Oatmeal CookieBlog

Crushin' on Cranberry Crunch Cookies

New reader E tried my Cranberry Crunch Cookies and had this to say:

“I love the crunch on the outside and the soft chewy cookie interior. Great recipe, thanks!”

Thanks for trying my recipe, E! And thanks for writing in. Happy Thanksgiving!

S'mores Bring Smiles II

Sassy, a reader and (now) real-life recipe user, made my S'mores Cookies and had this to say:

"Made these yesterday and they were wonderful...soft and chewy! They didn't even last 24 hrs!"

Thanks, Sassy! This is one of my most popular recipes. I'm so glad you liked these guys.  :-)

Triple Love for XXX Cranberry Cookies

I met Pam and In-Young in the East Village for spicy tuna at Village Yokocho last Thursday. We may not work together anymore, but we still have yummy cheap eats and--of course--cookies to keep us together. Thursday's out-of-office bring-in-ables:  XXX Cranberry Cookies.

From Pam:

“I don't know if it's b/c it's been a while since I've last been a cookie taster, but that batch of cranberry cookies is AMAZING!!! SO GOOD! Thank you. Thank you!!!”

From In-Young:

“i don't think i've ever seen fresh cranberries in my life... but i have eaten them in your awesome, crack-filled cookie!

i'm savoring them and checking my padlock to make sure p dubs (Pam) doesn't come crashing through the door to steal my stash.”

While I was out, Jon brought baggies of cookies to Jason (our doorman) and Laura (our neighbor). When I got home, the three of them were hanging out in the lobby, talking, and joking about how I'd be walking home in the rain. How true! I really am too cheap to pay for a cab, regardless of the weather...or the distance. From Laura:

“Remember how I said Chris said that the Blueberry Muffin Top Cookies (BMTC) were the best things he had ever tasted? And I just read how you wrote if you liked your BMTC you'll love these? Well you would be 150% correct. These are amazing! And as far as I'm concerned, the BMTC, the Cranberry Crunch Cookies and these XXX Cranberry Cookies are all the same, in that they are all so delicious I could never choose a favorite! You are the Michelangelo of cookie making! :~)

As usual, thank you, thank you, thank you for these amazingly delicious cookies!”

Thanks, you guys! This recipe is definitely a keeper.

S'mores Bring Smiles

Em, a reader and (now) real-life recipe user, wrote in earlier to say that her sister made my Raspberry Graham Cracker Crunch Cookies and l-o-v-e-d them. Em also said she was going to try my S'mores Cookies recipe.

Em had this to say:

“I just made these, and they are amazing!”

And then this:

“Update: They were so amazing that they're gone now. In less than a day. Between only 3 people. Mostly me ☺”

Thanks, Em! These S'mores Cookies are really, really good. I'm so glad you liked them!

Crushin' on Raspberry Graham Cracker Crunch Cookies

Em, a new reader, left the following comment on the post for my Raspberry Graham Cracker Crunch Cookies:

“After finding your wonderful blog and sharing with my sister, she decided to make these cookies first, and they were amazing! I am going to make your smores cookies for my first try. I'm looking forward to your recipe for eggnog cookies!”

Thanks, Em! Let me know how the S'mores Cookies come out. Just remember to freeze the mini marshmallows first and to underbake the cookies a little.

I promise to post the recipe for my Eggnog Cookies as soon as eggnog starts showing up in the dairy aisle at my grocery store, which--according to this--will be really soon. (If not already!)

'Tis the Season for Pumpkin & Chocolate Chip Cookies II

I froze some of my Pumpkin & Chocolate Chip Cookies for my favorite neighbors: Laura and Chris. Here's what Laura had to say:

“OMG, these are absolutely delicious! I couldn't wait: 1. because I just really wanted to taste one and 2. because Chris wasn't home yet and was not taking the chance of missing out on these: so ate one a little while ago while they were still a bit chilly but not frozen. They are fantastic. Thank you as always.”

Thanks, Laura! I'll have another batch of pumpkin-based cookies for you tonight.  :-)

Wearing the Blog-Love II

Laura and Chris--readers, neighbors, and real-life cookie tasters--got me and Jon cookie T-shirts. Thanks so much, Laura and Chris! These two go along perfectly with the shirt Pam and In-Young got me.

