Choc-amel Oat-kin Cookies | Recipe

One of my most favorite combinations is caramel with anything. Seriously. I'll basically eat caramel off a bald tire. I don't care; judge all you'd like.

But then I look over at my sidekick, Lola, and remember that, as much as I'd like to make cookies dipped in caramel and then submerged in chocolate, I have to make things healthier. The answer? Oatmeal. Oatmeal instantly adds several health benefits, and it adds an addictive texture. Then to pump up the flavor, pumpkin puree and chocolate chips come into the picture.

These cookies are light, fluffy, indulgent and so tasty. Plus, they're super easy to make! Lola had absolutely no problem helping from start to finish - "finish" meaning eating handfuls of cookies, crumbs and random bits of batter. My concern that she might get sick was overruled by shock that my picky toddler followed her lead. To be honest, Lola opted to grab one for breakfast a couple of times, and who could blame her? These cookies are healthier than most pre-packaged breakfasts!

Without further ado...

Choc-amel Oat-kin Cookie

Makes: about 40

What you need:

1½ c. brown sugar ¾ c. butter, softened 1 c. pumpkin puree 1 tsp. vanilla 2 eggs 1½ tsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. nutmeg 2 c. quick oats 1 c. flour ½ tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda 1 tsp salt 1½ c. semi sweet chocolate chips

10 soft caramel candies (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°

• In large a bowl cream butter and sugar together.

• In same bowl mix, eggs, pumpkin and vanilla.

• In a separate bowl combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, salt and oatmeal.

• Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and mix until combined.

• add a more flour a little at a time until the you have a soft dough.

• don't over mix

• Mix in chocolate chips

• Line your baking sheet with parchment and drop your dough in 1" ball

• Bake for 10-12 minutes

• ​don't over bake - the centers of your cookies will be very soft. Give them time to firm up while cooling.

• Let them rest on the pan for just a little while before moving to a cooling rack to avoid having your soft cookies fall apart.

*If you are adding caramels

• Cut your soft caramels into fourths.

• After your cookies have been in the oven for 6 minutes, press a piece of caramel into the top of each.

• Continue baking for 4-6 minutes

• if you add your caramels from the beginning, your caramels will become too hot, causing them to melt through to the bottom of your cookies. This can lead to a sad cookie with a big hole in the middle.

These cookies are soft, moist and sure to be a family favorite.

For a tasty twist, add to a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

There's just no wrong way to eat these delicious goodies!

#recipe #dessert