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.

Soft and Chewy Snickerdoodles

Here's a second Snickerdoodle recipe I have come across. I made these for my roommates while studying abroad in Athens, Greece and don't think they lasted past our first day of finals. I didn't have cream of tartar available in Greece so I used baking powder as a substitute for the combined baking soda and cream of tartar, which turned out great. If you would prefer to follow like this, use 4 t baking powder in place of the 2 t cream of tartar and 1 t baking soda.

With their chewy texture and sweet crunch of the outer coating of cinnamon and sugar, these cookies have become a fan-favorite, and the recipe being incredibly easy makes them even sweeter! Enjoy with a glass of milk or some peppermint tea.

1 c butter

1 1/2 c sugar

2 eggs

3 t cinnamon

2 3/4 c flour

2 t cream of tartar

1 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

3 T sugar and 1 t cinnamon for coating

Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix butter, 1 1/2 c sugar and eggs in large bowl. Combine flour, 3 t cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in separate bowl. Blend dry ingredients into butter mixture. Chill dough and ungreased cookie sheet in fridge for at least 10 minutes. After chilling, scoop 1 inch balls of dough into cinnamon sugar mixture and roll to coat. Place on chilled cookie sheet. Bake around 10 minutes or until golden. Enjoy!

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies with Semisweet Chocolate and Craisins

I wanted to put a new spin on classic white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, so I thought to add craisins and some regular semisweet chocolate chips. I made two batches- one for an end of semester class dinner, and the other for a study session I was holding. They were a very big hit, with everyone asking for the recipe. The cookies come out with an interesting combination of textures and just the right amount of sweetness, and the colors are great for this time of year. Enjoy!

• For 3 dozen cookies:
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1 egg
• 3/4 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 (12 ounce) package white chocolate chips
• 3/4 cups chopped dry roasted macadamia nuts
• 1/2 (6 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 bag craisins
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter and sugars in medium bowl. Add egg and vanilla and beat well. Blend in flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in white and semisweet chocolate chips, macadamia pieces, and craisins. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes, depending on oven. Let cool, dig in!!

Chocolatey, Chewy, Crunchy, Satisfy-Every-Craving Cookies

This is based off an interesting recipe I found while snooping around online. I took the basics from that and basically threw in everything I found in the pantry that I thought could be good. Turned out to be a great cookie to feed a bunch of over-stressed and over-tired college girls! I DEFINITELY recommend having a glass of milk ready before biting into one of these.

2 large eggs
3/4 cups brown sugar
2/3 cups sugar
1 1/3 t baking soda
pinch salt
1/2 t vanilla
1/3 c butter (softened)
1/2 c peanut butter
1/2 c nutella
3-4 c oats (3 cups doesn't give that much of an oaty flavor so I personally like more)
1 c chocolate chips
1/2 c crushed pretzels

Blend together the first eight ingredients with electric beater
Mix in oats, chocolate chips, and pretzels (or any other odds and ends you might like, possibilities I've thought of adding are raisins, nuts, m&ms or crushed heath bar)
Bake 350° 13-15 mins, depending on your oven
Enjoy!!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

With cookie season upon us I figured it was just about time to start up the blog again. Last week I discovered this incredible chocolate chip recipe, easily the best homemade chocolate chip cookies I've had. The recipe makes a huge amount of cookies, I cut it in half and still had about 2 dozen. I recommend freezing the chocolate bar in advance and grating it in the blender, this made it very easy. Enjoy!

2 cups butter

4 cups flour

2 teaspons baking soda

5 cups blended oatmeal

24 ounces chocolate chips

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 8 oz chocolate bar, grated

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons vanilla

Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and soda. Add chocolate chips, grated Hershey Bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 375° or until golden. Enjoy with a tall glass of milk!

Snickerdoodles

Another recipe perfect for this time of year, Snickerdoodles are a loved holiday treat. Their characteristically cracked surface makes them easily spotted on many holiday tables. Snickerdoodles can be made soft or crisp depending on your taste. I prefer my Snickerdoodles to be crisp so I will make smaller balls of the dough for each cookie and will cook them a bit longer. For a softer cookie use more dough per cookie and let them bake for less time. This is another cookie that needs to be rolled out, so it should chill for at least an hour to be easily worked with. Enjoy!

