peanut butter + oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

May 13, 2013

peanut butter + oatmeal chocolate chip cookies | une gamine dans la cuisine

Every now and then we have our struggles with self-doubt and superfluous insecurities. Sometimes a sliver sized fragment of my own self-consciousness will splinter off and lodge itself into my blog. In dark times I'll compare my site with other food blogs and berate myself for not being as successful, especially when I discover a gorgeous newbie blog that already has a gazillion followers and resplendent acknowledgments in Saveur & Gourmet etc..

So when I was contacted by Martha's Circle last week, asking if I'd like to join, I was Beyond elated! Unfortunately, due a conflict with my current ad network (which I adore!), I had to turn down the offer. But it was just what my blog and I needed; irrefutable proof that one doesn't necessarily need an SLR camera, or the fancy bells and whistles of Photoshop, to get "noticed."

I hope you don't mind me sharing that bit of exciting news. I'm a chronic wallflower, but sometimes the warm glow of a spotlight feels soft and cosy. If une gamine dans la cuisine were a cat, she'd be purring like a lioness. :)

Now, lets talk cookies.

peanut butter + oatmeal chocolate chip cookies | une gamine dans la cuisine

My Pinterest food boards are ever-growing monsters. I feed them daily with recipe links and mouth-watering photos. Last week I finally decided to make a small dent in my to-bake list by actually making something from my to-bake list.

Out of all the chocolate chip cookie recipes I have made, this one received the most accolades, and the most "Oh, just one more, please?" requests. It's the best of three worlds - peanut butter, oatmeal and, of course, chocolate chips. Did I mention that they're made with brown butter, too? And yes, they're chewy, thick + massive.

Honestly, words fail to describe this lofty level of awesomeness. These cookies must be experienced to be believed.

peanut butter + oatmeal chocolate chip cookies | une gamine dans la cuisine

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
makes about 12-14 large cookies

ingredients
10 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 10 pieces
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1 1/4 cups tightly packed, light brown sugar (dark will work too)
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter {Note: Please don't use low-fat}
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli's 60% cacao chips)
Coarse sea salt (optional)

method
Brown the butter: In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Increase the heat to medium and, stirring occasionally, cook the butter until it turns golden brown and develops a nutty aroma. Depending on the stove's heat, it can take 5-8 minutes for the butter to brown properly. During this process the butter will first become foamy before changing color, making it difficult to see what's going on. Just be sure to give it a good stir now and then so that the butter doesn't burn. Once it's gorgeous and fragrant, remove the pan from the heat. Allow the browned butter to cool for about 40 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon (if using). Add the rolled oats and whisk to combine; Set aside.

In a stand mixer bowl, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the brown sugar and cool browned butter together on medium speed for about 5-7 minutes (stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed). Add the peanut butter and beat till combined. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on medium speed for about 3-5 minutes - keep scraping down the bowl when necessary.

Turn the mixer down to low speed and slowly add the flour/oat mixture. Beat just until the white streaks of flour have disappeared. Add the chocolate chips and use a large wooden spoon or rubber spatula to fold them into the cookie dough. Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. {Note: I chilled mine overnight.}

Remove the dough from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature until it's easy to scoop. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

For each cookie, measure out about three heaping Tablespoonfuls of dough (mine each weighed approximately 56 grams). Roll into balls and place onto prepared cookie sheets - allowing about 2-inches of space between each cookie. Use the back of a measuring cup, or your palm, to gently press down each mound of dough so it's about (or just below) 1/4-inches thick. Sprinkle a little sea salt onto each cookie (if desired).

Bake for 10-11 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn brown (the middles will look slightly under-baked - that's okay!). Remove the sheets from the oven and place onto a cooling rack. Allow the cookies to rest on the sheets for about 8-10 minutes before removing.

adapted from Cooking Classy

43 comments:

  1. Jaclyn's recipe has always caught my eye and they look incredible! Best of three worlds - peanut butter, oatmeal, and chocolate chip. I have two recipes that roll all 3 in one in for those times I can't decide what I want. Your pics are totally telling the story with these. Beautiful!

