Chugga chugga, chugga chugga – I’m taking the “empty your cabinets and throw it all in” theme and rolling with it. These loaded oatmeal cookies are chock full of coconut flakes, raisins, and double the chips – white chocolate and butterscotch. The result is a very chewy, kind of sweet, kind of spiced, perfect specimen of a cookie. And one that sneaks in 50% whole wheat at that.
But before we go there, let’s talk about ground-breaking kitchen developments. You may have sneaked a peek if you follow me on Instagram, but I bought my very first crockpot! Hooooly smokes – how in the world have I not had one?!!? For the inaugural voyage we kept things simple and threw in boneless skinless chicken breasts and homemade BBQ sauce. Yes yes yes. I know I’m probably preaching to the choir here, but it shredded SO easily and was the juiciest. Blew. our. minds.
I’m a little bummed these cookies can’t be made in the crockpot, because I want to use it for everythingggg.
As I type this I have a stupid grin on my face thinking about these cookies (okay, and the massive quantity of shredded chicken sitting in my fridge/freezer). Sometimes I’ll be at a gathering and hone in on a tray of decadent, delicious looking cookies. I’ll eat half that tray, my stomach says. Then I finish one and realize just how heavy they are – how buttery, how rich, etc. More often than not I tap out after one, feeling like I housed a huge dessert. While tasty, that’s not my favorite feeling ever.
Yes, these cookies use butter and sugar, but some tweaks were made along the way to make sure you don’t feel like you over-indulged when you really indulged just enough. Responsible indulging. Instead of adding granulated sugar to the mix along with brown sugar, honey and maple syrup are added for a tad extra sweetness and flavor. Then I subbed in half white whole wheat flour (<3) and totally got away with it. These cookies aren’t dry in the slightest, and with all of the chewy coconut and mix ins, your sneaky little flour switcheroo flies under the radar.
Way, way under the radar.
Psst – can I confess something?? Besides the fact that I couldn’t wait to take that bite out of that cookie above? As I get more and more interested in food photography, I get really anxious about hand shots. I don’t have a tripod, and that’s my right hand (withthethankfullynotchippednailpolish). Do you want to know how I took the picture? It involved a combination of resting the swing-out display screen on my chest, bear hugging the camera with my left arm under the lens so that any finger on my left hand could push the button, and praying my pretzel arms stay still so the picture isn’t blurry. It’s really an attractive pose, if you’re wondering.
So why am I being so weird? My left thumb is a little bit…different. Now I’m thankful to have the fully functioning thumb I was born with, but do you remember those horrible, trashy articles a few years back bashing Megan Fox for her thumbs? Laaaaame, I know…but my left thumb looks like her thumbs. Except it’s just my left thumb. My right thumb is more “conventional looking” (haha!), so that’s the thumb that gets the on-camera time. Crazy poses and all. #foodbloggerproblems
That’s enough food blog TMI for this Tuesday, but hope you got a laugh envisioning a twisted up pretzel of a person trying to take a picture of a cookie in front of an open window. I’m sure my neighbors love me. 😀 Check out the “good” thumb’s modeling debut with this guacamole with feta, pistachios, and pomegranate seeds!
Loaded Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, beat softened butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, and honey on medium speed. Add eggs and vanilla extract, and continue to beat until all ingredients are well-mixed and batter is creamy.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients into wet at once, and stir until just combined. Stir in oats, raisins, coconut flakes, and chips just until mixed.
- Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, scoop dough into approximately 1 1/2-tbsp rounded cookies and place on ungreased cookie sheets, about 2" apart. Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until edges have browned slightly and the tops have turned slightly golden. Let cookies cool completely on wire rack.
Notes
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
These cookies look amazing! They are loaded with awesomeness! I wish I could reach through and grab a few of these!
Alyssa says
Thanks Pamela! I think I should have called them “loaded with awesomeness” oatmeal cookies. 🙂
marcie says
Your thumb is very photogenic, Alyssa — you’ve got nothing to worry about! And that’s how I take hand shots, too (no tripod yet). 🙂 These cookies look thick and delicious just the way I like them, and I wish I had a few!
Alyssa says
Haha why thank you, Marcie! I don’t discriminate with cookies, but I love thick and chewy oatmeal cookies. Wish I could send you a few through the screen!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
These are some serious looking cookies! Love ’em! Such a nice change from the standard run-of-the-mill oatmeal cookie!
