CHOCOLATE CHIP COCONUT COOKIES

CHEWY OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COCONUT COOKIE 

 {My Favorite Cookie}

I agree with this statement.  So, so yummy!

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2009/04/my-favorite-cookie.html

My Favorite Cookie

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup oatmeal (not quick)
• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ---
• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar (per food network 1/4# white sugar & .75 ounce of molasses -mix in food processor for 30 seconds)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoons vanilla
• 1 cup coconut
• 12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put the top 4 ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend about 30 seconds until coarse. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat the butter for 30 seconds until light in color. Add the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Next, add the dry ingredients then add the coconut and chocolate chips.
2. Shape cookie dough into balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 12-13 minutes. Let the cookies cool slightly before removing them from the pan to a wire rack. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

WHOLE WHEAT COCONUT OIL CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES

We really liked these.  Made them Mother's Day 2014.
UPDATE: I made these one day and totally messed up.  I added whole wheat flour and white flour (so it was double the flour).  Couldn't figure out why they were so crumbly.  Figured out my mistake so then I doubled the batch.  It didn't really work.  Basically it turned into granola.  The cookies would never stick together.  But Scott loved it like that.  He ate it like granola.  I had also added peanut M&M's which made it really good.

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/whole-wheat-coconut-oil-chocolate-chip-oatmeal-cookies/

Yield: Makes about 3 dozen cookies

I haven't made these cookies with refined coconut oil but it should work also. The best way to describe the texture of the coconut oil should be sludgy. You don't want it completely melted but it shouldn't be completely solid. I usually scoop the coconut oil into a microwaveable liquid measuring cup or bowl and microwave for a couple of seconds (but usually my kitchen is warm enough that the coconut oil is the right consistency right out of the container).

Also, if using freshly ground whole wheat flour that is slightly warm from being ground, either let the flour come to room temperature or else chill the cookie dough for an hour or so, otherwise the cookies will spread while baking. I haven't made these with hard red wheat (only hard white wheat) but I'm sure that would work fine also; the cookies will be slightly darker in color and a bit more heartier tasting.

Finally, for those that are wondering about the oats, the reason I use both quick and old-fashioned is because I like the texture of the old-fashioned oats but using 100% causes the cookies to spread really flat - subbing out part of the old-fashioned with the quick allows the cookies to keep their soft, chewy shape while still giving lots of oat flavor.

UPDATE: After a few commenters indicated their cookies weren't spreading well, I ran into the kitchen to remake the recipe and weighed the flour this time in order to get the perfect amount. I've adjusted the flour amount from 2 3/4 cups in the original recipe to 2 1/2 cups (or 11.5 ounces). It really depends on how you measure the flour and if you are using freshly ground wheat flour or storebought (which tends to be slightly more compressed). Make sure to fluff the flour and measure lightly (as opposed to measuring out super compressed flour or shaking the cup to level). Thanks to those of you who made the recipe so quickly and reported back! If your cookies are still spreading using 2 1/2 cups flour, you may be overflouring and measuring too much flour in your cup.

1 cup lightly packed brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup extra-virgin coconut oil, soft but not melted (see note)

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups (11.5 ounces) white whole wheat flour (see note)

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups quick oatmeal

1 1/4 cups old-fashioned oatmeal

12 ounces chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, cream together the brown sugar, granulated sugar and coconut oil until light in color, 1-2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and whip the mixture for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, and oatmeal until barely combined - there should be a lot of streaks of dry ingredients remaining. Add the chocolate chips and mix until combined.

Scoop and roll the cookie dough into 1-inch (or so) balls and place 1-2 inches apart on a lined (with parchment or a silpat liner) or greased baking sheet.

Bake for 11-13 minutes until the edges are lightly golden and set but the middles are still soft.

Let the cookies sit for 2-3 minutes on the baking sheets after removing them from the oven before using a spatula to place them on a cooling rack to cool completely.

PERFECT M&M COOKIES

PERFECT M&M COOKIES

We really liked these.  Would be fun to try regular size M&M's next time.  Added about 3T of milk.  The dough seemed dry.
http://picky-palate.com/2013/04/03/how-to-make-perfect-m-and-m-cookies/

How To Make Perfect M and M Cookies by Picky Palate www.picky-palate.comIngredients

1 stick/1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all purpose Gold Medal Flour
3 tablespoons Instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1 or 1-1/2 cups Mini M and M’s

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line a large baking sheet with a silpat liner or parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl cream your butter and sugars until well combined. Add your egg and vanilla mixing to combine. Add your flour, pudding mix, baking soda and salt, stirring to combine. Add chips and m and m’s stirring to combine.

With a medium cookie scoop, place dough 1 inch apart from each other. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cooked through. Let cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Enjoy!

Makes 2 dozen cookies

SUGAR COOKIE BARS

SUGAR COOKIE BARS
http://www.highheelsandgrills.com/2012/08/sugar-cookie-bars.html
These are so yummy!  Took them when we went to the Yurts with the Gray & Bradford family December 2013 (took Conga squares too).  Everyone liked them.  Tasted just as good days later.

Ingredients:

Cookies: 

• 2-1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour is fine)
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1-1/2 Tbsp. sour cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Frosting:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup half and half
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• Pinch of salt
• Several drops of food coloring (optional)

Directions:

1. COOKIES: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. (The longer you beat it, the fluffier your cookies will be.)
4. Add egg and combine well.
5. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until completely blended.
6. Slowly add the flour mixture and stir until well combined.
7. Gently press the batter into the greased baking dish and spread out with hands. (If you butter your hands, this will help with the stickiness.)
8. Bake 17-20 minutes, or until edges become lightly golden.
9. Set aside to cool completely.
10. FROSTING: In a medium bowl, cream together butter, powdered sugar, and half and half until light and fluffy.
11. Stir in vanilla and salt, combine well.
12. Add food coloring until desired color.
13. Frost your cooled cookie bars evenly.
14. Cut into squares and serve.