On A Granola Kick

Sometimes I get into flavor/food kicks or cravings (I am sure you all do too!). The last couple of weeks it has been granola. Ever since I made those AMAZINGLY AWESOME granola bars a few weeks ago I can’t get enough granola. From fruit and yogurt parfaits, to granola and milk, to eating it dry as a snack… I can’t get enough. So when I saw these cookies made with granola I knew I wanted to give them a try. Plus since these cookies have just about ‘everything’ in them, and a lot of the same ingredients from the AMAZINGLY AWESOME granola bars previously mentioned it worked out perfectly because I didn’t have to go to the store.

I am sure you have all heard of ‘Monster Cookies’. You know the ones that are a cross breed of the oatmeal, chocolate chip, peanut butter, and M&M cookie. Well these Everything Cookies are the Monster Cookie taken to the extreme. And you know what is even more perfect about these cookies, is that every single ingredient (minus those for the cookie base) are interchangeable depending on your taste or craving.

Notes: In addition to changing raisins to dried cranberries and walnuts to pecans I added coconut flakes to the mix and a little bit more of the peanut butter and chocolate chip goodness. These were perfect right out of the oven with a glass of milk.

Everything Cookies
Prep: 20 minutes Bake: 12 to 15 minutes Makes: 24-30 cookies

1-1/2 cups low-fat granola
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cup coconut flakes
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips
1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Toss together the granola, raisins, oats, chocolate chips, walnut halves and peanut butter chips in a large bowl until well combined.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a small bowl; stir with a whisk to combine the ingredients well.

Place the brown sugar and granulated sugar in a bowl and using an electric mixer, mix to combine. Add butter, a few pieces at a time, whirling until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix until incorporated, scraping down the side of the bowl as needed. Add the flour mixture. Continue to mix until just combined.

Slowly stir in the chocolate chip mixture; making sure to combine the ingredients well.

Shape the dough into 2-inch balls; place the dough 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake in preheated 375°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until light brown.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheets on a wire rack until firm enough to lift with spatula. Transfer the cookies with a metal spatula to a wire rack to cool completely.

recipe adapted from Family Circle All Time Favorite Recipes