Wednesday, June 10, 2009

cookie of the week with two cookies for you

It is Wednesday now of the last week of school. All is right with the world! This week I have two cookies for you: one healthy, one not so healthy, at least not for the body (maybe nourishing to the soul, though). It's been a little while since I've made a full-on fat and sugar cookie, and yes, they were good. But first: the healthy cookie.
To tell you the truth, I am really more into the healthy cookies these days, and I love these. They are the "Smart Cookies" from Honest Pretzles by Mollie Katzen. They are more of a hearty granola bar--minimally sweet and packed with yummy things: oats, almonds, dried cranberries, chocolate chips, of course, and coconut. I love them. The boys all like them, Faith rejects them. What I love is that this is one healthy cookie that really can substitute for breakfast in a pinch--it's not over the top with sugar and fat, so you feel you are eating something good.
Here's the unhealthy selection. We didn't eat all these ourselves--I sent most to Ben's music awards/barbeque this weekend (he won an award--he plays cello). These are Oreo Chunk cookies--like a chocolate chip cookie except they have broken up Oreos instead of chocolate chips. They are particulary yummy for their texture and differentness. I got this recipe a few years ago when I used the go to the Cooking Light bulletin boards. I find BBs kind of clique-ish, but this one poster, Val ("Valchemist" she called herself) was always very nice and made up this recipe for another BB member who had tasted something similar at a bakery.
Oreo Chunk Cookies
1 1/2 c. butter
1 1/4 c. sugar
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
1 tbsp. vanilla
2 eggs
4 c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 3/4 t. salt*
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cream of tartar
45 Oreos (1 full package of Oreos)

Heat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugars, add vanill and eggs and mix until combined. Stir in the dry ingredients. Stir in the Oreos by hand. Break them up first into thirds or quarter, but no smaller. You want big chunks of Oreos here, not an Oreo dust. Just keep working them in until they are evenly distributed. Drop onto parchment paper lined baking sheets--I use a cookie scooper. Space them 2" apart. Bake 12-15 minutes or until light brown. Cool slightly, remove from baking sheet, and cool on a wire rack. I got 68 out of the batch because my cookie scooper is smallish.
*a note on the salt--yes, that's a lot of salt but it lends such a salty-sweet deliciousness to the cookies that I would not change it. Use unsalted butter, though, if you must.

Smart Cookies from Honest Pretzles by Mollie Katzen
1 1/2 c. unbleached flour (I used half unbleached white and half whole wheat)
2 c. oats
1/4 c. oat bran or wheat germ
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
2/3 c. brown sugar
1 c. apple juice
1/2 c. unsweetened apple sauce
1/4 c. canola oil
1 t. vanilla
3/4 c. chocolate chips
Extras: (I used them all)
1/2 c. dried cranberries
1/2. c. unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 c. chopped almonds

Preheat the oven to 375. Oil a 9x13 baking dish. Combine the flour through salt in a bowl. Stir in the brown sugar. Then add the apple juice through chocolate chips. Then stir in your "extras" (all or some). Get it all mixed thoroughly then dump it into your 9x13" baking dish and smooth it out. Bake for 30 minutes. Cut into 24 sqaures and put onto a large cookie sheet. Return to the oven for 15 more minutes. Enjoy!

7 comments:

Andrea said...

Mmmm...you're making me hungry!

Mary said...

My husband loves Oreo cookies. I rarely buy them, but I think I will have to try this recipe. Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing

eight feet said...

Thanks, Mary Beth! I could use a few new recipes to try with the kids this summer.

Julie said...

The Oreo cookie recipe is intriguing... can't wait to try it!

Jessica said...

I don't really know which one to make first...though every cookie recipe you post is delicious! Enjoy the beginning of your summer!

Celia said...

Look how big and happy Rainer is in that photo!!!!
Lovely and thanks so much for the recipes!

Anonymous said...

Oh I can't wait to try these. I have a recipe for granola bars that I love...and use for breakfast sometimes too (along with an egg).
Annie
OnceUponAParent.blogspot.com