Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies

It may be a long name, but it’s worth it.  I love trying new recipes.  There’s something so intriguing

about pouring over all the ingredients of a compelling dish, and trying to picture how they will all come together.  So, there is a regular flow of new dishes coming out of my kitchen.  

And Jim is a trooper.  He tries everything with an open mind.  Okay, sometimes he does stare at the plate, and then back up at me with a, ‘What are you doing to me?’ kind of look.  And for the most part, he is pleasantly surprised!  And then when he says, “This is a keeper” I know I’ve surpassed all his expectations.  And I’m so happy.

But then, to make up for all the confusion and trepidation that his tastebuds must endure, I have to placate the native by going back to the old standbys.  In this case, a good cookie.  Jim is my Cookie Monster.  He’s so content with a basic cookie that reminds him of his childhood.  So for all the fancy, decorated, exotic ingredient cookies I try out, I have to also make him ones that pass the ‘everyman’ criteria.  This is it.  The Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie.  It has everything he requires.  The peanut butter reminds him of his beloved ‘Pirate Cookies’ (you guys know the store bought bag of peanut butter cookies sandwiching a peanut butter cream centre I’m referring to?).  The chocolate satisfies his sweet tooth.  And the oatmeal, well, that’s the healthy, texture part, right?  It’s a chewy cookie, but if a few days later it becomes slightly crisp, that’s alright: it becomes a dunking cookie.  Which is why there’s that glass of milk, right?  So, when you make these, think of Jim.  He’s dunking one in his milk right now 🙂

I’ve been playing with this recipe, using Einkorn flour.  A much purer version of wheat flour, which seems to be more tolerable to those with gluten sensitivities.  I’m not referring to those suffering from Celiac’s disease, who really can’t get near gluten of any kind.  Einkorn is an ancient grain (actually the early form of the wheat that is being massively GMO’d these days)  The proteins that create gluten seem to act differently in einkorn flour compared to conventional wheat, making it a consideration for those with sensitivities to wheat.  If you are curious about these ancient grains and their benefits, why not check out this link for a comprehensive and approachable explanation of Einkorn and its benefits: Jovial Foods.

Anyway, the recipe below contains an adjustment if you do opt to use Einkorn or Emmer flours.  (it’s really just a matter of reducing liquids in most cases, because of the way the flour absorbs liquids and fat)  But the final cookies are still a dream, and still Jim approved.

Love Jen

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

The peanut-iest, chocolate-iest, oatmeal-iest cookie to satisfy even the Cookie Monster himself!

Course Dessert

Prep Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Cook Time 11 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 26 minutes

Servings 30 cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1/2 cup peanuts fresh roasted in the oven and cooled
• 3/4 cup AP flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup quick cooking oats if you only have one or the other, it is fine to make up the entire amount with one type of oats
• 6-8 oz chopped bittersweet chocolate I most often will use 2 Lindt or Ghirardelli bars. Go for darker, or salted version. Or measure chocolate chips- 1 to 1 1/4 cups
• Maldon salt for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Combine peanut butter and roasted peanuts in a food processor. Blend until almost smooth.

2. Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.

3. Using a hand held or stand mixer, beat both sugars and the butter till fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the peanut butter mixture and vanilla. Beat to blend.

4. Beat in the egg. Add the dry ingredients and mix till combined. Add both oats. Blend well. 

   Stir in chocolate chunks. 

5. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.

6. Preheat oven to 375F. Line two baking sheets with parchment. If both sheets won't fit on one rack in the middle of the oven, then arrange two rack in the upper and lower thirds of the oven.

7. Scoop out balls of the dough, about 2tbsp per ball. Space them 1" apart. Press down with your palm on each one.  I usually get around 30 cookies.

8. Bake until golden and firming up, about 10-11 minutes. (rotate the sheets between the two racks and also turn 180 degrees halfway through the baking)

9. Remove and immediately sprinkle a little Maldon salt (or any finishing salt) on each cookie, especially any melted chocolate- it will hold onto the flakes the best.

   Let them cool on the sheets for 2 minutes. Then transfer them to wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Recipe Notes

When I'm trying a recipe for the first time, I will often bake just one tray, and follow the instructions to a tee. Then I can monitor the results. If I'm happy then I can continue with the second tray, knowing that they will all turn out. If I feel I need adjust the cooking time, I can do so with the second tray.
If you would like to try this cookie using Einkorn or Emmer flours, use the required 3/4 cup, and reduce the butter by 1 tbsp.

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