everything cookies

whenever one of my co-workers has a birthday, i love to bake something special and bring it into work to celebrate.  it gives everyone a good excuse to stand up from their desks and convene around the coffee pot for a few moments to enjoy something sweet and to say "happy birthday."

for my co-worker's birthday this week, i decided to bake cookies (because ryan reminded me that i have been baking a ton of cupcakes lately for different occasions).  i call these "everything cookies" because they have oats, pecans, raisins, and chocolate chips in them.  these cookies are so forgiving, because you can add anything to them that you want.  they turned out great and were a huge hit at work.  

everything cookies

adapted from smitten kitchen
prep time: 10-15 minutes
baking time: 10-12 minutes
yields: 3 dozen cookies

ingredients:
8 tablespoons room temperature butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 room temperature eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup raisins
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons freshly grated lime zest

directions:
preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.  using an electric mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy.  add both sugars and vanilla, and beat until well mixed, about three minutes.  beat in the eggs, one at a time.  sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and all spice in a separate bowl.  add half of the flour mixture to the butter with the mixer on low speed.  once the flour has been incorporated, add the rest.  stir in the oats, pecans, raisins, chocolate chips, and lime zest.  scoop the cookie dough, by the tablespoon, onto the cookie sheet.  bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden.

enjoy!

love, laurie