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
4 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the 1 cup sugar, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well blended. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer, and stir in remaining flour. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
Combine the 4 tablespoons sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in cinnamon sugar mixture to coat. Place balls of dough 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until edges are golden. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

This recipe is for chocolate lovers everywhere. These cookies stay gooey and moist even after they have cooled. Made with cake mix and cream cheese, they are an incredibly soft cookie so anyone who likes a cookie with a crunch should stay away. These cookies are delicious still warm and pair nicely with vanilla ice cream. The stark white of confectioner's sugar sprinkled on top of the dark brown of the cookie creates a beautiful juxtaposition on any table, and is perfect for this time of year as it alludes to snow. Enjoy!

(8-ounce) brick cream cheese, room temperature
1 stick butter, at room temperature
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (18-ounce) box moist chocolate cake mix
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg. Then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the cake mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner's sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and "gooey." Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Gingerbread Cookies

This is a recipe for classic gingerbread cookies. The recipe makes about 30, depending on what shape you decide to cut them into. To make a gingerbread house, I would recommend doubling the recipe in order to ensure having enough dough to create all of the walls. Again as a rolled cookie this dough should chill in the fridge for at least an hour before being rolled out. These cookies have a distinctive spice taste to them, so if you prefer a sweeter gingerbread cookie I would add more sugar or substitute maple syrup for the molasses. I personally appreciate a strongly spiced gingerbread cookie so this recipe was great for me, I might even try adding a little bit more of the spices next time. Enjoy!

1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease cookie sheets.
In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Mix in the melted margarine, evaporated milk, molasses, vanilla, and lemon extracts. Stir in the flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. The dough should be stiff enough to handle without sticking to fingers. If necessary, increase flour by up to 1/2 cup to prevent sticking.
When the dough is smooth, roll it out to 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface, and cut into cookies. Place cookies on the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. The cookies are done when the top springs back when touched. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
Makes about 30 cookies.

Rolled Sugar Cookies

Here is a Christmas cookie recipe to counteract my Hanukkah cookie recipe. Since sugar cookies need to be rolled out it is important to chill the dough for at least one hour, but the longer the dough can set in the fridge the easier it will be to roll out. This recipe can be used with regular cookie cutters or with a cookie gun, like the one advertised at William Sonoma. This is a typical sugar cookie recipe which produces soft and chewy cookies, perfect for topping with icing, sprinkles, or just eating plain-it makes about 5 dozen cookies though so I would, again, recommend cutting this one down. Enjoy!


1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt


In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes.

Easy Rugalech for Hanukkah

I've always wanted to learn to make Rugalech, but I've always been too intimidated. Having to use a filling with the dough and roll them is a little different than dropping a spoonful of dough onto a cookie sheet. I figure for this Hanukkah I will finally face the challenge and attempt to make a good batch of home-made Rugalech (usually we just buy them from a good bakery). I found this recipe on allrecipes.com, and it seems pretty simple to follow so hopefully I will be successful. Rugalech can have all different kinds of filling, this recipe calls for raisins but I prefer a chocolate or apricot filling. You could also use a raspberry jam. I will probably try with the chocolate, so I will just substitute chocolate chips in for the raisins. You can adjust the amount of cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top to taste. This recipe seems like it will make a good cookie. Enjoy!

1/2 pound butter
2 cups cottage cheese
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup raisins
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons granulated sugar


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix butter or margarine, cottage cheese and flour together.
Roll the dough into a circle about 1/4 inch thick. Cut the dough into triangular wedges. Sprinkle raisins into the broad end of the wedge along with cinnamon and sugar. Roll from the broad edge toward the pointed edge to form crescents. Sprinkle the crescents with cinnamon and sugar. Arrange the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake for 12 minutes.

Reese's Chocolate Cookies

I was first exposed to these cookies by a friend who lived a few doors down from me last semester. His girlfriend would bake him a batch every time she went home and, naturally, the rest of the floor would sneak into his room at steal some. As a member of the floor, it was my responsibility to join in the stealing. His now ex-girlfriend, Cait, likes to make her cookies very thick and chunky, so she drops very large amounts of dough onto her cookie sheet for each cookie. After getting the recipe from her I tried making smaller cookies to see which I prefer. I often like a thin, crisp cookie but I actually think that I prefer these thicker, the way I originally tasted them.
I like these cookies because they share a similar flavor to more typical peanut butter cookies but are unique in that they are actually a chocolate cookie. One of my favorite flavor combinations, usually cookies sharing peanut butter and chocolate are done by having a peanut butter cookie with chocolate chips. This is just the opposite; a chocolate cookie with peanut butter chips. Rather than biting in and getting a piece of chocolate, you get a chunk of peanut butter, which I just love. I actually don't like peanut butter cookies because of their texture (they are often dry) but these avoid that issue since they are primarily a chocolate cookie. I strongly recommend this recipe, but would advise to cut it in half because this version makes about 50 cookies. Enjoy!