'Tis the Season for Pumpkin & Chocolate Chip Cookies

The verdict is in on my Pumpkin & Chocolate Chip Cookies. Looks like I've got another hit!

From Sara, a reader, fellow food blogger, and (now) real-life recipe user:

“Just wanted to let you know that I made these last night and they are AMAZING!! So yummy and perfect for Halloween.”

From Kim, a reader and real-life taster:

“DELICIOUS. I really love these.”

From Princess Ariele, a reader and real-life cookie taster:

“These are delicious Greg! I love pumpkin and this cookie has enough of it that you can taste it, but it's not overpowering. I shared my batch with my dad, who also loved them.”

Thanks, everybody! I'm so glad you liked these cookies. Happy Halloween!

New Blog-Flair!

Key Ingredient's Back Burner blog featured my (Dark) Chocolate Orange in the Coconut Cookies, and I got a neat badge to add to my sidebar.

Blogging By Mail Success!

Looks like my Blogging By Mail package to Antonia at Food, Glorious Food was a hit:

“Hello Greg, Thank you SO, SO much for my fantastic parcel! It arrived safely this morning and I am absolutely thrilled with all the contents. I love the NYC theme, especially as I have a trip planned for February next year so the map and Zagat guide couldn't be more handy. Currently listening to the CD while I type which is really good - I haven't heard of this band before but I'm enjoying it so far. Thank you for a great parcel - was great fun to unpack everything this morning.”

Woohoo! Though Jon gets the credit for the NYC theme. I can't wait for the next round of Blogging By Mail.

Oatmeal CookieBlog Hits 50 Large

Since I launched this site back in January 2007, Oatmeal CookieBlog has gotten 50,000 page views. What a milestone!

Awww, Go On...No Really, Go On!

Indyenna left the following comment on my YouTube video on how to make a thumprint cookie:

“You are VERY talented, guy. You should write a cookbook and have a catering business with these cookies. Keep on sharing though.”

Thanks, Indyenna. You see that, cookbook publishers!? Food Network!? I'm sitting here...ripe for the picking.

Lovin' the Blog-Love

A reader named PET left some really kind words on my post about my winning recipe at this year's Cranberry Harvest Festival:

“WOW! Mazel tov! I wish I lived closer so I could be one of your official tasters! You are amazing, and your blog is one of my faves! There are times when I am literally salivating (sounds nicer than drooling) over descriptions of your cookies!”

Thanks, PET! You really made my day. And thanks to all who left congrats and well wishes. You make me smile. :-D

Holy Cra...Er, Um...Cranberry! II

It's official. I won! My Cranberry Crunch Cookies came in first in this year's Cranberry Harvest Celebration recipe contest. My prize was $100 in gift certificates to Trucchi's Supermarket. I've also added a "winner" badge to my Braggin' list to the left.

Cranberry Crunch Kudos II

Amelia, a reader, recipe user, and fellow food blogger, tried out my Cranberry Crunch Cookies and had this to say:

“Hi Greg, I made these today and they're SO delicious! My new favorite cookies! I love the flavors and the crunch.”

Thanks, Amelia! I'm so glad you and your son liked these cookies. I'm going to be trying some more cranberry-based recipes soon, so stay tuned!

Excited About Mulled Apple Cider Cookies

I almost called this post something punny like "Excidered About Cider" but reconsidered...

It turns out people l-o-v-e-d my Mulled Apple Cider Cookies. In fact, the three dozen or so I brought in to work disappeared around noon. Here's what a few of my real-life cookie-eating coworkers had to say:

From April:

“These were SOOOOOO good!! I'm going to have to try to make them at home. Yummy!”

From In-Young:

“btw, i LOVED the cookies today. i think i'm a sucker for anything apple-related...apple cider, apple pie, and now apple cider cookies! mmm sooo gooood.”

