Baking Innovation: Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies Baked Right on Your Car’s Dashboard!
Get ready to rethink your summer baking routine! We’re diving into an incredibly fun and surprisingly effective method for making everyone’s favorite treat: chocolate chip cookies. But forget your conventional oven; these delectable cookies are baked right on the dashboard of your car, harnessing the power of the summer sun!
My “Baking Outside the Kitchen” series has truly ignited my culinary imagination. It’s been an exciting journey, constantly challenging me to discover new, creative ways to prepare treats without relying on traditional indoor appliances. With each new outdoor recipe, I strive for innovation and a fresh perspective on baking. I’m incredibly excited, and even a little bit giddy, to share this third installment with you—a true testament to the possibilities of unconventional cooking.
Imagine: warm, gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies, perfectly baked on the dashboard of your car on a scorching summer day. It sounds almost too good, or perhaps too outlandish, to be true, doesn’t it?
The Spark of Curiosity: Does Car Baking Really Work?
This intriguing concept has popped up in various places over the years, always sparking my curiosity. I’d seen photos and heard tales, but I always wondered if it genuinely worked, or if it was merely a clever gimmick. Last Sunday, when the outdoor temperature soared to a blistering near 100 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 38°C), I seized the opportunity to put this theory to the ultimate test. It was the perfect day to transform my car into a makeshift solar oven.
My first step was to gauge just how hot the interior of my car could get. I placed a reliable oven thermometer directly on the dash, parked my black car in full, unobstructed sunlight, and closed all the doors and windows. The results were astounding. After only about thirty minutes, the temperature inside my car had skyrocketed to an incredible almost 200 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 93°C)! This wasn’t quite conventional oven temperature, but it was certainly hot enough to suggest potential for slow baking.
Preparing for Dashboard Baking: The Cookie Dough Strategy
Next, it was time to prepare my cookie dough. For this unique baking environment, a few specific considerations were paramount. I opted to keep the mounds of dough on the smaller side, which allows for more even and thorough baking at lower temperatures. Crucially, I also chilled them in the refrigerator for a good while before taking them out to my car. This step is vital: starting with cold dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much as they slowly bake on the dashboard, ensuring they maintain a pleasing shape despite the prolonged heat exposure.
With the dough prepared, I carefully transferred the baking sheet directly onto my dashboard. To ensure it remained stable and didn’t slide around during the prolonged baking period, I strategically propped it up with a towel. Once everything was in place, I closed the car door, eager to begin the experiment. Knowing that cookies typically bake in a 375-degree Fahrenheit (190°C) oven, and my car was significantly cooler, I anticipated a much slower baking process. Patience, I knew, would be key.
The Waiting Game: Monitoring and Adapting to the Sun
The baking process truly was a test of patience and observation. I checked on the cookies about every 20 minutes, peeking through the car window to assess their progress without letting out too much precious heat. An interesting challenge arose partway through: the sun began to dip behind a nearby tree, threatening to reduce the crucial direct sunlight needed for baking. Thinking quickly, I moved my car to a new spot, ensuring it remained in full sun for the duration of the bake. This adaptability is essential for successful solar cooking.
The Big Reveal: The Unconventional Baked Good
After a full hour and a half, I declared the cookies officially done. This extended baking time, though different from conventional methods, yielded a truly unique result. Without the intense, dry heat of a typical oven, they didn’t develop that beautiful, deep caramel color that usually indicates a perfectly baked cookie. Instead, they maintained a lighter hue. However, a few gentle pokes confirmed their doneness: the edges were firm, and the centers were mostly set, indicating they were fully baked through. It worked!
Why You Should Try Dashboard Baking This Summer
While an hour and a half might seem like a long time to wait for a batch of cookies, the experience offers a unique charm and several compelling reasons to give it a try this summer:
- Surprisingly Delicious Results: Though they have a softer texture and lack the signature golden-brown hue of oven-baked cookies, these dashboard-baked treats are just as delicious. They offer a wonderfully chewy consistency and a rich, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate flavor. It’s a delightful surprise!
- Keep Your Kitchen Cool: On those sweltering summer days, the last thing you want is to turn on a hot oven and make your kitchen even hotter. Dashboard baking allows you to move all the heat outside, keeping your indoor spaces cool and comfortable.
