Tips and Advice - Baking

A hiking buddy of mine gave me this oatmeal raisin cookie recipe. They are a light fluffy oatmeal raisin cookie packed with yummy extras. The yummy extras add a nice burst of energy when your out hiking in the north woods. Makes about 2 dozen oatmeal raisin cookies. Sweetwater creek... eat your heart out.

Oatmeal Raisin Hiking Cookies

Ingredients for Oatmeal Rasin Hiking Cookies

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 3 cups rolled oats (use quick or old fashioned. Do NOT use instant)
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup chocolate chips

He also adds some extra dried fruit of whatever he has, dried blueberries, or cranberries or cherries or a mix, but no more than 1 cups worth.

Making Oatmeal Rasin Hiking Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
    
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, butter flavored shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
    
3. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Stir in the oats and raisins. Drop by large rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving at least 2 inches between each cookie.
    
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until light and golden. Do not overbake. Let them cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets to cool completely.

They will be quite soft until completely cooled. Store in airtight container. Make sure you get some, because they don't last long!