And here's what Laura and Chris, neighbors, readers, and real-life cookie tasters had to say:

“Jason [our doorman] just buzzed me and I got the cookies! Ran downstairs, thought the good cookie delivery man [Jon] might be downstairs but he was gone. Oh my gosh Greg, these Apple Cider Cookies are amazing! I absolutely LOVE them! Ate one in the elevator and will leave some for the Cookie Monster who I recently discovered (because of you) lives with me [Chris, Laura’s husband]. These are so delicious, they were almost wet inside from the applely (a word?) goodness and were crisp and sweet outside. Now I have another one to add to my list of favorites.”

Thanks, everybody! I'm so glad you liked them. You've really got to try making these cookies--especially around the holidays. Your house will smell soooo good and Thanksgivingy or Christmassy. Forget the scented candles; bake cookies instead!

"Someone in VA Loves What You Do"

Alicia, a reader, fellow food blogger, and—most recently—a real-life cookie taster, sent me my very own care package:

“Two of the items were made with my own two hands. Only one of them is edible. A third thing should be shared w/Jonazz on a cool evening. And the last thing is just a keepsake to remind you that someone in VA loves what you do.”

I got the package yesterday after work. Thanks so much, Alicia!

My box of deliverables contained a batch of super-tasty spice cookies, a hand-knit scarf, a box of Godiva hot chocolate (which I will share with Jonnazz...and maybe use in a cookie), and a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

Thanks again, Alicia. Wearing that nice, warm scarf, I'll soon be doing some rooftop cookie eatin' and hot chocolate drinkin'.

Holy Cra...Er, Um...Cranberry!

I got a message when I came home tonight that my cranberry recipe contest entry won something! I don't know what I got, but I'll post about it as soon as I find out.

Good thing we're heading up to Massachusetts this weekend!

Apple 'n Honey of My Eye II

Laurel, a reader and fellow blogger, is now a real-life recipe user. She commented on my Rosh Hashanah Cookies today and had this to say:

 “YUM!!!! I just made these cookies, and they are sooooooo good! My daughters love them, and my house smells so delicious from them cooking. Both of my girls were drooling just from the smell. Definitely a new favorite cookie for me. Thanks for your wonderful creations.”

Laura and her husband Chris are readers, real-life cookie tasters, and--of course--neighbors. Laura emailed me last night to say:

 “So now about these Apple 'n Honey cookies, they are delicious. And you are right they are  similar in texture to honey cake, which both my mom and my sister love so I have been exposed to holiday honey cake for my entire life. I picked up the cookies Sunday night, but have been away since Monday morning, had to travel a couple of days for work. Thank goodness I ate one of the cookies before I left, because apparently you-know-who ate (inhaled) the other three before I even left Monday morning at 8 am. I knew these would be very much 'up his alley.' I think I was right.”

Thanks, Laurel and Laura!

Apple 'n Honey of My Eye

On Saturday, Jon and I brought some cookies to Jon's mom Lorraine, a reader and real-life cookie taster. Here's what Lorraine had to say about our bing-in-able deliverables:

“I'm delighted to announce that as I'm writing this comment, I'm enjoying a Rosh Hashanah cookie with my tea. What a delicious breakfast!! These cookies made such a hit, that they'll be gone by the holiday. I really indulged as a real-life cookie taster and loved every minute of it. The "Redheads" were outrageous and the "Cranberry Crunch" were scrumptious! A good tip for fellow readers is how well they held up to freezing. They tasted just as good as if they were just baked. Of course the best bonus of real-life cookie tasting is spending time with the baker and the original redhead. Love you guys!! It's going to be hard to go back to being a virtual taster.”

Thanks, Lorraine! It's good to know the cookies freeze and defrost so well. We'll keep setting aside and freezing a few cookies from each batch...but I don't know if we can promise not to eat them before delivery!

Reader Request: Rosh Hashanah Cookies (Apple 'n Honey)

Jessa, a new reader (hey there, Jessa!), emailed me last night ask about my Rosh Hashanah cookies:

“I stumbled across your blog last night while looking for exciting cookie recipes to try, and have been scrolling through endless back-entries ever since!

