First Day of School Cookies

Today was the first day of school for my two boys - 5th grade and 7th grade.  Our tradition on the first day of school is that the boys come home to fresh baked Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies, a small surprise (usually a book) and a note as a special way to kick off the new academic year.  While I have a couple of chocolate chip cookie recipes that are really good, for some reason I always make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies on the first day of school.  I am sure it is because I equate oatmeal with healthy eating and therefore feel very content (perhaps smug?) with making a "healthy" cookie as a special first day of school treat.  Really though, it is a cookie and it has all the characteristics of a

great oatmeal based chocolate chip cookie - chewy yet crunchy and loaded with chocolate chips so you get crispy, chewy, chocolatey yummy in every bite. 

This recipe came about by accident the year my youngest went to kindergarten and I have been making it on the first day of school ever since (and in between too).  Wanting to make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies I looked through several recipes and finally settled on a particular recipe.  Midway through the process, I discovered that I was short on oatmeal... what to do?  I searched my cupboards for a substitute and for some reason Rice Krispies cereal caught my eye.  In place of the missing oatmeal, I added the "secret ingredient" and hoped for the best.  

They were a hit!  The Rice Krispies sort of melted into the cookie making them chewy and crunchy at the same time without taking away from the traditional oatmeal taste and texture.  My husband said they were so good I should enter them in the state fair baking contest.  That never happened, but I have made the cookies with the "mistake" Rice Krispies ever since.  They are especially good with a cold glass of milk and even better when shared over stories about first day of school adventures (or misadventures).

Naturally, I made these in the afternoon before the kids came home from their first day of school.  

OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 cup shortening

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon hot water

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/2 cups oatmeal

1 plus (mounded) cup Rice Krispies cereal

2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.  Cream together shortening and sugars.  Add eggs, water and vanilla.  Whisk together flour, soda, and salt.  Add flour mixture to creamed mixture and mix well.  Fold in oatmeal, Rice Krispies, and chocolate chips.  Drop by rounded teaspoons on prepared cookie sheets.  Lightly flatten the cookies with a glass dipped in sugar.  Bake for 9-10 minutes until lightly golden brown.  Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets.  Remove to wire racks to cool completely.  

Written and posted August 25, 2014