Golden State Dates
Even before dates became a favorite holiday food they were widely used as a sweetener in baked goods. Here sweet dates and salty nuts combine with gooey chocolate and chewy oatmeal for a happy holiday treat.
Yield: 5 dozen cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) + 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups quick or old fashioned oats (uncooked)
- 3/4 cup dates, chopped
- 3/4 cup salted pistachios
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks or morsels
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Beat together butter, brown sugar and 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and almond extract; mix to combine.
- In separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture, mixing well.
- Stir in oats until combined.
- Add dates, pistachios and chocolate; mix well.
- Shape dough into 1 inch balls; roll balls in a shallow bowl containing 1 cup sugar.
- Place on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Cool cookies on pan for one minute or until set; transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
- Store cookies in airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Attribution
Recipe and photo used with permission from: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin