Monday, December 12, 2011

Cookie Swap

Flourless Oatmeal Cookies

This picture was taken at my bake sale I had several years ago to support Share Our Strength in their National bake sale campaign to help end childhood hunger.

This is one of my favorite cookie recipes. I came up with it after trying a flourless oatmeal cookie at a cafe in La Jolla, CA. My family and I were on vacation in San Diego and after a day of kayaking,
we grabbed lunch at a cafe called The Cheese Shop. Their oatmeal cookie was sooooo good! When I got home I was still dreaming of this cookie and that is where the experimentation began. I got into the kitchen to try to perfect that cookie. When I looked in our cabinet, we didn't have any rolled oats. All we had were some packages of oatmeal. I decided to be creative and use the dry oatmeal to prepare the cookies. The end result was perfection. I achieved the crunch on the outside of the cookie and the chewiness on the inside.
I have made these for many different occasions. I like to decorate them by sprinkling sliced almonds and then chocolate drizzled on top or with just the chocolate drizzle. They are the best oatmeal cookies EVER!

I have never shared this recipe with anyone so you are the first to know my secret! Shhh!

Flourless Oatmeal Cookies
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
3 packets maple & brown sugar oatmeal
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter and set aside to cool slightly.
In another mixing bowl, combine oatmeal, both sugars, and salt. Stir the mixture together.
Whisk together the cooled melted butter, vanilla, and egg. Using a large or wooden spoon, stir the oatmeal mixture into the butter mixture.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
Using a small ice cream scooper or small spoon, drop the chilled dough onto the paper or mat. Separate the dough balls a few inches from each other to give the dough room to spread. Flatten the dough balls slightly.
Bake for 11-14 minutes or until the edges brown nicely and the center of the cookies are medium brown. (The cookies will continue to cook on the baking sheet). Allow the cookies to cool for about 5 minutes. Using an offset spatula, gently remove the cookies by working the spatula around the edges of the cookie.
 Decorate with sliced almonds and drizzling of chocolate if desired.
Makes about 1 ½ dozen cookies

Prepare these cookies and share them with your friends and family!
I would love for you to share your favorite cookie recipes with me.
Merry Christmas!

9 comments:

  1. Thanks Whitney ,,, i have loads of Maple and Sugar Oatmeal packs from Sams...
    I'm going to give them a try...
    PS - I've been to La Jolla - Beautiful Place...

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  2. I love The Cheese Shop! Their sandwiches are amazing! I haven't had the oatmeal cookies though...next time for sure.

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  3. Sarah you definitely have to give them a try! They are really so good! Are you done with finals yet?

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  4. Merry Christmas, they look delicious. Mine is called Biscochitos, and it's one that my grandma used to make, and once I started making them they get eaten right away. Nothing fancy, just a light and very tasty cookie.

    1 1/2 cups sugar
    2 cups shortening
    2 eggs beaten
    6 cups flour
    2 teaspoons anise seed
    3 teaspoons baking powder
    1 teaspoon salt
    1 cup of water

    Cream the shortening, sugar and anise seed together. Add eggs and beat together. In a different bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt together. Add both mixtures together in a large bowl and slowly add water a little at a time until it sticks together. Knead dough on table 5 to 8 minutes. Cut into round, square or cookie shapes. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl ratio: 3 parts sugar to 1 part cinnamon. Dip cookie cut dough on one side only in the cinnamon mixture. Put on cookie sheet with cinnamon side up and bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

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  5. never had a flour less cookie in my life and this recipe looks so easy too..definitely giving it a try!!
    thanx for sharing your secret recipe whitney !!

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  6. Not yet....my finals actually go until Dec 21st!! It is a 2 week period of finals...but it does give me a longer time to study in between each one.
    I can't wait to be back home for Christmas though.

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  7. Good luck Sarah!!!! Merry Christmas Every Body!!!

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  8. @Darrell thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  9. @Sarah(Lillian)Can you please post your email address? You had won the starbucks gift card.

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