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🏡 The Heart Behind the Home: Why Community Matters More Than the Perfect House
🏡 The Heart Behind the Home: Why Community Matters More Than the Perfect House
By Samantha @Chickens.Cookies.Closings
Let’s have a little heart-to-heart, neighbor. You know that perfect dream house—the one with the marble countertops, HGTV-approved shiplap, and a pantry that could double as a yoga studio? Yeah, it’s cute. But do you know what matters even more than matching tile and open shelving?
Community.
That’s right. Real, raw, cheer-you-on-while-you-chase-your-chickens kind of community.
The Soul of a Home Isn’t in the Square Footage
Sure, as a real estate agent, I technically sell houses. But what I really do? I help people find their place—their people. Because what good is a walk-in closet if you have no one to invite over for cookies and closet admiration?
Your dream home might come with a hot tub and a bidet (fancy, right?), but it’s the neighbors who show up with soup when you’ve caught the flu—or fresh eggs when your hens are on strike—that make it home.
You Can’t Bake Banana Bread With Bluetooth
Okay, you can, but it won’t taste like Grandma’s.
Give me a street where people wave from their porches, drop off zucchini when they’re drowning in garden bounty, and tell your kid he’s doing a great job on his lemonade stand—even if he added way too much lemon.
That’s the real luxury right there.
Spoiler alert: it doesn’t come with granite counters.
Let’s Build Something Real (And Maybe a Chicken Coop, Too)
At Chickens Cookies Closings, I’m not just here to unlock doors—I’m here to help you plant roots. Whether you’re looking for a big backyard for your kids (or your flock—hey Felicia!) or a cozy spot to host cookie swaps and potlucks, I believe in finding a home where life is lived, not just staged.
And listen, if your idea of the perfect community includes bake sales, bonfires, and borrowing sugar at 9pm (no judgment if you show up in pajamas), you’re my kind of people.
So, What’s the Secret to a Happy Home?
It’s not vaulted ceilings. It’s not the Pinterest-perfect mudroom.
It’s connection.
It’s belonging.
It’s knowing your neighbor’s dog’s name and their favorite pie flavor.
It’s real, messy, beautiful community—and that’s something you can’t buy with a mortgage.
So, whether you’re house-hunting, chicken-wrangling, or just trying to make it through the week without burning the banana bread (again), remember this:
You bring the heart. I’ll help you find the house.
And if you’re lucky? Maybe you’ll even get a Silkie or two in the deal.
Let’s build something beautiful, together.
🏡❤️🐔
– Samantha
@ Chickens.Cookies.Closings
☀️ Summer Is Heating Up—and So Is the Real Estate Market!
Hey there, friends! It’s your favorite apron-wearing, chicken-chasing, cookie-baking, house-hunting gal, Samantha from Chickens, Cookies & Closings—and I’ve got some hot news fresh out of the real estate oven! Just like my sourdough starter and Betty the Ameraucana, the market is waking up and ready to move. 🐓🍪🏡
Let’s crack into what’s happening—and how YOU can take advantage of the sunshine and sales.
📈 Real Talk: The Market’s Got Its Mojo Back
After a few sleepy seasons, 2025 is finally serving up some sizzle. National home sales are projected to increase by 3.3% this year, hitting 4.2 million homes sold, according to Zillow. That’s a clear sign buyers and sellers are back in the game, and the field is looking a whole lot more balanced.
Bonus: Home price growth is cooling just enough to be less intimidating—hovering at 3.3% growth year-over-year, which is right around inflation. Translation? This is not 2021 madness. It’s calmer, more strategic, and way more doable for regular folks.
🏡 Inventory Is Finally on the Rise
For all of you buyers who’ve been haunting Zillow like it’s Netflix for houses, I’ve got some sweet news: Inventory is ticking up!
NPR recently noted that more homes are hitting the market this spring than we’ve seen in recent years. More listings mean more options—especially if you’ve been dreaming of that backyard garden or extra room for homeschool (or, you know, a Silkie coop extension… just saying).
