I LOVE to make cookies…We find an excuse to make cookies as often as possible, and I don’t give my recipes to ANYONE…ever! I tend to “forget” the recipe at cookie exchanges, forget to respond to friend when they ask for certain cookie recipes, and am clear that no one (except my daughter) will ever receive my chocolate chip cookie recipe…BUT, in the spirit of No Girls Allowed, I started to think about what boys like…and the first thing I thought of was big, chewy, cookies! Both my husband and my oldest son ADORE cookies…so much so that I can hardly keep them in the house!

I love to make oatmeal cookies, as I like to tell myself that at least they are getting some good whole grain at snack time…(and lots of chocolate chips, but hey..all things in moderation..) These are the best oatmeal cookies and super versatile…You can change out the chocolate chips for butterscotch chips (my personal fave), raisins, craisins….lots of possibilities!

Here’s what you’ll need!

3/4 cup stick margarine

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup brown sugar (packed!)

1/2 cup white sugar

1 egg

2 t vanilla

1 t baking soda

1 t salt

2 cups flour

3 cups oatmeal

Chocolate chips to your liking! (or other great mix-in!)

Ready to Bake?? Here we go!

First you need to cream together your margarine and shortening. Really mix them well! The shortening helps keep your cookies from becoming paper thin and flat…a very important ingredient! (and a Supermom secret!)

Next, add in your sugars and whip it like Devo ladies…whip it good…You’re going to want to incorporate some air into the butter and sugar mixture until it is nice and fluffy.

See how nice and light the mixture is?

Next, add in your egg and vanilla, and beat until well incorporated, making sure to scrape the sides of your bowl often! Next, add in the baking soda, salt, and flour and mix well. Once the flour mixture is incorporated, add in your oats. Your mixture should stay nice and firm, but have some give to it…The extra flour will help keep the shape of the cookies, and prevent them from becoming flat.(Another Supermom secret!)

Next, add in your chocolate chips (which my husband and son would say is the most important step!!) You can really add in the amount that your family likes the best (and whatever mix-in you like as well.) My boys love chocolate, so I went ahead and added about a cup and a half of chocolate chips!

I wanted to make these cookies “man-sized!” I can’t stand it when recipes say “Yields 5 dozen” or some such silliness…I barely get 2 dozen cookies from a recipe…We make COOKIES…not cookies! No tea-time snacks for us! These jumbo cookies are made for boys (and moms) who like their cookies! I traditionally use my Pampered Chef cookie scoop, but I wanted to make these cookies a little larger than normal, so I just shaped the balls with my hand. As they were so large, I only did 6 at a time, making sure to space them well.

Pop your cookies into a 350 degree oven for about 9-11 minutes (if you’re doing the Jumbo size! Regular cookies go about 7-8 minutes!) I don’t feel super comfortable telling you a cooking time, as ovens can vary so much…Keep a close and watchful eye, checking every few minutes for done-ness! My one piece of advice is to underbake! Pull your cookies out when there is just the tiniest bit of golden color around the bottom, and a bit of a soft center…Let them finish baking on the hot pan out of the oven..Frankly ladies, if it’s not an Oreo, it shouldn’t crunch! (This is the main reason I do not give out my cookie recipes…I am fearful someone will make my cookies crunchy and then give me credit…Keep them soft and chewy!!) These turned out beautifully, and my family cannot wait to have them for dessert tonight! (The perfect accompaniment to a spring bbq!)

Yum!! I cannot wait to enjoy one of these chewy, gooey Jumbo Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!! I hope you enjoy them too!! Happy baking!

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