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  2. Almost all my favourite snacks whirled into a cookie. Love this! Your photographs are beautiful as always :)

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  3. Valerie - you have no reason to doubt yourself - your blog is beautiful! I am definitely a fan. Your writing, recipes and photography are wonderful. Speaking of wonderful - these cookies are JUST that! Hope you have a great week.

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  4. That's amazing news, but I'm not surprised...your blog is one of my top favorites, and one that inspires me every time I visit. I think it's pretty awesome that you can turn down Martha!

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  5. You've convinced me - I love them already! And congratulations on being asked to join Martha's Circle. You are much too modest; I think your blog is amazing!

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  6. These look incredible!

    I use a point & shoot, so it's so nice to know that you do, too. Your pictures are beautiful, and you would never know they are not from an SLR.

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  7. Beautiful cookies! I'm sure they taste incredibly good.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  8. These look absolutely perfect! Congrats on the offer even if you had to turn it down.

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  9. Oh. My. Goodness! Valerie, I just adore peanut butter with chocolate (my ultimate weakness) as well as chocolate chip cookies AND oatmeal cookies. (In fact, I'm working on a paleo PB cookie version for the blog, of course grain-free and peanut-free using SunButter...of which I could eat the entire jar full with a spoon.) But! Your Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip recipe must be the VERY BEST OF ALL! Cannot wait to make...Mmmm. Thank you! ♥ Pinning to Pinterest group boards! xo

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  10. I'm in love with these cookies, they are perfect for a Monday (or any day, for that matter!). And I can hear those purrs from here ;).

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  11. What great affirmation, and I can totally see why you would be asked - your writing, recipes, and photos are all wonderful! I love the look of these thick perfect cookies, I could literally eat cookies like this every single day and never grow tired of them.

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  12. She is missing out not getting you! Envying others for what, do they have big, chewy awesome cookies like this - I think not.. Believe it or not with all the baking I've done the last few weeks, whipping up a batch of cookies sounds really good. Keep up the great work, I love visiting over here.
    -Gina-

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  13. how exciting!! yayy! it absolutely is not a surprise that you have been noticed - everything about your blog is beautiful!

    your cookies are gorgeous, i'm especially in love with that coarse sea salt on the top - i can just imagine how wonderful these taste!

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  14. Love these little beauties especially the sprinkle of salt on top, a must make recipe for me!

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  15. Congratulations! And gorgeous cookies. Also, where did you get that mug/jug from - the pattern looks just like the pottery they sell near my parents' house in Italy!

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  16. I really like Martha's Circle so if you change your mind, I recommend the switch:-)

    These cookies are everything I love.

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  17. Huge congratulations on being invited to join Martha's network, that's amazing!! And well-deserved :)

    I love these cookies - all of my favorite things rolled into one treat!

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  18. What an honor to be contacted by Martha's Circle. It's tough, but as soon as I stopped comparing myself to other blogs I think I improved drastically. That can really hold us back. I think your blog is wonderful just as it is. And these cookies look dynamite.

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  19. Nice! Congratulations on the offer! :) And are you saying that you use a point and shoot? Really? I would have guessed! You must have an amazing camera.

    And these cookies look lovely! Peanut butter can never be wrong. :)

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  20. These look perfect and I love how thick they stayed! I always whine when I have to chill dough, but it does make it so worth it when your cookies are as thick as these are! I will be making these in the very near future!

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  21. Your blog is beautiful and I'm not the least bit surprised that your beacon attracted Martha's radar. Keep up the wonderful work--I have those same insecurities about my blog on more occasions that I'd dare to admit so I understand. Congrats on the recognition!

    These cookies are wonderful!