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups (2-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) REESE'S Peanut Butter Chips

Heat oven to 350°F. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in peanut butter chips. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 9 minutes. (Do not overbake; cookies will be soft. They will puff while baking and flatten while cooling.) Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 4-1/2 dozen cookies

South Beach Diet Chocolate Cookie

Recently my roommate and I decided to start the South Beach diet. Looking to lose the "freshmen 15," I figured I would inevitably try a fad diet at some point in my life, why not try it now. South Beach consists of three phases. The first, lasting two weeks, is the strictest and is similar to the more extreme Atkins diet. For two weeks dieters can eat no bread, pasta, rice, fruit, alcohol, or anything containing sugar. This two weeks is supposed to rework the body's blood-sugar chemistry to end sugar cravings. After this two weeks is up the dieter enters the more leniant phase two. Fruits are now allowed in small quantities, as are whole grains and red wine. The dieter stays in phase two until their hit their target weight, upon which they enter phase three. Phase three has very few limitations and is more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle than losing weight.
As an avid baker, phase one has prompted some serious issues for me. It isn't easy to bake and not taste the final product. After some serious research I have found a few recipes suitable for phase one; most use a sugar substitute like Splenda and use egg over flour. Here is a recipe for a chocolate cookie that phase one dieters can eat. I haven't been able to try it yet as dorm living doesn't provide the best atmosphere for baking, but hope to experiment with it on my next trip home. And if it doesn't turn out so delicious, at least it is guilt-free. Enjoy!


30 pecan halves, chopped fine
1 egg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoons sugar substitute
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients. Drop by teaspoonful onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes or until firm to the touch.

Makes 6 servings.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here's another variation of the standard oatmeal cookie, courtesy of christmascookies.com. This version uses pumpkin, just in time for Thanksgiving. I haven't tried this recipe yet but am looking forward to using it to add yet another dessert to my family's Thanksgiving table, as if pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies weren't already enough. I think this cookie could be good with chopped walnuts in it, or pecans. Both go well with pumpkin. Enjoy!

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick cooking rolled oats, uncooked
1 teaspoon baking Soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease baking sheets. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; set aside. Beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, mix. Alternate additions of dry ingredients and pumpkin, mixing well after each addition. Stir in chocolate pieces. For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup of dough onto prepared baking sheet.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes until firm and lightly browned.

Quaker Oats Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

So, I stole this recipe from the top of the Quaker Oats Oatmeal container, but I think they are the most delicious oatmeal raisin cookies I have ever had. They have the perfect balance between the sweetness of the sugars and raisins and the earthy-ness of the cinnamon and oats. I once had to use brown sugar that had gotten clumpy and hard, which for many recipes would not be usable, but for this one actually made the cookie taste even better. The clumps of brown sugar melted while the cookies baked so occasionally you'd get an especially sweet bite. Very delicious. I think this is my all-time favorite cookie recipe, and friends agree. Normally when I bake cookies for friends these are what they ask for. As this recipe makes four dozen cookies I would recommend cutting it, unless you have a party to go to or a lot of people to make gifts for. Enjoy!


1/2 lb(2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
3 cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup raisins

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins; mix well. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.
Makes about 4 dozen

Pecan Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies have always been a very big hit. Originally a vegan recipe, I modified by substituting margerine with butter and vegan chips with regular chocolate chips. The recipe can be made either way. I have also tried adding more oatmeal which provides a drier cookie. In the original recipe the cookies don't have much of an oatmeal flavor, so if this is what you are looking for definitly add the extra oats. The recipe can be fooled around with in many ways, the cookies are just as delicious with the addition or substitution of raisins, dried cranberries, or other nuts. I love to add extra chocolate chips. Enjoy!

1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 cup pecans (or nuts of choice)
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions:Preheat oven to 365. Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla until nice and creamy. Mix flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and oatmeal in a separate bowl. Slowly add to butter mixture. If mixture is too dry, add some milk. Stir in the pecans and chocolate chips. Spoon onto lightly oiled cookie sheets, keeping each cookie about 3 apart. Bake for 7-12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Let cool on sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack or counter top.
Serves: 3 dozen Preparation time: 20 minutes