Oatmeal Apple Cookies

From: Ladies' Home Journal

Ingredients:
2 cups AP flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 cups dark brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups rolled oats
1 tart apple, peeled and finely chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In large bowl, combine brown sugar and butter; beat until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture and oats separately to creamed mixture, blending well after each addition. Stir in apples.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Verdict:
I liked these cookies, but they weren't my favorite. They are best when warm. If I made them again I would use less oats. I felt that the oats made them a bit dry for my tastes. That being said, my son (4 years old) loved them and ate a ton, so maybe it's just my taste buds.  

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

From: Southern Living 50 Favorite Cookie Recipes cookbook

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups AP flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
1 cup raisins
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in oats, raisins, and pecans.

Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly on baking sheets; remove to wire racks to cool.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Although this isn't my favorite oatmeal raisin recipe ever, you really can't go wrong with this recipe. It was simple and yummy!

Apple-Oat Muffins with Brown-Sugar-Cinnamon Swirl

From: Shape magazine

Ingredients:
1 cup AP flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp warm water
1 cup milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 apple, peeled, cored and diced 

Preheat oven to 400 F. Coat a muffin pan with cooking spray or use cupcake papers.

In a large bowl, combine both flours, oats, granulated sugar, baking powder, 1/2 tsp of the cinnamon, baking soda, salt and cloves. Mix thoroughly with a fork, make a well in the center and set aside. In a small bowl, combine remaining teaspoon of cinnamon, along with brown sugar and water. Whisk until brown sugar is dissolved. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, applesauce, egg, oil and vanilla. Pour liquid mixture into center of dry ingredients and stir until just blended. Fold in diced apple.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups and then top each muffin with 1/4 teaspoon of the brown sugar-cinnamon mix. Using a toothpick, swirl the mixture gently into each muffin. Bake 12 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of one muffin comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I liked these yummy muffins. I did tell my mom I think I'd like them better without the diced apples, but that's just a texture preference. They are extremely moist and have a bouncy texture due to the applesauce in them, and I like that. They're very easy to make and have a great flavor. I definitely recommend this recipe.

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

From: Here

Ingredients:
1 3/4 sticks butter, cut into pieces, plus more for greasing pan
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups oats
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
10-12 ounce jar of strawberry preserves

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch rectangular pan. Mix together the butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Press half the oat mixture into the prepared pan. Spread with the strawberry preserves. Sprinkle the other half of the oat mixture over the top and pat lightly. Bake until light brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely, and then cut into squares.

What I did differently from the recipe:

First of all, I had to substitute the butter. We're on this awful, miserable, can't-stop-thinking-about-cheese dairy-free diet on doctor's orders. I actually had to go buy a butter alternative to cook with. Not as easy as it sounds. Turns out there's only one I could find - Fleischmann's. Just for future reference. Also, instead of strawberry preserves I used my homemade blackberry jam.

What I'll do differently next time:

Nothing.

Verdict:

Thumbs up! Oh my goodness, I never watch television but I just happened to turn on the TV this weekend for some mind-numbing fun while the kids napped (Stephen was working) and lo and behold, one of my "I want to be like her when I grow up!" people has a TV show! I never knew this because I never watch TV. Yes, that's right, Pioneer Woman has her own show on the Food Network. And I shall now DVR it forever and ever. Anyway, this was a recipe on the episode I watched and I just absoutely had to make it. I can't stop eating it at this moment and it is so absolutely delicious. Highly recommend it!

Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cookies

From: Cooking Light

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
3/4 cup finely chopped dried apple slices
3/4 cup caramel bits or 16 small soft caramel candies, chopped

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add flour and next 4 ingredients in a bowl, stir well. Observe your 2-year old trying to stir without any help.

Place sugars and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture; beat at low speed until just combined.

 Fold in apple and caramel bits. Drop dough by 2 teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Flatten balls slightly with hand. Bake for 9 minutes. Cool on pans and then on wire racks. 

What I did differently from the recipe:
I did use quick-cooking oats because that's all I had on hand. It didn't change any of the timings though. I also didn't use dried apple - no time!

What I'll do differently next time:
Nothing.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Oh my goodness, these are delicious! They are sweet and gooey and just so yummy! This was such an easy recipe to throw together, so simple to make, and perfect for something last-minute or to feed a bunch of people at a party. I highly recommend it!

Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
3/4 cup finely chopped dried apple slices
3/4 cup caramel bits or 16 small soft caramel candies, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add flour and next 4 ingredients in a bowl, stir well. Place sugars and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture; beat at low speed until just combined. Fold in apple and caramel bits. Drop dough by 2 teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Flatten balls slightly with hand. Bake for 9 minutes. Cool on pans and then on wire racks. 

Oatmeal S'more Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup mini marshmallows

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips and marshmallows. Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.

What I did differently from the recipe:

I ran out of chocolate chips so I used some chocolate chips and some white chocolate chips. Of course that didn't make any difference.

What I'll do differently next time:

Either cut it in half or even a quarter!!!

Verdict:

Thumbs up! Honestly, when they were first made I was not that impressed with them. Within a couple of hours of them coming out of the oven they were already yummier than at first. These were such an easy, straight-forward recipe. Would be great for church functions or parties especially. It makes a TON - I only used about half my dough and it probably made 3 dozen.

Oatmeal S'more Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup mini marshmallows

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips and marshmallows. Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.

Anytime Oatmeal Cookies

No pictures because I am in the process of ordering a new computer... our other computers don't have my camera software on them! Trust me, these cookies looked just as great as they tasted. :)

From: Martha Stewart Living

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
salt
1 stick butter, room temperature
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup golden raisins

Preheat oven to 350. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp salt into a bowl. Beat butter and sugars until pale and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla, then flour mixture. Mix in oats, then raisins. Using a tablespoon, drop dough onto greased baking sheets, spacing each scoop about 2 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden, about 14 minutes.

What I did differently from the recipe:
I used regular raisins, not sure what the difference in flavor is.

What I'll do differently next time:
Definitely nothing needs to be changed, but after I had baked some I though, "How delicious would these be with some white chocolate chunks in the batter?" Well, uh, so good! I didn't try that actually but that would be delicious!

Verdict:
Thumbs UP!! SO good. Like, so good I had to force myself to quit eating them because they are supposed to be dessert for tomorrow's lunch. And SO easy! You can't get any better than this when it comes to a cookie recipe!!

Oatmeal Banana Drops

Go here to see the recipe for some yummy, kid-friendly (even baby-friendly!) snacks I made yesterday!