Brown Butter Oatmeal M&M Cookies

These brown butter oatmeal M&M cookies are full of so much flavor. Subtle hints of oats, caramel, molasses and chocolate. All combined into one cookie makes it incredibely delicious!

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Browning butter might be the most amazing addition to desserts ever, besides anything chocolate. It takes flavor to a whole new level! I love to pair browned butter with oatmeal desserts because the two combos together create a blissful marriage. Am I selling you on the stuff or what?!


I adapted these cookies from an original recipe on my site called Mini Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. I know they seem daunting, and I hate waiting for cookies to set in the fridge, but I promise you it’s so worth it!

Ingredients:

3 sticks salted butter**(8.5 ounces browned butter)

3/4 cup white sugar

1 1/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 TB. vanilla

2 cups white flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

sprinkle of ground nutmeg

2 1/2 cups old fashion oats

1 cup mini or regular M&M’s

1 cup milk or semi sweet chocolate chips

**

Directions:

  1. Brown your butter. In order to get about 8 and a half ounces of browned butter you need 3 sticks. To brown your buttter, place butter in a pan. Turn on heat to medium. Continue to slowly stir butter until it melts. Watch it, stiring occassionally. Butter will get frothy and begin to brown after about 3-4 minutes. Continue to stir and cook butter until butter is rich brown/golden brown color. Set aside to cool.

  2. In a large mixing bowl, add your sugars and browned butter. Mix until combined. Add in eggs and vanilla and mix together.

  3. Sprinkle flour on top of mixed batter along with baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk into batter.

  4. Using a rubber spatula, fold in oatmeal, M&M’s, and chocolate chips.

  5. Using a 1 inch cookie scoop, or bigger if desired, scoop out batter and place it on a prepared cookie sheet. (I like to use parchment paper on top of cookie sheets for an even bake.) Using your hand, press down slight on the dough so the top isn’t so rounded.

  6. No need to space the cookie dough becaues the dough needs to be refrigerated. Cover tightly and refrigerate the dough for at least an hour so the dough can firm up.

  7. Once the dough is ready, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Space your cookies out on different cookie sheets that have parchment paper on them.

  8. Bake cookies anywhere between 9-11 minutes, or until slightly golden on top.

    • Cookies can be stored in an airtight container up to 3/4 days. I like to place a slice of bread in the container with the cookies to keep them soft and chewy.

    • Cookie dough can be frozen and baked immediately from the freezer. You will have to add a few minutes to baking time.

    • Baked cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months.


{Healthy} Chocolate Chip Cookies

(To get the recipe for the 'Happy' version of our favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies, go HERE.) It's no secret that I love making Chocolate Chip Cookies. Every time I get out my big Kitchen Aid mixer and my large bag of chocolate chips, my family knows what is coming!

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

When it came to putting together a healthier recipe, I knew that the cookies had to be just as addicting as the Happy version. I've made my fair share of healthy cookies, but I needed this one to stand out...

And more importantly....

I needed my family not to really notice a difference.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish

These cookies, in my mind, are healthy. To others they might still be a 'treat', and that's ok. They are packed with wholesome grains, naturally sweetened, and made with coconut oil instead of butter :).

You could skip the chocolate chips, add nuts and raisins...

But raisins in cookies are just so un cool...

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 c. white whole wheat flour
  • 1 c. unbleached white flour
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 3/4 c. coconut oil, softened
  • 1/2 c. coconut sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 TB. vanilla
  • 1 ripe large banana, mashed
  • 1 c. old fashioned oats
  • 2 c. chocolate chips, carob chips, or chopped dark chocolate

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
  3. In a bowl fitted with a mixer, add coconut oil and sugar. Beat for 2-3 minutes, or until fluffy. Add egg, and mix in, followed by vanilla.
  4. Next mix in mashed banana.
  5. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture to the wet mixture. Next mix in the oats, and once that is all mixed, then add in the chocolate chips and mix.
  6. Scoop dough onto prepared baking sheet using a small cookie scoop. Flatten the tops of the cookies a little.
  7. Bake for 9-11 minutes. (We like to undercook them slightly, and let harden on the tray.)

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Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish

(Making her work hard for her cookie!)

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish

What other recipes would you like to see Happy and Healthy?! Let me know in the comments below!

{Happy} Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've been wanting to share this cookie recipe for a LONG time, because everyone loves a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe right? I'm sure there are a million different recipes for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, and believe me I have tried A LOT of them. I wanted a recipe that would stick with our family forever. One that my kids would know were their mom's chocolate chip cookies. A recipe that my friends and family would beg for, where I could hold it over their head hostage and demand their secrets for mine.

And a recipe that wasn't on the bag of the Nestle Toll House bag... ;)

I'm not going to write a long drawn out post and explain why I love chocolate chip cookies so much, so....

Here you go!

Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
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Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish

{Happy} Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks salted butter, softened
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 TB. vanilla
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 1/2-3 cups chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add vanilla and egg yolks one at a time, mixing after each one.
  3. In a separate bowl, add your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix, then slowly mix into batter until incorporated.
  4. Mix in chocolate chips. (These are full of chocolate chips, so if you want, you can reduce the amount.)
  5. Using a large cookie scoop, measure out cookie dough onto prepared baking sheet (with parchment paper). Using your palm, flatten the tops of the cookies slightly.
  6. Bake for 10-12 minutes. I like to undertake mine, then let cool on the hot pan for a minute or two before transferring to a wire rack. Careful not to overbake :). Store in an air tight container. Best eating the first 1-3 days.
  7. I also store cookies in the freezer and pull them out in the morning and pack them in my girls lunches. By lunch time they have thawed and are perfect to eat.

