As I prepared to bake cookies for Santa, I perused my Grandmother’s recipe box once again and felt nothing could be more apropos than a recipe for ‘Good Cookies’. I’m feeling pretty confident about my behavior over the past year landing me on Santa’s list of choice but why risk it? Whether merely an understated affirmation of a delicious cookie recipe or something that might bear a deeper meaning in the succinct recipe title, I’ve decided this is prophetic and I’m going for it.
You’ll note the gross absence of any instruction in the original recipe card (again these would be from last century any time after the invention of the typewriter which is my only clue with this one). I’ve ‘embellished’ (seems like an oxymoron when there is nothing to expound upon) the instructions to reflect what worked for me.
GOOD COOKIES
Yield: 4 dozen cookies
Ingredients
· 1 stick margarine (I used butter), softened
· ½ cup sugar
· 1 generous cup brown sugar
· 1 teaspoon vanilla
· ¼ cup honey
· 2 eggs
· 1 cup flour
· 1 teaspoon salt
· ½ teaspoon baking soda
· 2 cups quick oats
· 1 cup walnuts (chopped)
· 1 package chocolate chips (to spice this up a bit I substituted 3 bars of chopped Chocolove Dark Chocolate with Chilies and Cherries. Kept it local and gave it a regional twist)
Gluten Free modifications: Substitute gluten free flour. Add 1 teaspoon xanthan gum. Use gluten free instant rolled oats (I used Bob’s Red Mill).
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Sift together the flour, salt, baking soda (and xanthan gum if you are making these gluten free).
3. In a separate bowl cream together the margarine/butter with sugars. In another bowl combine the vanilla, honey and eggs. Add the vanilla/egg/honey mixture to the butter/sugar mixture and beat until combined.
4. Add flour mixture into the wet mixture a bit at a time while beating until fully mixed combined.
5. Fold in oats, walnuts and chocolate chips.
6. Place tablespoons of the dough onto parchment paper or a Silpat and bake for 10 minutes. This is how long it took for mine to bake completely. Because ovens do differ I suggest monitoring them in your oven to decide if they need a few extra minutes.
These cookies really did turn out ‘good’ as the title promised! They are a flatter more chewy cookie (in a good way) vs. a the more lofty, cakey type. Even more yummy the second day. I think they’ll pass muster with Santa….if there are any left by the time he shows up!
Mary says
December 29, 2010 at 7:18 pmyummm love recipes from grandma's collection
Lizzy says
December 28, 2010 at 3:57 pmMmmmm, these cookies sound SO good…definitely will try these…once I get off the holiday sugar high! DL has an ice cream book? I may have to pick it up for some summer treats!
Raw_Girl says
December 27, 2010 at 2:23 pmOh you are so lucky to live so close to Chocolove's factory
So how was the chocolate (Sorry, thats all i can think about :))?
Raw_Girl says
December 27, 2010 at 2:12 pmHey – I am so in love with that chilli and cherry in dark chocolate bars. can you be my secret santa and mail me a couple of bars?? 😉 I am pretty sure I wont find it here in india. 🙁
Boulder Locavore says
December 24, 2010 at 8:52 pmHappy Christmas Eve all and thanks for reading! Angie I too have had some chocolate with chilies I did NOT like (not enough sweetness to balance the heat and the cocoa flavor). This local brand does a fantastic job at blending everything perfectly. A bit of heat but not overpowering and offset nicely by the cherries and sweetness of the chocolate. In Germany I'm sure this would not appear but for those in the U.S., do keep an eye out; it's a great brand. Warm wishes to all of you! Toni
Angie's Recipes says
December 24, 2010 at 7:25 pmI had some chilli flavoured chocolate a while ago, and I am still not sure how I feel about it. But I am sure Santa would love these cookies. :-))
I wish you a merriest holiday season with lots of great food, peace and love!
Angie
Lea Ann says
December 24, 2010 at 2:44 pmBy the way, finally had time to check out your King Tut post. That chili in sauce looks wonderful! How did I miss that? You'll have to check out my post on our visit and don't miss the part about my son having items for sale in the gift shop! 🙂
Lea Ann says
December 24, 2010 at 2:26 pmTwo things I love about this…a hand typed recipe card. Would we even know how to use a typewriter these days? And the substitution of the chili and cherries chocolate. Merry Christmas.
playfightrepeat says
December 24, 2010 at 4:13 pmI love that your Grandmother calls them “Good Cookies.” That's perfect!
Intuitive Eggplant says
December 24, 2010 at 2:28 pmLove that recipe! And I will have to keep an eye out for that dark chocolate with chilies and cherries – mmmm. And I especially love your letter to Santa 🙂
Wishing you and yours a safe, merry, and tasty locavore Christmas!
Best,
eggy