Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

Made with chocolate chips and dried cherries

These yummy, chewy cookies are one of my favorites. I add different things to the recipe depending on my mood and the time of year. Some of my favorite add ins are raisins, chocolate chips, coconut, granola, dried fruit or a mix of things. I've used a mix from the Winnco bulk section, I think it was called Thanksgiving  or Harvest granola with white and butterscotch chips, craisins, candied walnuts and chopped dried apples. I broke the walnut halves into smaller pieces and it worked great. I think my favorite add in is dried cherries and chocolate chips.

Thanksgiving mix from Winnco

 

 For measuring purposes, I used raisins in this recipe.   

1 cup butter at room temp or margarine

1 cup shortening

2 cups dark brown sugar

1 cup canister sugar

4 eggs at room temp

2 Tbs Vanilla

3 cups instant rolled oatmeal (regular can be used)

4 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup shredded coconut (optional)

2 cups raisins (optional- you can substitute the raisins for chocolate chips chopped fried fruit, chopped nuts or a combinations of all, be creative.)

Preheat oven to 375degrees. Prepare greased cookie sheets. In a large bowl, mix butter and shortening till smooth. Slowly add in both the brown and canister sugars to the butter mixture; add eggs one at a time, mixing after each egg; add vanilla. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl after each addition; mix until until blended and smooth. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and add to butter and sugar mixture.

Fold in raisins. Drop by tablespoon to greased cookie sheet and bake for 9 minutes or just until golden and no longer looks wet. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack, paper bag or paper towel until cool enough to eat then hide them so you don't eat them all at once. Store in an air tight container. Makes about 6 dozen.

Made with Thanksgiving mix and picture taken with bad lighting