I've been perusing The List, and your recipes look amazing--I can't wait to try some! In the meantime, I wanted to ask you about the Rosh Hashanah cookies mentioned, but not detailed, on the blog. I'll be visiting my family for the holiday next week and I've been looking for a good recipe containing apples and honey, because I want to contribute cookies to the celebration. Is there somewhere I might be able to read the recipe?

Thanks, and I look forward to reading more!”

Thanks for stopping by. I'm so glad you like my blog! I'll post the recipe for my Rosh Hashanah cookies tonight...I promise! And I'll also post the "Picturing" post that shows the process step by step.

Cranberry Crunch Kudos

Before I sent Mumma my Cranberry Crunch Cookies for the Cranberry Harvest recipe contest, I shared some with Laura and Chris. They're readers, neighbors, and real-life cookie tasters. And, crazy as it may sound, I just met them for the first time last week. Jon met Laura in the lobby one day, and they struck up a conversation about my cookies. Next thing you know, Laura and her husband Chris become real-life cookie tasters and blog buddies, with Jon as the cookie deliveryman. (I must have seemed like a cookie-baking version of Snuffleupagus.) Laura emailed me last night to say:

“I don't have a lot to say about these Cranberry Crunch Cookies. They are simple and delicious. They are simply delicious!!!!!!!! That's it.

Okay, but seriously, I love these!!!!!!!!!! They are absolutely scrumptious. Chris went down again last night to get them. Apparently my I-don't-really-like-sweets-or-dessert-husband ate 4 of them while I was still in the bedroom on the phone with my sister. I didn't even hear the buzzer and I came out of the bedroom and see two baggies of cookies with a couple of cookies in each bag. And of course I say, "Oooooh, more cookies?! So?" Chris says, "Unbelievable. So good." Clearly this man doesn't like oatmeal cookies.

These get four thumbs up!!!!! I feel quite safe taking the liberty of speaking for the I-don't-like-sweets-guy. As always, thank you so much.”

Thanks, Laura and Chris. From your mouth to the judges' ears, right!?

Commending Coffee Cake Cookies

Laura is a reader, neighbor, and real-life cookie taster. Every week, Jon drops off a baggie of cookies for Laura and her husband Chris. Here's what Laura had to say about my Coffee Cake Cookies:

“What can I say? To say you are the best doesn't do you justice. To say these cookies are the best doesn't do them justice. I don't have the words to do either of you justice so I will just say my taste buds are in a state of euphoria!

Red-Hot Redheads

My Redhead cookies turned out to be really popular with the folks in my office.

In-Young, a reader, real-life cookie taster, and full-fledged foodie, emailed me to say:

“When I have a stomachache I normally drink ginger tea or a spicy ginger beer, but now I can eat your ginger cookie! I think I have a new favorite!! SO PERFECT! I can imagine having this with a scoop of jasmine ice cream on top. Mmmmm...”

Kevin, another real-life cookie taster had this to say:

“Rockin ginger cookies, dude. Givin’ City Bakery a run for its money!”

Thanks, In-Young and Kevin. I think next time I'm going to make ice cream sandwiches with these guys.

Dark Chocolate + Orange + Coconut = Blog-Love

Laura and Chris are readers, neighbors, and real-life cookie tasters. Every week, Jon drops off one bag of cookies downstairs for Laura and Chris and one bag of cookies for our doorman Jason. Here's what Laura had to say about my (Dark) Chocolate Orange in the Coconut cookies:

I walk in the building last night from the gym at exactly 9:00pm hoping that I will run into Jon , the cookie elf, dropping off some cookies for us. And sure enough Jason hands a bag of cookies to me and I look around the lobby and I say, "oh, is he down here?" and Jason says, "no, you just missed him, 2 minutes ago" "Shoot, I wanted to thank him in person."

Okay, so I now have mixed feelings about you: You undid all the good I had just done at the gym. And YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY THE BEST!!!!! These cookies are "ridiculous", which is exactly how Chris described them. I walk in the apartment with a smile on my face and I say, "Greg and Jon just left these cookies for us. I'm not sure yet but I think they are Orange Coconut Dark Chocolate Chip." He says, "Oooooo, can I try one? Hand him a nice big cookie, takes a few bites and he goes, "Oh my God these are ridiculous!" And I ask, " Are they delicious? And he says, "Ridiculously delicious."