💸 Mortgage Rates: Holding Steady (for Now)
Okay, deep breath—yes, mortgage rates are still a thing. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Experts predict we’ll end the year around 6.4%, which is higher than we’d love but still manageable—especially with a savvy realtor by your side who knows how to negotiate like a mama hen protecting her chicks.
Higher rates also mean sellers are finally starting to list before the next fluctuation, giving buyers more choices and slightly more wiggle room on prices. (Yes, you can still find gems!)
🌴 California Dreamin’: Golden State Trends
For my fellow Californians: It’s looking bright and breezy here, too. The California Association of Realtors expects home sales and median prices to rise, possibly hitting a jaw-dropping $909,400 median this year. Yowza. But don’t panic—there are still pockets of affordability if you know where to look (hint: I do).
🌟 What It Means for You (And Why Summer Is the Sweet Spot)
This summer is shaping up to be the real estate equivalent of a county fair: full of options, great deals, and just the right kind of chaos. Whether you’re thinking of:
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Upsizing for more space (or kids… or chickens)
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Downsizing to simplify
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Finally dipping a toe into the market as a first-time buyer…
Now is the time to make your move. More homes, less competition, and rates that haven’t gone totally haywire yet.
💬 Let’s Make Your Move Together
As your local real estate agent, home-baked treat enthusiast, and your new bestie in the biz, I’m here to help you navigate it all—without the fluff (unless we’re talking marshmallow).
Let’s talk strategy, timing, and what works best for your family, your budget, and your dreams. Schedule a chat with me today and let’s hatch a plan.
The summer market is warming up, and so is your opportunity—let’s make it happen, friend.
With sunshine & sprinkles,
Samantha
Chickens, Cookies & Closings 🐓🍪🏡
909-301-1107
samsellsdreams@gmail.com
Incubator Update: Not the Ending We Hoped For, But Not the End of the Story
Hey friends,
I wanted to give y’all an update on the eggs we had incubating over the last few weeks. As you know, we were so excited about the possibility of adding some fluffy little additions to our flock. We watched the calendar like hawks, counted down the days, and held our breath in those final hours… but sadly, this time around, none of the chicks hatched.
It’s a tough one to share. We had high hopes and eager hearts, and when those eggs didn’t make it, it stung a little more than I expected. There’s something about preparing for new life—especially when you’ve poured time, care, and love into the process—that makes the loss feel personal.
But here’s the thing: homesteading, like life, is full of lessons. Sometimes you win fluffballs, and sometimes you gain wisdom.
We’ve already started digging into what might’ve gone wrong—whether it was temperature, humidity, or maybe something else entirely. There’s always something to learn, and we’re determined to get better, smarter, and stronger for the next hatch. Because you better believe there will be a next hatch. (Felicia might even be giving us the side-eye, like, “You should’ve let the pro handle it.”)
So while there’s no peeping in the brooder this time, there is growth happening—just in a different way. And we’re holding on to hope, armed with new knowledge, and already planning our next round.
Thanks for following along on this journey with us. If you’ve ever had a less-than-successful hatch and have any advice or encouragement, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s learn and grow together, one egg at a time. 💛
Stay sunny-side up,
Samantha
🐔 Chickens, Cookies, Closings
The Ultimate Family Favorite: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
The Ultimate Family Favorite: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
There’s something magical about a homemade chicken pot pie—golden, flaky crust, a creamy filling packed with tender chicken and veggies, and just enough savory goodness to make your whole family feel like they’ve been wrapped in a warm hug. As a mom, I love making it because not only is it a delicious and comforting meal, but it’s also a family favorite. In fact, it’s requested so often around here that I think my son might start thinking chicken pot pie is its own food group!
It’s one of those meals that brings everyone together, whether it’s for a cozy dinner or when we’re gathering around the table to celebrate another successful real estate closing (yep, I’m mixing business and pleasure here!). And, let’s be honest—there’s something so satisfying about the whole process. Mixing dough, sautéing veggies, and layering it all together—it’s like a cozy cooking therapy session that ends with a show-stopping dish everyone’s going to devour.