Alyssa says
Thanks Chris!
[email protected] says
Mmmm…I love oatmeal cookies and the butterscotch in these puts it over the top!! Nice recipe!
Alyssa says
Thank you Annie! There are few cookies I’ve found that don’t benefit by the addition of butterscotch chips! 🙂
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
I love that there are white chocolate chips and butterscotch chips! I have a tripod but I’m almost always too lazy to use it, and I’m definitely conscious about hand shots too!
Alyssa says
The more chips the better! 🙂 And glad to hear I’m not alone on worrying about hand shots.
Christine @ Cooking with Cakes says
I just got my first crockpot too!!!! yay for new foodie experiences 🙂 and ummm do these count as breakfast? cause I’m pretty sure I wanna start my day with one tomorrow
Alyssa says
Woohoo crockpot!! Just in time for the chilly weather. And yes def, I say go ahead and eat these for breakfast haha I may or may not have done that myself!
Catalina @ Shades of Pink says
Love that this have butterscotch and coconut! And oatmeal cookies may be my fave by far, I just like the chewy texture from the oats.
Alyssa says
Thanks Catalina! I love oatmeal cookies, too. 🙂
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
I love the way you ‘sneaked’ whole wheat into these – very clever! And, I know what you mean about your crockpot – they are awesome, and everything is so juicy and flavorful. Next thing you know, you’ll be buying a 2nd one! Hahahaha!
Alyssa says
Haha I know!! Not that I’ve been looking for a smaller one to have on hand, too… they are fabulous!
Ashley says
Yay for buying your first crockpot! And these cookies look awesome awesome!
I always think people are going to think I have man-hands when I ask my husband to help me with a photo!!
Alyssa says
Thanks girl! I have about eight million recipes I want to try in it. There’s NO way I’m deciding on just one to make this weekend. Haha! And that is so funny re: man hands. I never thought of that!!
Jess @ What Jessica Baked Next says
These cookies look delicious, Alyssa! Love choc chip oatmeal cookies, so I definitely need to try your recipe out! Thanks so much for sharing!
Alyssa says
Ooh those are fab ones, too. I don’t think I’ve met an oatmeal cookie I didn’t like. Haha! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Kelley @ Chef Savvy says
These cookies look amazing! I love oatmeal cookies. I can’t wait to try them with the coconut flakes!
Alyssa says
Thanks Kelley! I’m a big fan of coconut anything, but I especially liked them in these cookies. Coconut + oats make them so chewy! 🙂
Annie @Maebells says
These look lovely! I am a big fan of oatmeal cookies!
Alyssa says
Thanks Annie – they’re one of my favorites! 🙂
Ashley @ My Midwest Table says
Oh goodness do these cookies look soft. And I love all the add-ins…makes baking cookies and cleaning out the cupboard fun! And I think the hand shot is great. You go, girl!
My sister has a thumb that’s just like yours and Megan’s. And I remember a girl on my high school cross country team that had both thumbs like this. I think it’s way more common than people realize!
Alyssa says
Thanks so much Ashley! More is more with these cookies for sure. 🙂 And how funny! I’ve never known of anyone (besides Megan) who had them (or, one of them anyway haha!)
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Just look how thick and puffy that oatmeal cookie is! Looks delicious! And love that it has whole wheat flour. Makes it healthy, right? *wink*. And you’re amazing for taking “hand” pictures yourself! I always have Shawn take them for me, because I’m impatient like that.
And I love that you have a “good” thumb, because I have a “good” ankle! One has a huge scar on it from a golf cart accident (long story). I used to be really self conscious about it, so in pictures where the front of my ankles were showing, I would stand with my legs crossed to hide the bad ankle. But now, I kind of like that it’s different. Different is interesting, just like your left thumb : )
Alyssa says
Thanks so much girl! I need to plan my hand shots better…I always seem to take them when B’s not home. And I feel ya on different being interesting…I like that. 🙂 In real life I don’t think anybody has ever noticed unless I brought it up. Except on those occasions when I’m getting a manicure haha!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
These cookies look perfectly chewy and delicious!
Alyssa says
Thanks Jocelyn!
Sues says
I have hand in photo anxiety, too… your photos look awesome, though! Plus, cookie with the bite out of it looks so, so delicious!
Alyssa says
Haha I’m glad to hear I’m not alone, Sues! And thanks! 🙂