Wearing the Blog-Love

Pam and In-Young, readers, real-life cookie tasters, and fellow foodie adventurers, surprised me Thursday afternoon with this neato T-shirt to thank me for all my bring-in-ables.

What a surprise! I went in to the conference room for a lunchtime screening of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and came out with this goodie.

Thanks, Pam and In-Young! I am so wearing this on my next walk, which will be tomorrow.

Sin-a-Buns and City Walks: A Blog Made in Heaven?

Lisa, a reader from California, emailed me the other day to say:

“Hello - I don't know where I stumbled upon your blog but I have been reading it for the past few months. I LOVE IT!!! I too love cookies but have yet to get into a baking frenzy. When I do, my first try will be the Sin-a-Bun cookies. I love cinnamon! One thing about your blog I really enjoy are the pictures from around town [I, II, III, and IV]. I love city living. Although I miss gardening. Keep up the great cookie work.”

Thanks for writing...and reading! If you're a fan of cinnamon, I'm sure you'll love my Sin-a-Bun cookies. When you get a chance to make them, I'd love to hear how they turn out.

I'm so glad you like the travel/walk posts. I'm going to continue them throughout the year, so you'll get a chance to see the city in all seasons, not just summer. (I think "Summer Fridays" are done for now, so I'll soon be doing "Autumn Saturdays.")

I too love city life. I'm originally a country bumpkin and do miss having a back yard...and every once in a while I get a serious craving for grilled burgers and hot dogs. But I think there's no greater fun than just taking a long walk around the city and finding new stuff. Plus, it's free...except for the wear on my sneakers...and it's great exercise! (I've got to work off all those cookies and snacks.)

Thanks again for writing and reading. I hope you'll be a reader for a long, long time.

Variations on a Theme II

Amelia--a reader, real-life recipe user, and fellow food blogger (over at Stripey Dots)--posted another tasty variation of my Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies.

She's done a version with blueberries, a version with cranberries, and now a version with strawberries.

Yum. Another good improvisation, Amelia!

Lovin' the Lavender & Lemon Lovelies

Laura and her husband Chris are our upstairs neighbors. They're also readers and real-life cookie tasters. After trying some of my Lavender & Lemon Lovelies, Laura emailed me to say:

“As always, thank you so much for these delicious cookies. I knew they were primarily lemony and obviously the white chocolate chips, but I could also taste that they weren't that simple. So I just read about the lavender and black pepper. Strange? Yes. Delicious? Yes, yes, yes!!!!!!!!!!! Love the L&L Lovelies!”

Thanks, Laura! The savory side of lavender is slightly peppery, and I think the tiny bit of ground black pepper I include plays up that aspect of the lavender nicely.

Chocolate & Sea Salt Cookies...Sorta

Alicia, longtime reader and fellow blogger (over at The Slacker Kitchen), emailed me this morning to say that she had become a real-life recipe user. (Yay!) Alicia wanted to try out my Chocolate & Sea Salt Cookies, but she didn’t have the sea salt. So what did she do? She put her own twist on my chocolate cookie recipe, using what she had on hand:

“Well, last night I decided to make cookies, your [Chocolate & Sea Salt] cookies. Unfortunately, I didn't have any sea salt. So, I improvised and used your basic chocolate cookie recipe. What I had on hand was some espresso powder, cinnamon and turbinado sugar. I subbed espresso powder for a portion of the cocoa and added cinnamon. I rolled the balls in the turbinado (next time I'll just sprinkle it on). The cookies are amazing. What should I call them, though? I was thinking Viennese Coffee Cookies after the General Mills Int'l coffee. They are bring-in-able, as my co-workers didn't speak while eating them. I got thumbs up from a diehard chocolate chip fan. And the smell is absolutely intoxicating. Thank you for being an inspiration to us all and helping us to think outside the oatmeal box.”

Good job, Alicia! I’ve done espresso cookies, chocolate cookies, and cinnamon cookies, but it never dawned on me to combine all three. You have inspired me, my friend! And Viennese Coffee Cookies is a great name.

Thanks for reading and for emailing! Maybe we really can start a “bring-in-able” movement.

