Yes! It's finally here! Thanksgiving is over, which means I am within all rights to FREAK OUT about CHRISTMAS!!!! Yay! I've already begun watching some of my Christmas movies, all the gifts are bought, and my mom is coming to visit this weekend to see NYC all Christmasified and to bring us some more decorations! Eee!
I had a normal childhood. Christmas was a time of my mom OVERHAULING the sweets. We always had sugar cookie cut-outs, which my mom, brother, and I all decorated (mine were always the most creative. Also...I never liked to eat them. I just liked decorating.) Mom also, of course, made chocolate chip cookies-which again, I was never a fan of (thin...crunchy...no way for a cookie to be)-HOWEVER-the dough was BOMB so my dad and I would always sneak some while it rested in the fridge. On top of that she usually made some other cookies (usually pre-made dough from tubs, etc.) and candy. The candy is what we used to impress everyone else. But anyway, as is obvious, there are no holiday cookie recipes that I exactly wanted from my mom (the only cookie recipe I could think of that I'd want from a family member is maybe the anise cut outs and pizzelle recipes that the Blognas have) . And now, it's just Michael and I here, until I visit home just before Christmas. And when I'm there mom will be the one baking, not me. And, since I don't have any kids yet, I'm in this very strange place as far as holiday traditions go. So, for this holiday recipe exchange post about holiday cookies, I want to share with you a new discovery. They're chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter cookies...but...there's just something...different about them. (psst....it's the cinnamon) Anyway, they taste like they should be made for Christmas, comforting with just a hint of that holiday spirit! And, on another plus note, they're diabetic friendly (I got these from a diabetic site...I don't know why. This is a recipe I stock piled a looong time ago). Regardless! These are super tasty, a little better for you, and I hope that maybe they'll be added to you holiday repertoire. Will they become a part of my future one? Only time will tell :)
(Other Holiday Recipe Exchange posts: Week 1 Parts 1 and 2, Week
3, Week Six, Week
Seven, Week
Nine , and Week 10 Parts 1 and 2)
"Something Special" Cookies
Makes 30-40 cookies.
Ingredients:- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar/sugar substitute
- 1/2 cup egg product or 2 eggs (I used the eggs)
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 cup AP flour (although I'd be curious to try whole wheat)
- 1 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup chocolate chips/chunks
- Optional: 1 cup raisins combined with 1/2 cup boiling water (then allowed to sit, drained, and added in at the same time as chocolate chips.)...I don't like raisins
Preparation:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a bowl, beat peanut butter and butter on medium speed for 30 seconds.
- Add sugar, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, and baking soda. Beat until combined. Add flour. Beat until smooth.
- Stir in oats.
- Stir in chocolate.
- Drop by rounded teaspoons onto cookie sheets. Bake about 10 minutes, until lightly browned.
Come join the fun at the My Baking Addiction and GoodLife Eats Holiday Recipe Swap sponsored by OXO