Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

When my original plan for the EBBP package going to Zabeena went awry, I took a fall-back position to a tried-and-true theme of all-American favourites, and the cookies you see above were part of that.

When I was growing up, one of the favourite desserts that my mother made on a regular basis were Toll House chocolate chip cookies.  Over the years, as I became more interested in baking and made batch after batch of  my own cookies, I found that I was looking for a bit more texture and chew, which led to the inclusion of oatmeal.

Edited 30 October 2005: I'm sure there are about a thousand versions of these cookies out there, and mine probably isn't so different (or different at all!), but no matter. If you're looking to try a different variation of an old favourite, this ought to do the trick. but this one from Cook's Illustrated is absolutely perfect. If you're looking for the quintessential oatmeal chocolate-chip cookie, this is most definitely it.

Oatmeal Chocolate-Chip Cookies
Yields 18 large cookies

1 1/2 cups FLOUR
1/2 teaspoon SALT
1/2 teaspoon BAKING POWDER
8 ounces (2 sticks) UNSALTED BUTTER, softened
1 cup LIGHT BROWN SUGAR, packed
1 cup GRANULATED SUGAR
2 large EGGS
3 cups OATS
1 1/2 cups CHOCOLATE CHIPS

1. Preaheat oven to 350 degrees, and line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. Whisk flour, salt and baking powder together in a medium bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, by hand or by mixer, beat butter until creamy. Add sugars and beat the mixture until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time.

4. Stir dry ingredients into butter-sugar mixture with a wooden spoon or a large rubber spatula. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.

5. Place dough onto parchment-lined cookie sheets by large spoonfuls (about 2 tablespoons each), leaving at least 2 inches between.

6. Bake until cookie edges turn golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Slide cookies (on parchment) onto cooling rack. Let cool, and store in airtight container.

A tip from my mum: Place a piece of bread (any type) in with the cookies to prevent them from becoming stale. If they hang around long enough, that is!

Recipe reprinted with kind permission from the The Best Recipe Cookbook, by the editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine. Selected articles, recipes, books, and subscription information are available online at www.cooksillustrated.com.

Comments

[tanvi]

my oatmeal cookies never turn out well- but yours are gorgeous!

[Moira]

Hi Tanvi...give these a try! If they don't work for you, then you can give up. ;-)

[Nic]

You can never go wrong with oatmeal chocolate chip. And if anyone doesn't believe the bread trick, it really works!

[Fatemeh]

I've been looking for a good oatmeal cc cookie recipe for SO long... I'm trying these.

Do you think nuts would be overkill here? How 'bout dried cherries?

[fethiye]

yes, there might be many recipes of this sort out there, but yours look good, too! Got to copy this one as well. thanks for sharing.

[Zarah Maria]

I have a friend that would do anything for a couple of those... Hmm, guess I would too!;-)

[Moira]

Hi Nic...I know, it sounds so odd- but it's a winner!

Hi Fatemeh...I really like nuts in them (I'm always amazed at how many people don't!), but I would try them with just those two additions first. See what you think, and then try the dried cherries if you think they need more!

Hi Fethiye...thanks for stopping by! Please let me know if you try them and what you think.

Hi Zarah...ha! Now you have a secret weapon for when you want to get your friend to do something...make sure to take photos!

[Reid]

Hi Moira,

What? Oatmeal with no raisins? Hmmm. I was going to do a post on oatmeal raisin cookies soon...I don't think that my photo will be able to compete with the one that's here. Can I have a glass of milk to go with these please? On second thought, I need some soy milk (I'm lactose intolerant). =)

[Moira]

Raisins....bleeeeeeeechchchchchch! I'm sure your photo will be beautiful, as ever. I'll just pretend that the yours raisins aren't really there, and everything will be o.k.

Lactose intolerant, huh? Have I got a chocolate & peanut butter pie for you, my friend! It's made with firm silken tofu, and it rocks hard. Think you'd like it?

[Jeanne]

I almost wish you'd make your banner smaller, because the photos would just about jump off the screen. I saw only the tops of the oatmeal cookies, but I still almost jumped up and ran to the kitchen to get the butter out of the fridge so I could make a batch.
PS, I like your banner the way it is.

[Giao]

Oh, yum! I got a serious case of the nostalgic drools looking at your cookies. I loved Tollhouse as a kid too. Must get to grocery NOW!

[Bakerina]

Oatmeal cookies are the food of the gods. It makes perfect sense that I would find a recipe here. :)

[Moira]

Hi Jeanne...awwww, thanks! Did you end up making any cookies?

Hi Giao...yes, making cookies is ALWAYS a good thing, isn't it?

Hello Ms. Bakerina...you are such a sweetheart! =)

[fethiye]

ok, I am back. With 17.5 cookies on the cooling rack and you know where that half went, right? :)

Thanks for the recipe. Maybe it is one of thousands of oatmeal chocoloate cookies, but it definitely is a keeper! Thanks Moira!

[Reid]

Hi Moi,

Mmmm. Chocolate peanut butter pie. YUMMY!

[Jeanne]

I've just made these with dried blueberries instead of chocolate chips, since I had some on hand, and they're delicious. I love Tollhouse cookies anyway, but the oatmeal is an inspired touch. With blueberries (I used 1 1/2 cups), they have a nice fruitiness, too. MUCH better than raisins any day!

[mine]

Hi Moira, thanks for sharing your fabulous recipe. They immediately became one of my favorite cookies :)

[Moira]

Hi Fethiye...hee, hee- yes, I know where that half went! ;-) I'm so glad you like the recipe...thank for reporting back!

Hi Reid...o.k., I'll put the pie on my to-do list. I think you'll love it!

Hello Jeanne...wow, dried blueberries! I'm going to have to try those sometime, they sound delicious. Thanks for letting me know!

Hi mine...yay! I'm so happy that they've become a favourite!

[Sweetnicks]

This just might be the next addition to our Cookie Monster cookie jar. :)

[Julie]

Mmm...what a gorgeous pic! No surprise there, of course. Your recipe's almost exactly the same as mine, and I know them to be a sure crowd-pleaser. I just can't bear to light the oven at this point...

[Chanit]

I made them TOO yesterday!
thanks for this great recipe (good tip )!

Chanit from ISRAEL :-)
(sorry for putting this comment in the wrong place before)

[Moira]

Hi Sweetnicks...oh, I'm feeling SO honoured! =)

Hi Julie...thank you, sweetie! I know that you guys have had a scorcher of a summer. Wish I could send you some of our cool temps. and rain!

Hi Chanit...I'm so happy that you made the cookies and like them! I've just left you a comment on your blog as well.

[Melissa]

Hola Moira! cookies look good :) saw this post @ http://basicjuice.blogs.com/jzepp/
Hugs,

[angela]

what am i doing wrong that makes my cookies spread out flat?

[Moira]

Hi Melissa...thanks!

Hi Angela...hmmm, maybe the dough has warmed up too much? Try putting it in the fridge for 10 minutes or so, and then onto the cookie sheets and into the oven- I bet that will do the trick!