Friday, November 5, 2010

Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Macadamia Nut Cookies

Again this is a recipe which was initially created by throwing things together from the pantry in order to satisfy my hardworking college roommates. With two studying to be nurses, one applying to med school, and two more looking, as I am, to enter the wonderfully crazy world that is journalism, there is much reception to delicious baked goods on our kitchen table- especially during midterms and finals. Well, last week I found myself in just one of those situations. Notebook open and highlighter in hand, I decided it was about time to preheat the oven and bring some happiness back into the house.
This cookie is fundamentally an oatmeal cookie, but adding the grated dark chocolate and chopped macadamia nuts kicked it up a few notches (which is hard for me to say as an avid oatmeal cookie lover). I have to be honest when I say that the six of us devoured these within a few hours of our study session. Enjoy!

1/4 lb (1 stick) margarine or butter, softened
1/2 c firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 c granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla
3/4 c flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1 1/2 c Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
8 oz. bar dark chocolate, frozen and grated in blender
1/2 c finely chopped macadamia nuts

Preheat oven to 350° F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, and cinnamon; mix well. Add oats, grated chocolate, and nuts; mix until all ingredients are completely folded in. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute before removing to wire cooling rack. Let cool completely and enjoy! Us college girls sure did!

Makes about 2 dozen.