But beyond just being a hearty meal, chicken pot pie holds a special place in our hearts. It’s a reminder of all those simple, home-cooked moments that bring joy to our chaotic, busy days. Whether I’m prepping it for a family dinner or serving it to guests who can’t get enough, it’s always a crowd-pleaser. It’s also a great way to sneak in extra veggies (shh, don’t tell the kids) and it’s versatile enough to work with leftover chicken, so nothing goes to waste.
Honestly, every time I bake one, I’m reminded of my love for making things from scratch—whether it’s this pot pie or a batch of fresh-baked cookies (which are also regularly requested around here, just in case you were wondering). There’s something about that homemade touch that makes everything taste better and feel just a little bit more special.
So if you’re ever looking to impress your family, surprise a neighbor, or just treat yourself to a delicious meal that’s sure to bring smiles, chicken pot pie is your go-to! And don’t forget—if you’re curious about how I put it all together, I’ve got a recipe for that too (because I can’t keep all this goodness to myself). Trust me, it’s a dish that will make you feel like a kitchen superstar, no matter what level you’re cooking at!
Ready to get cooking? Let’s do it!
Ingredients
- 1 homemade pie crust, (2 round)
- 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded*
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, (1 cup chopped)
- 2 medium carrots, (1 cup) thinly sliced
- 8 oz white or brown mushrooms, (stems discarded), sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tsp fine sea salt, or to taste, plus kosher salt to garnish
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, plus more to garnish
- 1 cup frozen peas, do not thaw
- 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped, plus more to garnish
- 1 egg, beaten for egg wash
Instructions
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In a dutch oven or pot, melt 6 Tbsp butter. Add diced onions and carrots and saute 8 minutes over medium heat until soft.
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Add sliced mushrooms and minced garlic and saute another 5 minutes until mushrooms are softened.
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Add ⅓ cup flour and stir constantly for 2 minutes. Add chicken stock, and ½ cup heavy cream then bring to a simmer and cook 1 minute or until mixture is a thick gravy consistency. Add 2 tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, or season to taste. It should be well-seasoned.
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Add shredded cooked chicken, frozen peas, and ¼ cup parsley. Stir to combine then remove from heat and cool slightly while you roll out the crusts. Roll 1 chilled pie crust disk into a 12” diameter circle. Carefully transfer it into a deep 9” pie dish. Spoon the pie filling over the bottom crust.
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Roll the second disk of pie dough into a 10” diameter circle and place over the pie filling. Fold the excess dough behind the bottom crust then crimp the pie crusts together to seal. Use a sharp paring knife to cut 5 small slits in the top to allow steam to escape. Brush the top of the crust with the beaten egg and sprinkle lightly with coarse salt and pepper.
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Bake at 425°F for 30-35 minutes or until top crust is golden brown. If edges are browning too fast, cover with a pie shield or make a shield by cutting a 4” diameter circle from the center of a sheet of foil and placing that over the pie. Once out of the oven, rest for 15 minutes to cool slightly before slicing.
Variations:
- Veggies – Dice the veggies into even-sized pieces. Try green beans, celery, corn, broccoli, chopped potatoes (fork tender).
- Herbs – Thyme, oregano, chives
- Meat – Leftover roast turkey or baked ham are great options, especially after the holidays.
- Crust – While homemade is best, you can substitute with store-bought pie crust, or even store-bought puff pastry.
Prep Time: 20minutes
Say Hello, to the Chickens, Cookies & Closings – Community Kitchen!
Say Hello, to the Chickens, Cookies & Closings – Community Kitchen!
As a real estate agent, I’ve always believed that a house is more than just walls and a roof—it’s the people inside that make it a home. And what better place to bring people together than the kitchen? Whether it’s a fresh batch of cookies straight from the oven, a Sunday dinner that warms the soul, or a kitchen mishap that turns into a family story for years to come—our kitchens are the heart of our homes. That’s why I created the Chickens, Cookies & Closings – Community Kitchen Facebook group—a space where we can gather, learn, share, and build confidence in the kitchen together.
