My All Time Favorite Cookie--"Mommy's Cookies"

 You really have to try these cookies. If you were visiting me, I would give you some of these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies right now. They are chewy goodness and I've been making them since I was nine years old (interpretation: these are not hard to make...although my younger sister did put a cup of salt in them once...but that's another story!). They are the first thing I ever mastered baking. I'm not sure where the original recipe came from, but it was passed from my godmother to my mother to me. And I, ever-so-graciously, am sharing it with you. ;)

Mommy's Cookies

Here's what you'll need. I'm giving you the double recipe, so that's why you're seeing so much butter! This makes A LOT of cookies. Which is good. Spread the extras around! Or freeze the abundance. But if you only have so many eggs, feel free to cut this in half. 

Ingredients

3 sticks butter, softened (that's 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup white sugar
2 cups brown sugar, packed
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
3 tsp. vanilla extract
4 cups flour
3 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp baking soda
6 cups old-fashioned oats
1 pkg chocolate chips (I normally use semi-sweet)
3/4 cup coconut (optional)

First, set your butter out to soften. If you're pressed for time, stick it in the microwave. But don't melt it (you're cookies will be flat...still good...just flat)!

 Then throw the wet ingredients into a bowl: your softened butter, sugar, eggs, water, and vanilla (I have this cool "perpetual vanilla" that someone gave us as a wedding present).

Mix with a mixer. You don't have to get all the lumps of butter out yet. At this point in the baking process my husband interjected, "You forgot something!!"
"What?"
"To kiss your husband..."                             :)
So, don't forget that, ok?

Til it looks like so. Don't ask me why this picture is rotated the wrong way.

Then add the dry ingredients on top: the flour, salt, and soda.

And mix together like so. And this is where you can begin to taste test. If you're ok with raw eggs, which I am (disclaimer...I'm not giving medical advice here, I'm just telling you what I do!).

Then add the coconut, if you want to.

 Then add the oats, and stir. It's hard to stir! Then add the chocolate chips.

Place on the cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes (depending on how big, your oven, etc.). The key to these is not to over-bake them. Take them out when they look underdone (the tops look gooey) and when they set they will be perfectly moist. If you're wondering what the splashes of color are in the cookies below, I added some M&Ms instead of chocolate chips to a small portion of the batter just for fun.

 Dunk in milk. Ahhhh, perfection.

Once you make these, you will realize that you are forever in my debt...:) And your husband will give you more kisses.

*New* Here is the printable version of the recipe!

This post is linked to The Ultimate Recipe Swap and  Tasty Tuesday...click over to find tons of recipes with pictures. :)

~Alicia

My All Time Favorite Cookie--"Mommy's Cookies"