Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chocolate Cookies

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies were a staple in my childhood. More often than not, a deep blue plate piled with little golden cookies was on the kitchen counter. And more often than not, that plate was reduced to crumbs by the day's end. They were the perfect cookie: not to crunchy, not too soft, not too sugary, not to bland. As I've mentioned before, as a child I was pretty sure my mom had magical baking powers.

Yesterday afternoon, stuck at work, it hit me: I need these cookies, NOW. If I don't get some fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies a.s.a.p. I'm going to lose it! Not sure where that craving came from, but there it was & it wasn't budging. So, faced with a serious cookie hankerin,' I culled up all the ingredients as soon as I walked through the door. An hour later, voilà , warm, chewy, chocolaty heaven!

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chocolate Cookies, makes about 3 1/2 dzn.
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3 c. quick-cooking oats
1 c. chopped dark chocolate, about 1 bar (valrhona or scharffen berger both work well)
1 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325F.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar & white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon & salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats, walnuts & chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto parchment or foil lined baking sheets.

Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.


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