Friday, November 18, 2011

Oatmeal, Coconut and Macadamia Nut Cookies


Do you bake to create something new? To recreate a taste memory? To use up a surplus of ingredients? Or just because you need something sweet? I bake for all of those reasons, but this recipe is one in a series of cookies I've been making over the past few years trying to recreate a teenage indulgence. I was never a mall rat, but whenever I did go I would pick up a cookie at a famous cookie franchise. It was called Mrs. something or other... They were huge and chewy with a centre verging on raw. I loved them and could make one last all day. Like I said, they were huge. This chain sold lots of cookies but this one was my favourite for a number of reasons: it did not contain chocolate; it had coconut; and macadamia nuts. Oh and I did I mention the size? It does matter.
A few years ago I was at a mall and went to pick one up only to find they had been discontinued for years! Like I said, I'm not a big shopper. I was disappointed so I set out to make them myself. Over the years I've taken a few cracks at the recipe, but my results have always been too cakey or too crisp. Sometimes the cookie didn't spread at all, other times it spread all over the place. I even tried to adapt a few ANZAC biscuits recipes, as they are full of oats and coconut, but they weren't quite right either. My most recent attempt is the first I have been mostly happy with. It's almost thick enough and chewy--almost too chewy. I used golden syrup instead of white sugar along with old-fashioned rolled oats and shredded coconut, but will try quick oats and flaked coconut next time. And maybe change the ratio of flour to coconut/oats to give me exactly what I'm looking for. That said, these were delicious and if you're a cookie dough monster like me you'll love them raw or baked.

Oatmeal Coconut and Macadamia Nut Cookies
Adapted from Chewy, Gooey, Crispy, Crunchy by Alice Medrich
2 cups rolled oats
¼ cup water
5.625 ounces/1¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
pinch freshly grated nutmeg
8 ounces/1 cup unsalted butter
5.25 ounces/¾ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup golden syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1 cup roasted, salted macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped
1 cup sweetened coconut

  1. Place the oats in a bowl and sprinkle with the water, stirring to combine. Set aside. Whisk the flour, baking soda and nutmeg together in a medium bowl.
  2. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Take off the stove and add the sugar, syrup, vanilla and salt and stir well. Add the egg and beat in. Add the flour mixture, oats, nuts and coconut and stir just until combined.
  3. Cover the dough and let it stand at room temperature for a couple of hours, or ideally overnight in the fridge. This helps to moisten the oats thoroughly.
  4. Preheat oven to 350℉. Line baking sheets with ungreased parchment. Scoop 2 level tablespoons of dough for each cookie and flatten into a small hockey puck shape. Bake 10-12 minutes, just until cookies are golden on the edge. Slide parchment and cookies onto a rack to cool. Store airtight.

9 comments:

Pilar.Cook and Spoon said...

I love oat cookies and since the weekend is going to be rainy I will stay in and try your recipe. Besos.

Valerie Gamine said...

I bake for all those reasons too. And I'm a helpless cookie dough monster myself. :D

These cookies sound wonderful! I know how hard to can be to recreate a taste from memory.

Baking Addict said...

I bake for all those reasons too and more - to relieve stress; for the fun of it; because I really enjoy it. These cookies look great, I do like a good oaty cookie.

Suz said...

When I was a teenager, my friends and I always bought cookies whenever we went shopping. It was the best bit of the day. Yours sound gorgeous - I love oaty cookies.

Anonymous said...

The cookie sounds delicious! Glad you found a recipe that comes close to the one you had. Remember to post again when you have perfected it! ;-)

Mimi said...

Yep, I bake for all those reasons too, plus my kids nag me for sweet treats. Two of my kids are crazy for coconut and thesse would make a nice treat for them.
Mimi

Lisa said...

Mary..I didn't know where to comment, on these amazing cookies or that almond torte below! They both look incredible, aka..I want both of them! OK..will focus on cookies. I love macadamias..my fav nut in cookies! I also love the golden syrup addition..I can almost FEEL the chewiness! Definitely making these as part of a holiday cookie plate! Might add white chocolate :)

Anonymous said...

These are my favorite cookies!

Anonymous said...

Oh yum! Macadamia nut cookies always seem to have white chocolate in them...which is OK, but oatmeal and coconut sound even better!