
  • Ensures a homemade appearance despite factory setting.

Conclusion

• The process allows for the gift of homemade chocolate chip cookies without actual home baking.