Thursday, October 13, 2011

White Chocolate Almond Oat Cookies—12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies

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Week Three of 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies.  Okay, so I haven’t totally accepted that Christmas is coming so quickly.  I’m. not. ready.  (Who is?)  That may be why the cookies you see  have fall/Halloween colors.  These cookies can easily be made with just chopped white chocolate or chips, but when I recently found some new M&Ms—White Chocolate Candy Corn M&Ms, I HAD to get some and try them out.

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These new M&Ms are good.  They ARE white chocolate and not some vanilla wannabe type candy masquerading around in candy corn costumes or something.  I am happy about that.  How could anyone resist if anything just such a cute package with the little dressed up M&M?  These are bigger than plain M&Ms, which I actually think are their only downfall.  You can only eat a few at a time (or is that a good thing?), they are just very sweet.  So I decided they needed to have some sweetness cut by putting them in a cookie, something with good wholesome things like oats and almonds. 

These cookies are great.  They are oaty and nutty with the added sweetness from not only the M&Ms, but some white chocolate chips as well.  If I wasn’t a better girl, I would have tried one, then taken another taste, and another and well, probably four cookies would have disappeared, but since I was a little better than that, it didn’t quite happen that way.  I ate one of each.  What does that mean, you ask?

Well, I did try to play into the Christmas spirit a little and took about 1/4 of the dough before adding the M&Ms and added some dried cranberries.

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Not sure I could decide between the two which I like better, they are definitely both good in their own right.  You decide. ;)

I found the recipe for these from Tracy at Shutterbean who got the recipe from Dana Treat.

White Chocolate Candy Corn M&M Almond Oat Cookies and/or White Chocolate Cranberry Oat Cookies, by Katrina, Baking and Boys!

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed (110 grams)

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2  1/2 cups quick oats (200 grams)*

2 cups all purpose flour (240 grams)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups white chocolate chips

1  1/2 cups slivered almonds

3/4 cup Candy Corn White Chocolate M&Ms (added to 3/4 of the dough)

1/3 cup dried cranberries (added to 1/4 of the dough)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cream the butter for a minute.  Add both sugars and beat well.  Scrape sides of bowl.  Add the eggs and vanilla and beat another 2 minutes.

Put the oats in a food processor (*old fashioned would work, too, since you are going to pulse them to a rough ground texture), pulse 10-15 times until the oats are almost like flour, but not quite.  You want a little texture.  In a separate medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Add the oats and other dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and beat to just combine everything together.  Put the almonds in the food processor and pulse a few times just to break up the slivers.  Fold in the white chocolate chips and almonds. 

If you want to add M&Ms or cranberries, divide the dough, or add more cranberries and make them all festive!  Chill the dough for 30 minutes if possible.  I did and like they way they turned out.  Scoop out dough with a cookie scoop and place two inches apart on baking sheets.  Bake for 9-10 minutes.  Let sit on baking sheet for a couple minutes.  Remove to wire rack to cool completely.  Makes about 3 dozen.

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I really like the texture of these cookies with the ground oats and pulsed slivered almonds.   You could easily use other nuts, like macadamia nuts or maybe pistachios.  I was also torn between used the dried cranberries or some dried tart cherries.  Oh the possibilities!  The holidays are comin’…….. ;)

White Chocolate Cranberry Almond Oat Cookies 10-12-11

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21 comments:

Cindy said...

Where did you find the candy corn M&M's. I need some. Both recipes look wonderful.

Lisa said...

You find the coolest stuff to put into cookies! I've gotta go look for those M&Ms. I want some.

Pam @ From Apples To Zucchini said...

I made some with the M&Ms about a week ago - I picked all of the white ones out and added cranberries to them : ). They came out too flat (I should have done oatmeal like you did - yours look great!), so I didn't post mine, but I agree - they are delicious in cookies! Great week three pick!

Katrina said...

Cindy,
I meant to say in the post that I found them at Walmart (Lehi/Am Fork has them but the one closer to us here in Saratoga doesn't--kind of annoying that it's selective.) But I heard that they will only be sold AT Walmart.

Deeba PAB said...

Ooh I love these and the new M & M's in there. Your boys are lucky. Great flavour combination and what a hard choice. I'd pick one of each K ...mmmm

BreAna {Sugar and Spice and All Things Iced} said...

Both cookies look delicious! I love the cranberry and white chocolate combo. And those M&Ms...Those are so stinking cute!! I'm afraid I might just have to add them to my grocery list. :)

kita said...

Ive been dying to find those little m&m's and intentionally not walking down the candy aisle all at the same time. These little oat cookies sound awesome for 12WCC!

Unknown said...

We ate a bag of these at work the other day! I want to make some blondies with these babies in them!

Meal Plan Mom (Brenda) said...

Those both look delicious! I love all the different M&M varieties they have these days!

Angie - Big Bears Wife said...

Candy Corn M&MS!!!!!!!!!! oh my gosh! I need those!

Curt said...

Delicious! I'll have to keep watching for the rest of them!

Cheri Sicard said...

These look so good. And I didn't know about White Chocolate M&M's. Thanks.

Maria said...

I haven't baked cookies in over two weeks:( I need to change that by making these!

marla {family fresh cooking} said...

My kids would love these cookies! Never have heard of candy corn m&m's FUN!!

Anonymous said...

White chocolate, almonds and m&ms - perfection!
Mary x

Barbara Bakes said...

I saw the candy corn M&Ms at Harmons and debated whether or not to buy them. So fun to read your review. Both version sound wonderful.

Karen | Divine Dinner Party said...

Candy corn M&Ms? Oh my... I got to look for thos to pull off this lovely recipe. Thanks for the tip!

Anna said...

Oh my gosh, I have to get some of those M&Ms! You do find the best candy.

Lisa said...

Oh no, they now have white chocolate M&M's?? Now I'm going to have to go out and find some because, to put it simply, I adore white chocolate. I also adore your cookies and want to make them - with the white chocolate M&M's, like you did. Helloooo holiday weight gain - starting with Halloween lol

Cindy said...

Thanks Katrina for the info. I live in Cedar Hills, we have a Walmart but the selection is awful. Guess I'll have to journey to a 'bigger' Walmart.

Natalie said...

I need to get to a walmart and pick some of these up! yum!