Ultimate Oatmeal Cookies

Submitted by Galley Wench

"These are definitely the ULTIMATE in oatmeal cookies. I've been using craisins instead of dried cherrirs and they're WONDERFUL! Recipe comes from Cook's Illustrated."

 

• Ready In: 27mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Yields: 16 large cookies

ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (6 1/4 ounces)
• 3⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon table salt
• 1 1⁄4 cups rolled oats, old-fashioned (3 1/2 ounces)
• 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped (4 ounces)
• 1 cup dried tart cherry, chopped coarse (5 ounces)
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chunks about size of chocolate chips (about 3/4 cup)
• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened but still cool (1 1/2 sticks)
• 1 1⁄2 cups packed brown sugar, preferably dark (10 1/2 ounces)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line large baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl.
4. In second medium bowl, stir together oats, pecans, cherries, and chocolate.
5. In standing mixer fitted with flat beater, beat butter and sugar at medium speed until no sugar lumps remain, about 1 minute.
6. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula; add egg and vanilla and beat on medium-low speed until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds.
7. Scrape down bowl; with mixer running at low speed, add flour mixture; mix until just combined, about 30 seconds.
8. With mixer still running on low, gradually add oat/nut mixture; mix until just incorporated.
9. Give dough final stir with rubber spatula to ensure that no flour pockets remain and ingredients are evenly distributed.
10. Divide dough evenly into 16 portions, each about 1/4 cup, then roll between palms into balls about 2 inches in diameter; stagger 8 balls on each baking sheet, spacing them about 2 1/2 inches apart.
11. Using hands, gently press each dough ball to 1 inch thickness.
12. Bake both baking sheets 12 minutes, rotate them front to back and top to bottom, then continue to bake until cookies are medium brown and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft (cookies will seem underdone and will appear raw, wet, and shiny in cracks), 8 to 10 minutes longer.
13. Do not overbake.
14. Cool cookies on baking sheets on wire rack 5 minutes; using wide metal spatula, transfer cookies to wire rack and cool to room temperature.

Reviews

[Susang]

Just made these and had one while still warm, they are wonderful. I'm also an oatmeal cookie lover so had to try these. I didn't have any bittersweet chocolate (thought I did) so just threw in a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Will definately be making these again and again!

 

[Kitchen Witch Steph]

We're sort of partial to oatmeal cookies in this house so this one was greatly anticipated. While Dad is a purist and just wanted something like raisins, the kids loved the add ons. The boy was especially happy with the chocolate while the girls just love the dried cranberries we used. We like them giant sized. Thanks for the recipe...it had been too long since we had last baked cookies! Made for ZWT4.

 

[Gerry]

Excellent oatmeal cookies! Made them over a week ago - not even any left in the freezer! Like MamaJ I was short on the pecans - used walnuts to make for a full cup. Other then needing to use some walnuts I made as posted .Perfect recipe to make for both the young and the not so young! Great for coffee time.

 

[MamaJ]

I love oatmeal cookies and these are terrific! I doubled the recipe to take on vacationa and realized I was short on pecans so I used half pecans and half walnuts. Like Irish Rose, I needed smaller cookies so I used a small scoop (about 2 T. size) and baked for a total of 15 minutes. This will be my "go to" recipe for oatmeal cookies from now on. Thanks for posting Galley Wench. Made and reviewed for ZWT4.

 

[evelynathens]

Made these with the kids today and they were scrumptious!