Updated April 1, 2023

I love doing baking projects with my favorite little people, my grandkids, who are truly the best kitchen helpers. Last year, my youngest grandson, Joe, now 6, joined me for some Mémé time to try out the favorite “Mrs. Fields” chocolate cookie recipe from my side of the family. Being the week before Easter, we used pastel-colored candies to make the cookies more festive.

That started a new tradition. So, when the opportunity arouse that all three grandkids joined me in the kitchen, we made the Easter candy version of these decadent cookies again. This year, Matteo, 6, arrived first to help Mémé make the dough. We decided that everyone should have their own bowl of dough to customize their cookies by choosing their own mix-ins. Lily, 9, pictured on top of the blog, helps with transferring fresh-out-of-oven cookies to cooking racks.

Ironically, a recipe that started with my own Mémé, I’m now enjoying with my own grandkids decades later. Even more, there’s an interesting backstory that goes with this recipe beside that it’s a family favorite.

The Mrs. Fields Recipe Story

I believe my grandmother had come across this recipe from a colleague when she was still working as an elementary school teacher. According to my research, it was actually a recipe chain letter from around 1987. In fact, the famous chocolate chip recipe by Mrs. Fields was never sold and remains a trade secret to this day. Honestly, though, it really doesn’t matter. Like the old proverb says, the proof of the pudding is in the eating!

Collection of Her Recipes

My mother understood the importance of my grandmother’s recipes and came to me to help her put a book together. It’s a collection that helps us carry on some of my grandmother’s legacy with her favorite recipes, family photos and other personal artifacts.

In the introduction of the book, my mother shared: “Can’t you just see her eating a new dish or dessert and saying, ‘This is delicious. What’s in it?’ And the next thing, either Mémé or you are jotting down yet another recipe to add to her vast collection.”

To retain the integrity of the recipes, my mother insisted we make copies, so they’d be as close to their original state to intentionally show jotted-down notes and wear and tear from frequent use. Many are handwritten and go as far back as my great-grandfather.

The Secret Ingredient

This cookie recipe, which has a special ingredient compared to traditional tollhouse-style chocolate chip cookies, has become my sister Kathy’s signature recipe. She bakes it for all occasions and shares the cookies as special treats for gifts over the holidays. She also likes experimenting with different mix-ins. Obviously, the grandkids and I thieved this idea!

So, what is the special ingredient? It’s raw oatmeal that’s pulverized and blended with the dry ingredients. This makes the cookie have a slight oat flavor and chewiness not found with a traditional tollhouse cookie.

I grew up making a Betty Crocker tollhouse-style chocolate chip cookie, which is still one of my favs; but over the years, it has taken second-place to our Mrs. Fields’ recipe in family circles. So, I don’t make the tollhouse cookies as often.

COOKING WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER: See Must-Have Irish Soda Bread post with Lily assisting in the kitchen!

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