Looking for a delightful way to incorporate oats into your baking routine? Try making double whammy oatmeal chews! These cookies combine the classic chewy texture of oatmeal cookies with added ingredients that give them an extra boost of flavor and nutrients. Follow these steps for a tasty, healthy treat.
#### Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips (semisweet or milk)
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped nuts, 1/2 cup dried cranberries
#### Equipment:
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Electric mixer or whisk
- Spatula
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
### Step-by-Step Instructions:
#### 1. Preheat Your Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
#### 2. Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer or whisk to cream together the butter, light brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth and fluffy.
#### 3. Add Egg and Vanilla
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
#### 4. Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, mix together the rolled oats, flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this mixture to the butter-sugar-egg mixture, stirring until just incorporated.
#### 5. Fold in Chocolate Chips (and Optional Add-ins)
Stir in chocolate chips, nuts, and dried cranberries if using. Be careful not to overmix; you want the oats and mix-ins to be slightly chunky for added texture.
#### 6. Prepare Baking Sheets
Spoon the dough onto prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Use a spatula for even spreading if desired.
#### 7. Bake Your Cookies
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown around the edges but still slightly soft in the center.
#### 8. Cool and Enjoy
Remove from the oven and let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
### Tips for Success:
- **Use room temperature ingredients**: This ensures that your mixture is smooth and creamy, leading to better texture.
- **Don’t overmix**: Overmixing can make the dough tough. Mix until just combined and then gently fold in your add-ins.
- **Experiment with flavors**: Feel free to swap out chocolate chips for other mix-ins like peanut butter cups or white chocolate chips.
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Enjoy these delicious double whammy oatmeal chews as a snack or share them with friends and family!