- A Car That Smells Irresistible: As the cookies bake, your car will be filled with the most incredible aroma of warm vanilla and melting chocolate. This lingering, delightful scent will stay with your car for days, making every drive a little more pleasant. It’s truly a form of delicious aromatherapy!
- An Unforgettable, Fun Experience: Let’s be honest, baking cookies in your car is inherently fun! It’s an unusual, memorable activity that’s perfect for a lazy summer afternoon, a road trip adventure, or just a unique way to entertain kids (and adults!). It sparks conversation and brings a smile to everyone’s face.
- A Cool Science Experiment: For families, this can be an excellent hands-on lesson in the greenhouse effect and solar energy. Kids can observe the thermometer, understand how the sun’s rays heat the car, and see the baking process unfold, making it both educational and tasty.
- Minimal Energy Consumption: You’re literally harnessing free energy from the sun! While the primary motivation is often novelty, it’s also an energy-efficient way to bake, reducing your electricity bill on a hot day.
Tips for Successful Car Dashboard Baking
To ensure your dashboard cookie adventure is a success, keep these tips in mind:
- Choose the Hottest Day: The hotter and sunnier the day, the better. Aim for temperatures well over 90°F (32°C) with clear skies and direct sunlight.
- Park Smart: Position your car to get maximum, uninterrupted direct sunlight on the dashboard. A black or dark-colored car will absorb more heat and get hotter inside.
- Use a Thermometer: Always place an oven thermometer on your dash to monitor the internal temperature. Aim for at least 150°F (65°C), though higher is better.
- Seal the Car: Keep all windows tightly closed to trap heat effectively, creating that greenhouse effect.
- Chill Your Dough: Cold, small cookie dough balls are crucial to prevent excessive spreading and promote even baking at lower temperatures.
- Patience is a Virtue: Dashboard baking is a slow process. Don’t rush it. Check every 20-30 minutes and be prepared for it to take 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on conditions.
- Prop the Tray: Use towels or oven mitts to keep your baking sheet stable and level on the dashboard.
Important Safety Considerations for Dashboard Baking
While dashboard baking is a fun and novel experience, it’s essential to keep safety in mind, especially regarding food preparation and heat:
- Egg Safety: The internal temperature of a car may not consistently reach the recommended 165°F (74°C) needed to fully cook eggs and eliminate potential bacteria like Salmonella. If this is a concern, consider using pasteurized eggs for your cookie dough. Alternatively, you can use an egg substitute or be aware of the potential risks associated with undercooked eggs.
- Car Heat Safety: Remember that a car hot enough to bake cookies is dangerously hot for living beings. Never leave children or pets unattended in a hot car, even for a moment. The internal temperature can rise rapidly to lethal levels.
- Cleanliness: Ensure your dashboard and any surfaces that come into contact with food are clean and sanitized.
- Hot Surfaces: The baking sheet and dashboard will be extremely hot. Use oven mitts when handling the tray.
Also from my Baking Outside the Kitchen Series:
Bread on a Stick
Easy Dutch Oven CobblerHow to Bake on a Grill
Dashboard Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pin Recipe
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Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter , at room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
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Park your car in full sun on a very hot day and place an oven thermometer on the dashboard. The temperature in your car should reach at least 150°F (65°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
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In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars together on medium high speed until light and creamy, about 3-4 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and mix to combine. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix on low until just combined. Add the chocolate chips.
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Roll into rounded tablespoons and place on prepared baking sheet. Chill for thirty minutes.
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Place baking sheet inside your car on the dashboard, using towels or hot pads to prop it up and hold it in place. Close the car door and try to keep all doors closed as much as possible. Check on cookies every twenty minutes. When they look done, use your finger to test for doneness. Cookies should be firm on the edges and mostly firm in the middle. Baking time will vary between 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on car temperature and sun exposure.
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Cool on a wire rack before serving.
Notes
So, the next time a scorching hot summer day rolls around, don’t just complain about the heat—embrace it! Turn your car into a unique culinary adventure and bake a batch of these unforgettable dashboard chocolate chip cookies. It’s an experience that’s sure to leave you with warm memories (and warm cookies!) and a new appreciation for the simple pleasures of outdoor, unconventional baking. Happy baking, wherever the sun takes you!