Coconut Pecan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Can you believe it? The last day of 2011. It has been quite the year. Full of ups and downs, as life often is. Let's only think about the good tonight and focus on the fact that the bad was necessary to get us to the now.
One of my biggest accomplishments this year has definitely been starting this blog and getting more serious with my baking. I have learned so much and cannot wait to see what this next year brings for this little blog.
I've learned, loved, laughed, been loved, baked far too much, stayed up way too late, done things I never thought I would do, and spent time with some of the greatest people I know. I truly hope your year has been as full of happiness.
Now let's get to these cookies. Coconut. Pecans. Oatmeal. Chocolate Chips. This is the ultimate comfort cookie. So if you're spending a cozy night in for New Years Eve, bake up these cookies and enjoy the last few hours of this year.
Coconut Pecan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from Bakin' and Eggs

• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2/3 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/3 cup oats 
• 2/3 cup shredded coconut
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven at 350.
Beat butter and sugars. Add egg whites and vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, salt, and oats. Lastly, fold in coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips. Chill for 30 minutes.
Dropped by tablespoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until slightly browned.
Cool and enjoy!

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

You know those moments where you realize you just haven't shown your appreciation for all someone does? Whether that's your mom, dad, brother, sister, teacher, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend. Or the moment where you realize you just messed up big time? Like you broke your mom's lamp or forgot your sister's birthday?
Well these cookies are for those moments.
Maybe it won't fix the issue completely but I promise they'll be a lot happier once you show up with these in hand.
These cookies are the perfect combination of a soft, chewy cookie and a crunch cookie. You can leave the cookies in longer depending on if you want a more crunchy cookie or prefer a soft one. I used two different types of oats simply because... well I'm terrible at making decisions. I also used both semisweet chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips. I like having a variety of chips in my cookies.

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from a recipe given to me from a friend
Makes about 50 cookies

• 1 cup butter or 2 sticks (softened) 
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 2 1/2 cups oats (either old fashioned or quick, or a bit of both)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.
Beat the butter and sugars until smooth. Add eggs one at a time and the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients except the chocolate chips and mix until well combined. Add chocolate chips. I usually prefer to chill my dough before baking to get a better texture in the cookie. You can chill it for anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight.

Scoop dough onto a cookie sheet by the tablespoon.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

(Yes, I need a new cookie sheet. Where are birthdays when you need them?!)

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

I woke up this morning with one extremely swollen eye. Nothing but a sliver of vision. This has happened for the past 3 days. Today, I also decided, after almost a year of thinking on the matter, to start a baking blog.
What these two things have in common?
I have no idea.
But here we are. I have a stye in my eye and look like a pirate with an eye patch so therefore I decided to bake up some bars.
There just something about bars. They're so easy to make yet so delicious. These bars were simply inspired by my love for chocolate, coconut and oatmeal. Together, they make one yummy treat.
These are just the right amount of sweetness and have a cake-like texture with a bit of chewiness from the oatmeal and coconut.
Now go make some bars, watch a scary movie and put a warm rag on your swollen eye.
But maybe not the last part.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

• 1/2 cup butter or 1 stick at room temperature
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup oats
• 2/3 cup shredded coconut
• 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• half a bar of a Hershey's milk chocolate candy bar (chopped)

Preheat oven to 350.
Beat together the butter and sugars in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time followed by the vanilla and coconut extracts. Next add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, oats and shredded coconut all at once to the butter mixture. Mix until well combined.

Then add the chocolate chips, cranberries and chopped up candy bar.

Transfer mixture to an 8x8 greased pan.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Let cool for 20 minutes and serve.