Thick, Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients

Makes 24 or more (I got 27 out of my last batch)

1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces, or 115 grams) butter, softened
2/3 cup (125 grams) light brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon table salt (I often use a half teaspoon, but I like more salt in my baked goods)
1 1/2 cups (120 grams) rolled oats
3/4 cup (120 grams) raisins
1/2 cup walnuts (65 grams), chopped (optional)

Prep

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together. Stir this into the butter/sugar mixture. Stir in the oats, raisins and walnuts, if using them.

chill the dough for a bit in the fridge and then scoop it, or scoop the cookies onto a sheet and then chill the whole tray before baking them.

Bake them for 10 to 12 minutes (your baking time will vary, depending on your oven and how cold the cookies were going in), taking them out when golden at the edges but still a little undercooked-looking on top. Let them sit on the hot baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool.

Toffee Chip Cookies

For those who don't love chocolate as much as others or just want to switch it up and try something different, this one's for you! Dare I say it, I'm a woman and I'm not a huge fan of chocolate. I don't like chocolate cake, cookies, ice cream, milk, etc. Oddly enough I do enjoy the occasional brownie, but I usually make chocolate chip cookies without the chips and just add nuts. People usually say aren't those just sugar cookies but, anyone who knows cookies knows that isn't the case. I didn't know what to call them since they're technically not chocolate chip cookies, but a little while ago a friend told me to call them "feel good" cookies because I usually make them when people are feeling bad to cheer them up. 

I was in the store this past weekend and all the baking candies were on sale so I picked up Heath chocolate toffee bits and butterscotch chips to try in my "feel good" cookies, that's how this adaptation came about. It's a basic recipe; I'm pretty sure this one is on the back of the Nestle Toll House package.

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup heath chocolate toffee bits

Note: I usually half the recipe even for two or three people but if you're serving a group make the whole thing.


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.

3. Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.