Oatmeal Coconut and Goodies Galore

( aka “Coconut Chewies”)

I won’t take credit for the origin of this, I got the idea and the foundation of the recipe from an old school chum, Debbie Black Iverson.  I’m torn over which is better – the texture or the taste – both are most excellent.

Ingredients
Wet:
1 cup butter, softened (option: 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup shortening)
2 cups brown sugar (option: 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. coconut extract

Dry:
2 cups flour
2 cups oats
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix-ins:
1/2 cup coconut
½ cup raisins (optional)
1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips or M&Ms (optional)
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Directions
In one bowl combine everything wet; blend well.  In another bowl, combine everything dry.  Combine the two, mix in the mix-ins. (Careful to not break your spoon, dough is very stiff.)  Drop by tablespoons (or small scoop); flatten slightly with backside of spatula or bottom of a glass before baking.  Bake at 375 degrees for 9 minutes or until light brown.  Cool slightly on cookie sheet before removing to foil-lined counter to cool completely.  Store in airtight container.

Grape Nuts Cookies

This is a fun cookie.  The Grape Nuts almost feel like toffee bits when you’re crunching through them in the chewy cookie.  There’s nothing interesting about how they look though, so no picture.

Ingredients:
1 Cup butter, softened (or 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup shortening)
1 Cup brown sugar, packed
1 Cup white sugar
1/3 Cup honey
4 eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla
2 Cups flour
2 Cups Grape Nuts cereal
2 Cups rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350º.  In a large bowl, combine (with an electric mixer) the first six (wet) ingredients, in another bowl, combine the next five (dry).  Stir together with a stout wooden spoon; will be too stiff to use a mixer.  Drop by rounded tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet; not too closely, they spread.  Bake for 8 – 11 minutes, allow to set a few before removing to counter to cool completely.