Last Updated on October 30, 2025 by Lisa Keys
These bourbon cookies with chocolate chips are thin and crispy. I call them my copycat Tate's chocolate chip cookies. The recipe is inspired by my son William's favorite spirited drink, Jack and Coke. Grief baking is a thing.
This post was first published October 21, 2013, but is now updated.
Cooking is a way of extending your heart
The news spread quickly, and food immediately began to arrive in enormous quantities. Neighbors promptly brought hot coffee and bagels. Local grocers personally delivered pans of baked ziti, along with large trays of deli meats and cheeses neatly rolled into packages. Decorative trays of salads, adorned with tomato roses, and steaming aluminum containers of chicken marsala soon followed. Next, beautiful edible fruit arrangements appeared, and even the florist joined in, showing up with an herb garden.
Food as Love
Finally, the UPS man made nearly daily visits over the next month, carrying countless boxes of cinnamon-scented coffee cakes, buttery bourbon cookies, and gourmet gift baskets filled with goodies. This outpouring of love and sympathy from family and friends was truly amazing; however, I couldn't eat a single bite. In fact, I lost 11 pounds within the first week after receiving the tragic news. I had suddenly lost my child, and in my shock and confusion, I had absolutely no appetite. Consequently, I wondered about the purpose of all this food. How could anyone possibly think I could eat at a time like this? Chef Art Smith helped me understand. In his book, Back To The Table The Reunion of Food and Family, he nicely sums it up:
Food As Love
Few of us think of food only in times of celebration.
We also think of it in times of sadness and need.
Cooking for others is a way to extend your heart.
It has been 2 ½ years since I lost my son. I have vowed to follow in his light, to celebrate his life rather than mourn his death and with this blog step out of my comfort zone much like he did throughout his life at home and in the military. He encourages me to write about the sad experience of losing one of my life's most precious gifts. From my heart to yours enjoy this recipe inspired by my sweet William.
Thanks to my friend Debbie Vanni for the Art Smith Book from her culinary cellar.
How to make bourbon cookies
These cookies have all the usual ingredients combined by creaming the butter and sugar and stirring in the combined dry ingredients. However, there are 3 unusual additions I need to comment on. First, is the light corn syrup. The light corn syrup helps the cookie bake up more moist and stay fresher longer. Next, is the addition of the extra egg yolk. The yolk gives the cookie a light but chewy texture. Finally, the bourbon. The flavor is subtle enhanced by the vanilla.
Bourbon Cookies
Ingredients
- 2¼ c. unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 12 tablespoons (1½ sticks / 6 oz.) unsalted butter, at room temp.
- 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 large egg at room temp.
- 1 large egg yolk at room temp.
- 2 tablespoons good bourbon or whiskey William liked Jack Daniels
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 (12 oz.) bag Ghirardelli double chocolate bittersweet chips
Instructions
- Heat oven to 325° F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
- In a large bowl, cream butter, both sugars and corn syrup on high. Beat in egg, egg yolk, bourbon and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and mix the flour mixture in gradually until just combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Drop onto prepared sheets in 2 tablespoon (1 oz.) cookie scoops, leaving 2-inches between each cookie.
- Bake until cookies are lightly browned on the edges (rotating pans halfway through if baking two at once), 18 to 20 minutes.
- Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Cathy Rapoza Olsen
Peace and Hope...
lisakeys64
Important for all mother's like me to know that peace in our hearts will come and that there is hope for joy again
Daryl
Beautiful post for a beautiful man. Love you
lisakeys64
So happy you were able to know him
Mary Edwards
What a lovely sentiment and what an emotion evoking picture of the two of you - the love shines through so clearly even though I'm looking at it through teary eyes.
lisakeys64
Mary that photo was taken soon after my son got home from his deployment in Afghanistan. I was so grateful to have him safely home.
vcallaghan
Just beautiful, Lisa.
lisakeys64
thank you; you are one of the best moms I know
Karen Harris
Thanks for sharing this with us Lisa. I agree, preparing food for someone just says things that words cannot. It probably helps the one preparing it more than the recipient. I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet, beautiful son.
lisakeys64
Thank you Karen. You totally get it!