What’s This Group All About?
This community is for anyone who loves to bake, cook, or just wants to learn! Whether you’re a seasoned home chef or someone who still measures love in store-bought cookie dough, you belong here. My goal is to create a warm, welcoming space where we can:
- Swap favorite recipes—family treasures, quick weeknight meals, or those “made with love” dishes that never fail.
- Learn new skills and techniques, from sourdough starters to perfecting that flaky pie crust.
- Ask questions, share kitchen wins (and fails—because let’s be real, we’ve all had them!)
- Encourage and uplift each other to feel confident and capable in the kitchen.
- Connect as a community—not just through food, but through real, meaningful relationships.
Why Join?
This isn’t just a recipe group—it’s a community. My passion for real estate is rooted in helping people find a place to call home, and I believe that a strong community starts with shared experiences. This group is about more than just cooking; it’s about making real connections, inspiring each other, and sparking joy in our everyday lives. I’ll be sharing my favorite tried-and-true recipes, tips from my own kitchen adventures, and even some fun challenges to keep things interesting!
Let’s Do This Together!
I’d love for you to be part of this growing kitchen family. Click the link below to join the Chickens, Cookies & Closings – Community Kitchen on Facebook, and let’s get cooking, baking, and learning together. Bring your favorite recipes, your questions, and of course, your love for good food and great company!
Join the Community Kitchen Here!
Can’t wait to see you there!
Sam
Balancing Homeschooling, Homesteading, and Real Estate: A Day in the Life
Balancing Homeschooling, Homesteading, and Real Estate: A Day in the Life
Welcome to my world, where the cluck of chickens harmonizes with the rustle of property listings, and grammar lessons are squeezed between baking sessions and client calls. As a real estate professional, homeschooling mom, and dedicated chicken enthusiast, my days are a delicate dance of priorities. Here’s a glimpse into how I navigate this dynamic lifestyle, along with insights into the ever-changing real estate market and practical tips for keeping everything in balance.
Morning: Rise and Shine with the Roosters
The day begins at dawn, as the chickens demand their breakfast and the garden awaits its morning inspection. Tending to the homestead not only provides fresh produce and eggs but also instills a sense of responsibility and connection to nature with me and my son.
Mid-Morning: Homeschooling Adventures
With the homestead chores complete, we transition to schooling. The flexibility of homeschooling allows us to tailor lessons to my son’s interests, making learning both effective and enjoyable. Whether it’s a science experiment in the kitchen or a math lesson that involves calculating the area of our chicken coop, education is seamlessly integrated into our daily lives.
Afternoon: Real Estate Hustle
Post-lunch, it’s time to dive into the world of real estate. The current market is dynamic, with trends shifting rapidly. In areas like Riverside/San Bernardino/Ontario, California, mortgage-to-income ratios have reached 67.8%, indicating a highly competitive and overvalued market. Staying informed about these trends is crucial to provide clients with accurate guidance.
Balancing Act: Tips for Managing Multiple Roles
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Structured Flexibility: While having a schedule is essential, it’s equally important to remain adaptable. Unexpected client meetings or homestead emergencies can arise, so building buffer times into your day can help manage unforeseen events.
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Integrated Learning: Use real-life scenarios from homesteading and real estate to teach practical lessons. For instance, involving your child in budgeting for homestead projects or analyzing market trends can provide hands-on educational experiences.
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Community Support: Engage with local homeschooling groups and real estate networks. Sharing experiences and resources can offer new strategies and emotional support.
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Self-Care: Remember to carve out time for yourself. Balancing multiple roles can be taxing, and maintaining your well-being is vital for sustaining this lifestyle.
Evening: Reflection and Preparation
As the day winds down, we gather as a family to reflect on our accomplishments and plan for tomorrow. This time reinforces our bond and ensures that we are aligned in our goals and expectations.