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  22. First, since I'm old enough to be your mother, I can tell you that you have NO reason to be self conscious except in a VERY positive way. Your blog is amazing and your photos are always stunningly creative and beautiful. Now that I've got that off my chest I must say you could forget the blog and sell these delicious looking cookies and make a fortune, I bet even Martha would buy one if she was passing by your little cookie shop :)

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  23. How exciting Valerie for your lovely blog to be noticed by Martha and I think she would love these cookies too!
    I have to bake a batch of cookies from my Cookie Board-it also grows larger by the day ;-)

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  24. They look so good I think I will make these for dinner!

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  25. Wooooooot! That is freakin' awesome!! As is your blog!! You know I love it to pieces!!!!!
    We all do that to ourselves... it's part of the game. But it also pushes us to do more, and to get better at it.

    Love the cookies! They sound delicious... and your photos make my mouth water.

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  26. Ohhh congrats on Martha's Circle!
    What a lovely surpise.
    You are a talented baker--don't lose sight of that my dear. We all have our ups and downs.
    Don't ever doubt yourself!!! Just keep going!

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  27. Just found my way to your blog and I'm so happy I did...I'm loving it! These cookies look seriously amazing. I can tell they're moist and chewy...I usually find pb cookies to be too crumbly, so I'm definitely marking these down :)

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  28. It's fantastic you were contacted and well-deserved, my friend. These cookies are so delightful and I'd love one with my coffee now...(dreaming):)

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  29. Congrats on the offer. News like that warms your sould and boosts your confidence, for sure. These cookies look delicious--so thick and hearty!

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  30. Hi Valerie, congratulations with receiving the offer! The number of blogs out there is immense and it's too easy to start self doubting, but you have a beautiful space here and plenty of people who appreciate what you do, so you should never doubt!

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  31. You absolutely make the best cookies of any blogger I know, Val! Love how thick and chewy these look!

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  32. You definitely don't need a fancy camera to get noticed - your pictures are just gorgeous!! I am totally in love with these cookies too, I would LOVE one right now!

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  33. Congrats on getting selected by MArtha, you so deserve that Valerie! Now don't get me started when comparing my blog to others, it will always make me so depressed :-(..your site is one of my fav, esp since your the cookie queen:-)

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  34. I love your blog AND your recipes! You should be proud. And these cookies are a perfect example.
    (But I know know how you feel....I've been blogging for a long time and comments are decreasing while followers remain the same, rather low. It can be discouraging and I can see why Martha's offer would give you a great boost!)

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  35. Dearest Valerie - you have a beautiful blog and it truly shows all your labor of love for it in your writing, photography and presentation. What an honor and true compliment to have been approached by Martha's Circle!

    I luv everthing about these cookies...my favs rolled into one cookie and using cinnamon too (not optional). :D

    Have a lovely weekend and no more self-doubt!

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  36. I have tried so many different chocolate chip recipes, but this one looks like it's a winner. I LOVE this!

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  37. These cookies look like a dream come true, I can't wait to make them. I need to take your lead and bake something from my to-bake list soon. Congrats on your invitation to join Martha's Circle! You're blog is amazing, by the way, and I always enjoy reading it :)

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  38. Congratulations on the invitation! Bummer you couldn't join, but at least you know that a lot of people love your blog and recognize your talents, regardless of your camera :) These cookies should be a classic, they look great!

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  39. Congratulations on the Martha's Circle offer! What a huge acknowledgement of everything you have accomplished, and continue to every day. I'm a big fan but have never commented here; I thought between the good news and these lovely, rustic and delicious-looking cookies, it was time. Keep up the good work!

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  40. I have so many recipes on Pinterest that I'm yet to try! You've inspired me to actually make one this time.

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  41. You DON'T use a SLR, I couldn't tell. Your photo's are beautifully set up and shot, great styling. I've just discovered your blog through pinterest, I'll be following from now on.

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  42. @Spikeabell, Thanks! Pinterest has actually helped a lot in the food photo inspiration department.

    Also, Spikeabell is an awesome name! :D

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Thanks for visiting, and for taking the time to read through my ramblings!
If you have a recipe comment or question, I'd love to hear from you.

Happy Baking!
♥ Valerie

 

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