Chocolate Covered Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
With all the turmoil taking place in our country these days, permeating our lives on a daily basis, you would have to be living under a rock not to be effected. The news is overwhelming and depressing with issues that run the gamut from political, to gender and racial inequality, to natural disasters that are wiping out entire communities and washing away our natural landscapes. Is it any wonder that I have been feeling forlorn and powerless? This week I did something to remind myself I am not powerless. I have my voice and I have my skills. I can speak up and act in order to create change. Great change can happen through small steps.
Kindness cookies. That’s what I dubbed these cookies after taking them to my new neighbors and welcoming them to our little slice of heaven in Lunada Bay. It only makes sense that to breed kindness you have to be kind, and what better place to start than in our own backyards. Since I am a baker, making cookies comes easily to me. I decided to use one of my talents to spread some kindness. That simple gesture not only made them feel welcomed, it brought me joy to use my skill to show kindness to someone else.
My intention with this post is not to be preachy. It’s only to share how I managed to find a way to bring kindness and warmth to my small community. In the eulogy my brother composed when our mom passed away a few years ago he wrote, ‘Mom said more than once that being nice or being kind was easier than not being nice and kind. I am sure she thought small acts were just as important as grand gestures.’ And so do I.
Chocolate Covered Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup bread flour
1/2 cup finely ground old-fashion rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups old-fashion rolled oats
1 cup dark chocolate covered raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts
Flaky or Kosher salt for sprinkling on cookies
Preheat oven to 350˚. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour through cloves.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl using a hand-held mixer, mix together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, stopping the mixer and scraping down the sides of the bowl in between each addition. Mix in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix until fully incorporated.
Using the mixer, or by hand, add in 1 1/2 cups of oats until mostly combined. By hand, stir in the raisins and walnuts until evenly distributed throughout the dough. Chill the dough for at least four hours, or overnight for best results.
Baking one sheet of cookies at a time, use a 2-inch cookie scoop to drop portions of dough onto prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Sprinkle a little flaky or Kosher salt on top of each cookie. Bake until golden brown around the edges and still slightly blond in the middle, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Yields 2 1/2 – 3 dozen cookies
I agree, every day there is such an avalanche of horrible news. Your thoughtfulness is a breath of fresh air! Daydreaming of a few (one, would not be enough) of these lush cookies with my morning coffee….
I’m with you Deb, I can never stop at just one of these cookies.
These look delicious! As I was reading your story I was thinking of your mom
And her letter writing. Small gesture with huge impact! Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree❤️
Awe, thanks Amanda. You happen to be one of the kindest people I know.
Thanks for the lovely post! Your cookies and your sentiments are beautiful!
Thanks Leslie!
Speaking personally, small gestures always have such a big impact on me. Neighborliness is a lovely trait and I bet they loved those yummy looking cookies.
Thanks Sher!