Embracing the roles of a homeschooling parent, homesteader, and real estate professional is undoubtedly challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. By staying informed about market trends, integrating learning into daily activities, and maintaining a flexible yet structured approach, it’s possible to thrive in this multifaceted lifestyle. Remember, it’s not about achieving perfection but finding harmony in the chaos.
Homesteading & Self-Sufficiency: Raising Chickens, Gardening, and Preserving Food
In a world that often feels disconnected from the land, homesteading is a way to reclaim self-sufficiency, slow down, and reconnect with nature. Whether you’re raising backyard chickens, growing a thriving garden, or preserving food for the future, each step towards self-reliance is a rewarding journey. For me, homesteading has been a deeply personal adventure—one that fills my home with nourishment and my heart with joy. Let’s dive into the essentials of homesteading and how you can cultivate a lifestyle of sustainability and abundance.
Raising Chickens: The Gateway to Homesteading
Chickens are often called the “gateway animal” to homesteading—and for good reason! They provide fresh eggs, help with pest control, and add a touch of personality to any backyard. My own flock has become such an important part of my homestead, and every day I learn something new from them.
Getting Started with Chickens
- Choose the Right Breed: Whether you want high egg production (like Rhode Island Reds), friendly companions (like Silkies), or colorful eggs (like Ameraucanas), selecting the right breed for your needs is key.
- Coop and Run Setup: Chickens need a safe, predator-proof coop with plenty of ventilation and nesting boxes.
- Daily Care: Fresh food, clean water, and space to forage keep your flock healthy and happy.
Chickens not only provide food security, but their manure makes an excellent fertilizer for your garden—a perfect cycle of sustainability!
Gardening: Growing Your Own Food
A home garden is one of the most empowering ways to feed your family. Whether you have acres of land or just a few raised beds, growing your own produce brings unmatched satisfaction. Each year, I learn something new in the garden—whether it’s a better way to trellis my tomatoes or how to companion plant for natural pest control. The beauty of gardening is that you’re always learning while nourishing your family.
Tips for a Thriving Garden
- Start Small: If you’re new to gardening, begin with easy-to-grow crops like tomatoes, zucchini, and lettuce.
- Build Healthy Soil: Composting kitchen scraps, using mulch, and rotating crops can improve soil fertility.
- Plan for Year-Round Harvests: Grow cool-season crops (like kale and carrots) in the fall and warm-season crops (like peppers and cucumbers) in the summer.
Nothing beats the taste of a sun-ripened tomato or the crunch of a fresh cucumber straight from your backyard!
Preserving the Harvest: Food Security for All Seasons
Growing food is only half the battle—learning to preserve it ensures you can enjoy your harvest all year long. Over the years, I’ve canned spaghetti sauce, four kinds of jam, and applesauce. More recently, I started dehydrating food and making my own garlic and onion powders. The feeling of opening a jar of home-canned goodness or seasoning a meal with herbs I dried myself is pure satisfaction!
Popular Food Preservation Methods
- Canning: Water bath canning is great for high-acid foods like jams and tomatoes, while pressure canning is essential for low-acid foods like meats and beans.
- Freezing: Many fruits and vegetables freeze well, making for quick and easy meal prep.
- Dehydrating: Great for herbs, fruits, and even making your own jerky. Homemade garlic and onion powders have been a game-changer in my kitchen!
- Fermenting: Sauerkraut, pickles, and homemade yogurt are probiotic-rich foods that enhance gut health.
Preserving food not only cuts down on waste but also gives you a pantry full of homegrown goodness, free of preservatives and additives.
The Homesteading Mindset
Homesteading is more than just a collection of skills—it’s a mindset of resourcefulness, patience, and learning from nature. Whether you live on a rural farm or in a suburban backyard, every small step you take toward self-sufficiency is a victory.
For me, this journey is about more than just growing food—it’s about building a lifestyle where my family is nourished, my hands stay busy, and my heart stays full. Embrace the process, celebrate the harvest, and enjoy the deep satisfaction of knowing where your food comes from. Homesteading isn’t just about survival—it’s about thriving in harmony with the land.