Renee Vaillancourt
Such a beautiful idea <3 this is simply amazing... can't wait to try them! I will keep this in my recipe box forever, thank you!
lisakeys64
Thank you Renee. Anything that you can do to celebrate William is very much appreciated.
Sara Poskas
Love you! And I know what you mean about the food: we had beautiful meals sent here after the accident, and I was in such a shaken place, I lost 10 lbs. Fortunately, with great effort, I started getting my appetite back. I plan to make these cookies with Isabelle (she will eat them, but I am dairy and egg free). Sending you love and I so enjoyed this... thank you! (I also enjoy your messages on Caring Bridge). 🙂
lisakeys64
Sara-these are the cookies I left in your mailbox that day I visited Westover. For Iz you can substitute 2 teaspoons of vanilla for the bourbon to make it more child friendly. The best thing about having so much food during that time was that I was able to feed so many visitors. We had over 600 people at William's wake and funeral service and many came by the house. I am so very grateful that Iz and Pete are making such positive progress since that horrendous accident.
Sara Poskas
xox
Haley McBride
What a wonderful idea. Will would be so proud of you. I will be making these cookies in my new kitchen, while thinking of my cherished memories!! So much love <3
lisakeys64
Awe--thanks, Haley. I think he would be happy and proud that I am trying to snap out of it. I hope you like the cookies.
Laureen
Lisa--I am so happy that you are blogging. Can't wait to read more! Inspiring and courageous! I love that combination!
lisakeys64
"Inspiring and courageous"---that's my son and daughter in a nutshell! I find you to be the same.
Danielle @ the Growing Foodie
I love Jack Daniels too - I will have to try them! Thinking about you today and always of course...glad you started this! I find blogging cathartic...I hope you do too.
lisakeys64
Thanks my sweet Danielle! I will eventually figure out the whole blog-roll thing so we will be linked forever.
Tracy
Great job Lisa. I look forward to more posts. You are such an amazing person.
lisakeys64
Thank you! I am amazed I got this up and running myself. Hope to share lots of stories and recipes.
abby
Sweet William indeed... I look forward to every post Lisa!
lisakeys64
Very sweet unless he was on the Taft lacrosse field
abby
HAHAHAHA! He was a force on and off the field! and so wonderful and generous to Alex. I will think of him every time I make these cookies.
Susan Bickta
What a wonderful tribute to your cherished son. I'm sure he would be so very proud of you and this path you are taking.......
lisakeys64
Thank you Susan. I think he would be proud, too.
Ann
Your blog is a beautiful tribute to a dear, loving and wonderful young man. He lives forever in the hearts of many...especially mine. Thanks for sharing the recipe for these incredibly delicious cookies! Love you 😉
lisakeys64
William loved nothing more than having dinner at the Panetta's especially when it came to chicken parmigiana! You are also the best cookie baker in the world and we will ever be grateful for the basket full of cookies you made for his homecoming. <3
peter [email protected]
How come Your brother did
not get any samples ?
lisakeys64
I will make them for your birthday. These are the same cookies we had at Caitlin and Sam's wedding. I baked over 600 of them for that joyful occasion.
Louis Matino (@LouMatino)
Nice job with GoodGriefCook.com - a big step forward so you and others can continue healing.
lisakeys64
Thanks for being one of my biggest cheerleaders!
Wendy Doremus
Lisa, your talents continue to amaze me. Write on! And of course, keep on cooking, too.
Will is smiling down on you and is proud of you.
Hugs to you and your family, my friend.
love,
Wendy
lisakeys64
Thanks my dear sweet friend for your encouragement. I am glad you knew my William.