Tasty Tuesday -- Oatmeal, Dark Chocolate Chunk & Walnut Cookies

Get a load of this cookie: Mmmm . . . goodness.

Breathtaking. Your mouth is watering, I know. Last week I felt like making cookies. Baking is a double-edged sword in that I am proud of my baking skills, but the fact that I can whip up a batch of gourmet cookies in under an hour is also my downfall--the main reason why I can't lose those last ten pounds. Ah, well. Life could be worse. What do I really have to complain about? Not much. So if my dark side is that I eat too many oatmeal, dark chocolate chunk and walnut cookies in a row, so be it.

But back to Tasty Tuesday, and these amazing cookies.

I was thinking about my sister--and the fact that she has been making loads of oatmeal cookies for my Dad back in Maine. I love oatmeal cookies but when I make them I usually always add raisins--never chocolate. Well, I ran across a recipe from joythebaker.com with semi-sweet chips and pecans. Hmmm, I thought. I have dark chocolate chunks and walnuts--why not try it?

Plus, my Dad gave me some baking pans that were handmade back at Bath Iron Works in Maine--Dad picked them up at a flea market, I think--can you imagine, your husband coming home from work "Hey honey, I made these cookie pans for you at work--now get baking!" Too funny!


They certainly have been lovingly used over the years, and at least my biceps get a workout when hefting them in and out of the oven--but BOY I think they made ALL the difference. I have NEVER had cookies brown so evenly and bake so consistently as on these pans.


Just look at them--can a cookie be gorgeous? Why yes, I do believe so.


In the end? They were a hit!


I Facebooked my neighbor Flannery and said "Hey, has the smell of my gourmet oatmeal, dark chocolate chip and walnut cookies wafted across the street yet?" Within minutes of them coming out of the oven I ran a baker's dozen across the street. The rest I packed up in a repurposed cookie container from Stew Leonard's.

What? Yes, I admit--there are a few store bought cookies that I will bring home, namely Stew Leonard's Ginger cookies, and Oreo's of course. Anything else? I'll bake, thank you very much!

Now it's your turn! Oh, and if you want to borrow my pans, let me know . . .

Oatmeal, Dark Chocolate Chunk & Walnut Cookies

(adapted from joythebaker.com)

makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs (farm fresh makes all the difference!)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups uncooked oats

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup dark chocolate chunks

1 cup chopped walnuts

Beat the sugar and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment. Beat until creamy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition. Add the vanilla extract and beat until blended.

Whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Add to the butter and egg mixture slowly beating on low speed until just incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chunks and walnuts last.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 11 minutes (leaves them slightly underdone and a little chewy).

Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely (I don't have a wire rack, so I just put them on paper bags).

Eat five immediately, realize how great they are, realize you have no self-control and will eat all of them so hurriedly start calling neighbors and friends to take them off of your hands!

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Enjoy!!