What part of homesteading excites you the most? Share your journey in the comments!
Baking From Scratch: Building an Ingredient Household
In a world where convenience reigns supreme, it’s easy to rely on pre-packaged foods and ready-made meals. But what if we took a step back—way back—to a time when our kitchens were stocked with ingredients, not products? That’s the journey my family is on, and let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer.
Why Switch to an Ingredient Household?
An “ingredient household” is exactly what it sounds like—a home stocked with raw, whole ingredients instead of processed, store-bought versions. Instead of grabbing a box of pancake mix, we reach for flour, eggs, and milk. Instead of buying a frozen pizza, we make our own dough, sauce, and toppings.
Why? Because the closer our food is to its original form, the healthier it is. Processed foods are packed with preservatives, artificial flavors, and unnecessary sugars that our bodies don’t need. By making our meals from scratch, we eliminate those mystery ingredients and take control of what goes into our food.
Not only is homemade food healthier, but it’s also cheaper in the long run. A bag of flour, a jar of honey, and a dozen eggs go a lot further than a package of store-bought cookies or a frozen dinner. And let’s not forget the taste—once you’ve had homemade bread fresh from the oven, you’ll never want to go back to the store-bought kind.
Teaching the Next Generation: Cooking with a Young Child
Now, I won’t lie—baking from scratch while wrangling a 5-year-old is an adventure. There’s flour on the floor, eggshells in the dough, and more taste-testing than actual mixing some days. But this process is so important for him to learn.
I want my son to grow up knowing how to feed himself without relying on a grocery store full of pre-packaged meals. I want him to understand where food comes from, how it’s made, and why real ingredients matter. Right now, making cookies together might just seem like fun, but it’s teaching him lifelong skills.
And let’s be real—kids LOVE to help in the kitchen. Stirring batter, kneading dough, cracking eggs (even if we lose a few to the floor)—it all makes them feel capable and involved. Plus, when they help make the food, they’re way more likely to eat it. Picky eater? Let them help bake the bread, and suddenly, it’s the best thing ever.
Breaking the Grocery Store Dependence
One of the biggest motivations for making this switch is self-sufficiency. The more we rely on whole ingredients, the less we’re at the mercy of grocery stores, supply chain issues, and rising food prices. When you can make your own bread, yogurt, or even butter, those empty store shelves don’t seem so scary.
We also focus on growing our own food as much as possible—fresh eggs from our chickens, veggies from the garden, herbs from the windowsill. It all adds up to a more independent way of living. And while we’re not completely off-grid (yet!), every step toward self-sufficiency feels like a win.
Getting Started with Scratch Baking
If the idea of making everything from scratch sounds overwhelming, start small. Here are a few easy swaps:
- Bread: A simple no-knead bread recipe can replace store-bought loaves.
- Pancakes & Waffles: Ditch the boxed mix and make your own with just flour, baking powder, eggs, milk, and a pinch of salt.
- Cookies & Muffins: Homemade versions use real butter, real sugar, and none of the artificial junk.
- Pizza Dough: Flour, water, yeast, salt, and a little patience = homemade pizza night!
- Broths & Stocks: Instead of buying cartons, save veggie scraps and bones to make your own flavorful stock.
Each little change adds up, and before you know it, your kitchen is filled with ingredients instead of boxes.
The Heart of the Home
Baking from scratch isn’t just about food—it’s about connection. It’s about slowing down, embracing the mess, and creating something with love. It’s about teaching our kids that food doesn’t just come from a package, but from our hands, our farms, and our effort.
So, if you’re thinking about making the switch to an ingredient household, start today. Grab some flour, roll up your sleeves, and get baking. You won’t regret it—and neither will your taste buds.
Hatching Chicks for the First Time: A Journey with Felicia!
If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be hovering over a broody little Silkie hen, excitedly checking on a clutch of eggs, I might have laughed. But here we are—our sweet Silkie girl, Felicia, is sitting on eight precious eggs, and the excitement in our home is through the roof!
