Continue reading »]]> Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Ahhh, cookies. So easy to have one, so easy to have three more, gotta love it.

The first time I went to make chocolate chip cookies, I looked in the pantry, and though my recipe called for shortening, I didn’t have any. When trying to think this through without going to the grocery store for one item, as I often do, I had a thought. It is something of a life philosophy for me: “When having difficulty answering a question, try using “peanut butter” as the answer, and then see if the problem has gone away. Ok, not going to work in SOME situations, but its come in handy a few times, and this is absolutely one of those times.

That was years ago, and while we make a lot of cookies, some form of chocolate chip cookie is always good to come back to. I adapted this to be more of a blend between an oatmeal cookie and a chocolate chip cookie, with, of course, peanut butter. Substitute out any nut butter that you like, or just swap that out for shortening if you would rather go nut free.

After you make up the dough, it works well to put the dough in the freezer for about an hour before putting cookies in the oven. I can rarely wait that long. This is partially because Mrs. Dairyfreedaydream and the two little Dairyfreedaydreams like to snack on cookie dough if I am not watching it. Also because I just can’t wait to eat the cookies, but if you can make it that long, there you have it.

Ingredients

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Earth Balance

1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar

1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 Cup Unbleached All Purpose Flour

2 Cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
12 oz. Chocolate Chips

Instructions

· Preheat oven to 375 F.
· Beat Earth Balance and peanut butter together with electric mixer for about 30 seconds.
· Add in brown sugar and granulated sugar.
· Add in baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
· Add in eggs and vanilla.
· Add in flour. If using hand-held mixer, you may haven to fold in some of the flour by hand.
· Fold in oats and chocolate chips.
· Place cookie dough in freezer for up to 1 hr (optional).
· Using a tablespoon, scoop rounded balls onto cookie sheet, separating about 2 inches apart.

· Bake for 8-11 minutes.
· Cool on wire rack for several minutes before enjoying.
Enjoy and repeat as needed.

Keep living the daydream!