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Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish
Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies via The Diva Dish

Do you have a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe? How do you like your cookies? Flat, thick, chewy, crispy, chippy?

Mom's Gingerbread Cookies

*This is not an exaggeration. Hands down, these are the best Gingerbread cookies I've ever had. And many friends and family agree!* Not many grandmas have Facebook pages created on behalf of things they've said...But mine does.

The BEST Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish
The BEST Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish

I'm pretty sure I've talked about her before on the blog, and her name is Grandma B. Every so often she will come out to visit my little family and spend a few days. It's always an adventure. There are always memories made. And you never forget when Grandma B. visits. Ever.

From the second you open the door you hear squeals of delight from three tiny girls, and a "Ooooooohhhh hellOOO!", from Grandma B. herself. Her slight Argentine accent peaks through as she talks about the weather in Las Vegas and how beautiful it really is. She then proceeds to walk around the house stating, "Ok, let's see what's new around here.", as she examines each piece of furniture/decor debating whether that was here last time she stayed with us.

The BEST Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish
The BEST Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish

She brings with her chamomile tea, english muffins, and orange marmalade for her to have for breakfast each morning, alongside the LA Times. She talks about uncomfortable positions in politics and asks if I need eye makeup for Christmas since she hasn't seen me wear any in the 2 days she's been here.

My girls love to get her attention by making the loudest noise possible, which of course she loves. She always asks the right questions, like about my breasts and time of the month schedule. Quickly followed by remarking in front of the kids how hard it must be for me to hide the elf on the shelf every morning. Don't worry, they didn't catch on. They also missed when she asked them if they saw the real Santa at our church Christmas party or a pretend one...

The BEST Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish
The BEST Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish

And each times she visits, we laugh, we play, and we eat lots of food. (She also folds my laundry!!) It might be uncomfortable at times, and I probably will never use the word breasts again, but isn't that what the holidays are all about?! Awkward, fun, memorable, uncomfortable, family togetherness.

And dessert.

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Because if there is one thing I did inherit from my grandmother it's that there must always be something to eat for dessert after breakfast lunch dinner. No matter what.

And what better way to honor that than with my mom's gingerbread cookies! After all, it's all about family.

And breasts.

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Mom's Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients

  • (Royal Icing)
  • 6 cups all purpose flour, sifted
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 c. dark brown sugar, packed
  • 4 tsp. ground ginger
  • 4 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
  • 1 tsp. finely ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 c. unsulfured molasses
  • (Royal Icing)
  • 1/4 c. merengue powder
  • 4 c. powdered sugar
  • 1/2 c. cold water

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
  2. In a mixer, beat together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Mix in the spices and salt, then the eggs, followed by the molasses.
  3. Add flour mixture slowly.
  4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour.
  5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll out a portion of the dough, cut into desired shapes, and place on baking sheet. (Use parchment paper!)
  6. Chill the shapes for 20 minutes.
  7. Bake for 8 minutes, or until golden. Do no overtake!
  8. Cool on a wire rack, and frost when completely cool.
  9. (Royal Icing)
  10. Beat all ingredients together. Dye your color of choice.

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Obviously my girls inherited my impeccable cookie decorating skills, not to toot my own horn or anything...

The BEST Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish
The BEST Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish
The Best Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish
The Best Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish

I promise you, despite the heavy sprinkle gear and hot pink frosting, these cookies are irresistible to anyone! Even when Grandma B. says, "well I'll be the judge of that!"

The Best Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish
The Best Gingerbread Cookies via The Diva Dish

I hope your holidays are as awkward as mine! ;-)

Just Desserts Mother's Day Recipes

As promised, I have all the recipes from THIS Mother's Day: All Desserts Menu. I will say that I've gladly been enjoying each and every single dessert on a...daily basis. Especially the Chocolate Truffles! I've had to fight my husband off for those. I hope everyone had an enjoyable Mother's Day! The recipes will be a link that you click on that will take you to a PDF Word Document of the recipe (Since there are 4 recipes on this post.) Once you click on the PDF, you can print them out!

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Chocolate Vegan Cupcakes with Vegan Vanilla Frosting 

I've been wanting to make a vegan frosting FOREVER that didn't use powdered sugar! So grateful I found the perfect recipe to play around with, and actually make a FLUFFY frosting that I could add to a piping bag!

Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes w: Vegan Chocolate Frosting

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Mother's Day Menu: Just Desserts via http://thediva-dish.com

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Crispy Bars (TO DIE FOR)

I find myself sneaking a bite here and there from the fridge. They remind me of no bake peanut butter cookies, which I remember making and eating all the time as a kid!

Click the link below for the recipe:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crispy Bars

Mother's Day Menu: Just Desserts via http://thediva-dish.com

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Mother's Day Menu: Just Desserts via http://thediva-dish.com

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Dark Chocolate Ganache Drizzled Strawberries 

The ganache is so simple to cook up and incredible delicious, you will most likely start making it often and putting it on everything. Even pizza...maybe?

Click the link below for the recipe.

Dark Chocolate Ganache Covered Strawberries

Mother's Day Menu: Just Desserts via http://thediva-dish.com

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Mother's Day Menu: Just Desserts via http://thediva-dish.com

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Rich Chocolate Truffles(I WILL MAKE THESE WEEKLY!)

If you have ever had  a truffle from See's candy that just satisfies that chocolate craving like no other...well, life is about to get a whole lot better :). These cure ANY chocolate craving, and they have the added health benefits! Cocoa powder, healthy fats from coconut oil, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup!

Click the link below for the recipe.

Rich Chocolate Truffles

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