Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

We had a ton of Grapes this year so I thought I would make raisins. Yes that's right, raisins, organic seedless raisins. I always wanted to dry them so since I had so many grapes I tried it. You just clean them and take  the stems off and dry them in the oven set on 200 degrees for 4-5 hours. I did see after the fact that some drop them in boiling water for 45 seconds and it will break the skin so they will dry faster. 

I thought this time of year was perfect for oatmeal raisin cookies and since we will have a dip in the temperatures for a few days it will work out perfectly. Ahhh the smell of fresh baked cookies in the fall.

Makes 24 cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (1 1/2 sticks)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 heaping cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Your cookies turn out so much better with parchment paper. Believe me! Buy some!

1. Melt butter and cool slightly.
2. Mix flour, baking soda and salt: set aside
3. In mixer bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the cinnamon, vanilla, egg, and egg yolk for 2 minutes until light and creamy. Mix in the flour mixture until just blended. Add the oats, nuts if using, and raisins. Mix until just blended.
4. Use 1/4 cup scoop and place balls of dough on parchment paper and bake for 14 to 16 minutes. DO NOT OVER BAKE, they will not be chewy, they will be hard when cooled. If you are close to sea level this should be good timing. If not like I am (5000 ft. above sea level) you may have to put them in a smudge longer. Just keep an eye on them. REMEMBER: YOU WANT THE CENTER OF THE COOKIES LOOKING SOFT AND SLIGHTLY NOT BAKED, this is what makes them chewy. After the first time you make them then you will know the perfect timing for your oven. Let the cookies rest on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before putting on cooling rack.

These are the grapes I dried. Turned out great!

Recipe source: The Girl Who Ate Everything