You Can't Go Wrong with Chocolate (and Sea Salt)

Laura and her husband Chris are our upstairs neighbors. They're also readers and real-life cookie tasters. After trying some of my Chocolate & Sea Salt Cookies, Laura emailed me to say:

“Was just checking out the site and see that you quoted me re: the Orange in the Coconut Cookies. I called my husband to tell him! Okay, so I'm a dork but it makes me feel like a celebrity! :~) As I said those OCCs are outrageously delicious and Chris still hasn't stopped talking about the Blueberry Muffin Top Cookies.

Once again thank you so much for the cookies (and please thank Jon for being the delivery man!) So what can I say about these Chocolate & Sea Salt cookies except that chocolate cookies laced with Cocoa Pebbles can be nothing but good. I believe this is another winner.

Thank you Wonderful Cookie Man!”

Thanks, Laura (and Chris)!

Chocolate & Chipotle Cookie Comments II

Tracey, a reader in Washington, tried out my Chocolate & Chipotle Cookies and had this to say:

“OK Fred ... I mean Greg (inside joke) I finally got my cinnamon chocolate chips I ordered, made these cookies and I have to say I HATE YOU!!!! OMG they are so good, the heat is perfect and even tho while making them I thought you had lost your mind adding so much cinnamon but WOW!!! The only thing I did different is I flattened them slightly with a glass as I am not a fan of puffy cookies, just a quirk of mine. The crispy outside combined with the chewy inside HEAVEN!!!!! I had a nice Merlot that went with them perfectly!!!”

Ha! Thanks, April...er, um...Tracey. (And thanks for the "Hole Mole" subtitle!) I'm so glad you liked them. And that's a good tip about flattening the dough balls a little before baking. This is a trick I used when I made my White Chocolate Macaroons and with about half of the Chocolate & Chipotle Cookies I made, including the ones in the picture above.

Flattening the dough balls a little before you bake them allows you to customize the look and texture of your cookies. Try it the next time you bake. Flattened cookies have a little more of an exterior crunch than nonflattened cookies, but the interiors of both kinds remain perfectly chewy.

Does Blog-Love Rhyme with Orange?

Laura, a reader, real-life cookie taster, and neighbor, tried my Orange in the Coconut Cookies and emailed me to say:

“Okay, these cookies are absolutely delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mmmmmmm!!!!!!!!! Did I mention they are delicious? When I first met Jon downstairs and Jason [our doorman] offered me a cookie but I turned it down, then I talked to Jon for a while, told him how I loved your web site, etc and then he asked me if I would like to try some cookies, and I was like, ‘Are you kidding? Is that a rhetorical question?’ Well later that night I went back on the site and was checking it out again and realized the cookie I turned down was Raspberry in the Coconut! I was kicking myself!!!!! Well now I feel like I can finally forgive myself. :~) These are fantastic! …So don't get me wrong, chocolate will always still be my first love, but in my humble little opinion, these Orange in the Coconut Cookies are absolutely amazing!”

Thanks, Laura! It looks like I’ve got another winner on my hands. And don't worry...more chocolate cookies are on the way as well!

Affirmation from Afar

Paula, a reader from Maryland, left the following comment on my United States of Oatmeal Cookies post:

“I LOVE reading your blog! It is one of my food favorites, mostly because I have a weakness for great cookies! I am from Maryland, and I hope you won't attempt crab cookies. (MD is famous for its crabs.) I'm sure we must be famous for something else, but I can't thing of what it would be that would make great cookies. Anyway, just wanted you to know, and only wish I lived closer so I could test out your cookies!”

Thanks, Paula! You really, really made my day.

Maryland...that's another M state! I just did a little research, and it looks like mixed berries would totally work for a Maryland-themed cookie. But I have to admit that a savory cookie filled with crab and Old Bay seasoning could be really tasty. Hmm...

If you're ever in NYC, I'd love for you to become a real-life cookie taster!

Variations on a Theme

Amelia--a reader, real-life recipe user, and fellow food blogger--posted versions of my Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies that include blueberries and cranberries.

Yum. Good improvisations, Amelia!