The Magic of a Broody Hen
Felicia has taken her motherly duties very seriously. From the moment she decided to go broody, she’s been tucked in her nesting box, only leaving briefly to eat, drink, and stretch her little feathery legs. It’s fascinating how instinct kicks in, and she just knows what to do! Watching her fluff up and protect her eggs with all the determination of a much larger bird is both adorable and awe-inspiring.
Candling: The Window to Life
One of the most exciting parts of this journey has been candling the eggs. If you’ve never candled eggs before, it’s an experience like no other! About a week into incubation, we took a small flashlight, gently lifted each egg (while Felicia gave us the stink eye), and shined the light through the shell. And guess what? We saw veins! Tiny little spider-like veins forming inside the eggs, a sure sign that new life is developing inside.
By day 14, we could see little movements—tiny chicks wiggling inside their shells! The amazement on my little one's face as we watched the eggs glow and reveal their hidden world was priceless. Raising chickens alongside a child makes the experience even more magical. It’s hands-on learning at its best, teaching patience, responsibility, and the wonder of nature.
Counting Down to Hatch Day
Now, we’re in the final stretch! In just a little over a week, we should hear tiny peeps coming from inside the eggs as the chicks prepare to hatch. We’re making sure Felicia has everything she needs—fresh food, water, and a cozy, quiet space to do her job. It’s nerve-wracking and exciting all at once!
Hatching chicks for the first time is such an incredible journey, and I love that our little one gets to be part of it. The joy of witnessing new life, learning about the delicate balance of nature, and experiencing the patience and care involved in raising baby chicks is something we’ll never forget.
Stay tuned—soon, we’ll (hopefully) have eight fluffy new additions to our flock! Have you ever hatched chicks before? I’d love to hear your experiences!
The Softest Brown Butter Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you're looking for the softest, chewiest, most flavor-packed chocolate chip cookie, look no further. These Brown Butter Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies are a game changer! The nuttiness of brown butter, the slight tang of sourdough discard, and pools of melty chocolate create the ultimate cookie experience. If you've been searching for the perfect balance of soft and chewy, this recipe will not disappoint!
Why You’ll Love These Cookies
- Soft and Chewy – Thanks to the combination of sourdough discard and cornstarch, these cookies stay incredibly tender.
- Brown Butter Magic – The toasty, nutty depth of brown butter elevates the flavor to another level.
- No Waste Baking – A fantastic way to use up extra sourdough discard.
- Rich and Complex Flavor – The fermentation in the discard adds a slight tang that perfectly complements the sweetness of the cookie.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, browned and cooled
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
- ½ cup sourdough discard (unfed)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- Flaky sea salt (for topping, optional but recommended)
How to Make the Softest Sourdough Cookies
1. Brown the Butter
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, swirling occasionally. It will foam, then begin to develop a golden brown color and nutty aroma. Remove from heat and let cool for about 10 minutes.
2. Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and browned butter until combined. Add the egg, egg yolk, sourdough discard, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually add this to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
4. Add the Chocolate
Fold in the chocolate chips or chopped chocolate until evenly distributed.
5. Chill the Dough
Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours (or up to 24 hours). Chilling is key to developing deep flavors and keeping the cookies thick and soft.
6. Bake to Perfection
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop dough balls (about 2 tablespoons each) and place them 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are just golden but the centers are still soft.
7. Finishing Touches
As soon as they come out of the oven, sprinkle flaky sea salt on top for a gourmet touch. Let them cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Tips for the Best Cookies
- Don’t skip the chilling time! This helps develop flavor and prevents spreading.
- Use chopped chocolate for pools of melty goodness instead of just chips.
- Weigh your ingredients if possible for accuracy.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a week – but let’s be real, they won’t last that long!
The Final Verdict
These Brown Butter Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies are hands-down some of the softest, most flavorful cookies you’ll ever make. The brown butter and sourdough discard create an irresistible depth of flavor, while the chewy texture keeps you coming back for more. Perfect for using up sourdough discard or just treating yourself to the ultimate cookie experience!
Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think! Happy baking!
