Chewy Fruit and Nut Oatmeal Cookies

So I'm making Chewy Fruit and Nut Oatmeal Cookies this morning before work.  These have great flavor, and are nice and chewy.  The toasted nuts in them are a nice touch.

Chewy Fruit and Nut Oatmeal Cookies

1 Cup Butter

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Brown Sugar, packed

2 Eggs

2 Tsp Vanilla

2 Tbsp Molasses

2 Cups Flour

2 Cups Quick Cook Oats

1 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp Salt

1 Tsp Cinnamon

1 Tsp Nutmeg

1 - 2 Cups Dried Fruits, Raisins, Cranberries, chopped dates or which ever you like

1 Cup Walnuts or Pecans, toasted and chopped.

Chocolate Chips, optional.  

Instructions:

Gather your ingredients and preheat your oven to 350* .

In a mixing bowl add sugars and butter.

Mix until butters and sugars are well blended and fluffy looking.

Add Eggs, Molasses and Vanilla to creamed mixture

Beat until well blended. 

In a separate bowl mix your dry ingredients, Oats, Flour, Baking Soda, Salt, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg.   I like to heap the Cinnamon and Nutmeg.

Mix with a fork or dry whisk until blended.  Slowly add to Creamed mixture a bit at a time.

To toast your nuts, just heat them in a dry pan on your stove top until they look and smell toasted.  You won't be sorry you took this step.  Do this ahead of time before you start your cookies.  This morning I used a mix of Pecans and Walnuts.

Today I used dried Cranberries and Chopped Dates in my cookies.  About a Cup of each.  You could use whatever dried fruits you want though.  

 Add them to your creamed mixture.

Stir them in.  Mix well.  Now try and resist tasting the dough.... It's good. 

Drop by the spoonful onto a greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheet. 

Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350* until edges are slightly browned.  Remove from oven let sit on cookie sheet for 2 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool.  

Makes about 4 dozen.

Enjoy!