Salty Oat (Chip) Cookies

There is a tea house and cafe near my office that has “salty oat” cookies. I think they are the perfect treat: comforting and not too sweet. They are delicious with tea, coffee or cocoa. I set out recreate them, and this dough is awesome both with semisweet chocolate chip and without them. The last time I made them, I made half into cookie bars and used the other half of the dough to make frozen dough balls. Then I could pop a few cookies in the oven whenever we needed a quick treat!

You will need:

• 2 sticks salted butter, room temperature
• 2 c brown sugar
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 t baking powder
• 1/2 t baking soda
• 1 T vanilla extract
• 2 c flour
• 2 c old-fashioned oats
• Optional: 1/2 c bittersweet chocolate chips

Then you will…

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper if making cookies. Line a 9×9 baking pan with foil and lightly grease with nonstick spray if making cookie bars.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until well mixed and smooth.
3. Mix in the eggs until light and fluffy.
4. Mix in the baking powder, baking soda, and vanilla extract.
5. Mix in the flour.
6. Mix in the oats (and chips if using) until just combined.
7. Drop spoonfuls of the dough for cookies or spread half of the batter in the baking pan for bars.
8. Bake for 10-14 minutes for cookies, until turning golden and set around the edges.
9. Bake for 30-40 minutes for bars, until golden and set in the middle.

Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars

This is based on ingredients that I have in my pantry on most days. It is easy to mix together and goes great with your favorite ice cream (or on its own)!

You will need:

• 8 T unsalted butter, melted
• 1 c sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 1/2 t baking soda
• Dash of salt
• 1/4 t ground nutmeg
• 3/4 c old-fashioned oats
• 3/4 c all-purpose flour
• 1 c dark chocolate chunks

Then you will…

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 inch baking dish with aluminum foil and lightly grease with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the melted butter with the sugar.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
4. Mix in the baking soda, salt, nutmeg, oats and flour.
5. Stir in the chocolate chunks.
6. Spread in the prepared dish.
7. Bake 18-23 minutes or until just turning golden and set in the middle.
8. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes.
9. Remove from baking dish and allow to cool at least another 5 minutes before eating.