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Sometimes…sometimes you just need a cookie.
A really big, chocolate chunk filled cookie. Preferably warm and preferably dipped in chocolate…and then sprinkled with flaky sea salt cause everything is better with sea salt. <–true fact.
Watch the how-to video here:
Sometimes that’s all a Friday needs. You know…. I know, you know.
Today is one of those Friday’s. A Friday meant to be filled with Harvest Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Sounds perfect, right? That’s because it is.
Here’s the deal. I actually had a different post planned for today, but then I just could not get it ready in time (a few things happened/fell through/got pushed back…don’t worry it’s still going to happen, just not until next Friday!). That left me with the question of what to make for today’s post. Almost automatically I knew I really just wanted to make something simple. Simple is really pretty awesome sometimes, so I went with.
I also knew I really wanted cookies. I haven’t made cookies in a while and cookies just felt right. I mean, can cookies ever feel wrong?? No, NEVER.
In the same way, I also knew I wanted to include some fallish ingredients. I know it is not technically fall yet, but my mind is there. I am ready, and after Sunday’s pumpkin spice latte, I kind of just gave in and said, “ok, I’m over summer, let’s do fall”. I know, that may sound horrible, but that’s just kind of how I am feeling.
If you can’t fight it, roll with it, right?
SO I am rolling with it.
Also, how happy would you guys be with me if I told you that these cookies are healthy??!?
Guess what, they are!! Like really pretty healthy and you can even make them healthier buy adding in pumpkin and removing that 1/4 cup of brown sugar. I liked them best minus the pumpkin and + the brown sugar, but only because the cookies turned out more cookie-like this way and not all muffin like. Both cookie version taste DELICIOUS though, so go with whichever fits your needs.
And you guys, these cookies are also as simple as it gets. One bowl. Mix. Bake. Dip in mass amounts of dark chocolate. Cover in toasted, salty pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds) and eat. I prefer them all warm, gooey and extra messy, but if you’re a clean person, I guess you can just let the chocolate set.
But umm, I promise that’s going kind to be kind of hard. I don’t recommend it.
What I do recommend is a giant glass of milk.
Some cozy slippers and a really good movie.
And then a warm cookie. Or two. Or three….
Cause remember, they’re good for you!!
Harvest Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Salted Toasted Pepitas.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup white whole wheat, whole pastry flour or hazelnut flour (I like to use Bob's Red Milk)
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar *, optional
- 10 medjool dates, finely chopped*
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted OR 1/4 cup melted coconut oil + 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2 cups dark chocolate, chopped
- 1/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
- 8 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate, melted
- 1 cup raw pepitas and or hazelnuts
- 1 tablespoon butter or coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- instant coffee powder + salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, add the oatmeal, flour, hazelnut flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, melted coconut oil (pumpkin if using), applesauce, eggs and vanilla. Beat until the dough is moist and all the ingredients are combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks + coconut flakes
- Using your hands clump together 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough. Place on the prepared baking sheet and squash down into a 1/2 inch thick circle. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Bake for 10 -12 minutes or until set. DO NOT OVER BAKE, if anything under bake. Let cool slightly on a cooling rack.
- Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, add the pepitas and hazelnuts + maple. Cook until lightly toasted and caramelized.
- Dip each cookie into the melted chocolate and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle the seeds onto the cookies and then sprinkle with salt + crushed instant coffee powder. Allow the chocolate to set up... dig in!
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
I think I’ll have another please? Happy Friday! 🙂
Chocolate, pepitas, AND sea salt? Wow, I totally need to make these! Great recipe and photos—you have just convinced me of my next cookie baking endeavor. 🙂
Hehe! Thank you so much, Megan! I hope you are having a great weekend! 🙂
Sometimes, you really do need a chocolatey, gooey cookie. These look amazing!! Gorgeous shots as always, Tieghan!
Thank you so much, Kara! Hope you have a great weekend!
omg my mouth is watering rith now!! yumm
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Thanks so much, Anna!
Yep, with the oats and pepitas I can totally convince myself these cookies are healthy!
Yes, they are! 🙂
Thank you so much!
Love the idea of salt flakes on a cookie! And oats lend the best texture – thanks for this recipe!
Thanks Jessica! Hope you are having a great weekend!
It’s Friday and I so need a cookie! These are absolute perfection!
You do, you do! Thanks Laura!
Making these mouth-watering beauties this weekend!! They look like the ultimate oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies!! Pinned!!
Thank you so much, Deborah! Hope you are having a great weekend!
Holy moly these look SO good. By far some of the most beautiful cookies I have ever seen. I always need chocolate in my life <3 And I love all of your ingredients!! Can't wait to give these a try!
Thank you so much, Ashley!! Hope you are having a great weekend!
These look awesome! Does anyone know a good substitute for the dates? I don’t know how much I like dates in my baked goods, so I would prefer trying it out first with something else.
HI! You honestly do not taste the dates AT ALL. They just add sweetness, so I highly recommend adding them. If you do not want to, add 1/2 cup brown sugar. THANKS!
Pepitas? Really? You always have the best ideas . . and we benefit from them 🙂
hehe! THANKS!
Yes! These are my next baking project for sure! All fallish and drizzled with melty chocolate… these cookies, cozy socks (hopefully accompanied by significantly cooler temperatures outside) and an awesome movie sounds amazing. I can’t wait to try these beauties!
xx Sydney
YAY! I hope you love these cookies! THANKS!
Ok, amazing but I’m in a sleepy state and confused about the flour(s). Is it either of the first two listed + the hazelnut? Doh!
HI Kate! Sorry that is kind of confusing. it is just ONE of those flours. which ever one you prefer. does that help? let me know! 🙂
Tuieghsn, these cookies seriously look like The Best Ever:
– chocolatey
-chewy
– crunchy
– salted
– healthful-
It’s a dream combo. One Q, though: when do you add the dates?
These look delish. Can you or someone else recommend the best substitute for 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted? Thanks
Anita…you can use butter or shortening instead. The butter will give you a different texture but I love using it in cookies. The general rule of thumb with coconut oil is to substitute a solid fat for the oil. Also, make sure that if you are using coconut oil it is measured in it’s solid state otherwise you will end up with a very greasy tasting product. xo
Thank you, Debi. I also prefer butter in cookies and hardly use shortening anymore, although I know it can create great textures. I’m just one of those odd people who dislikes coconut and can detect minuscule amount in a recipe.
HI! Canola oil works great! 🙂
Tieghan! These look so goooooooooooooood! Just wanted to make sure that you meant “instant COFFEE powder” in the last part of the recipe. I wasn’t sure what “coffer powder” was and hoped that I wasn’t missing anything! I need these right now. Awesome Fall recipe! xo
Haha!! Yes, i mean instant coffee power! Sorry about that and thanks for making me aware of it! 🙂