Chocolate Almond Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

Don’t worry. I’m not going to make myself sound crazy by telling you that I’ve already started holiday baking. But I’m not going to lie either. I may have started thinking about holiday cookies, and I may have already browsed my baking list from last year to see what I want to repeat. Maybe.

Okay, I’m not ready for the holidays, but I am ready for fall. Instead of going straight into the pumpkin and sweet potatoes, I thought I’d ease in, at least in terms of recipes. A little comforting oatmeal, nuts, and something to satisfy a chocolate craving.

This was my first time using almond butter in cookies and I loved the result. My husband described these as having the flavor of a no-bake cookie, yet lighter, and of course, baked. Despite it still being summer, these were worth firing up the oven.

Chocolate Almond Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup mascavo (or muscovado) sugar
3/4 cup Demerara (or raw) sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup raw, unsalted almond butter
1 tsp almond extract
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped almonds

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In the bowl of a mixer add the butter and sugars. Mix on medium to medium high and cream well; about 2 minutes. Mix in the eggs, and add the almond butter and almond extract. Mix for one minute more.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, oats, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Slowly add to the wet ingredients, mixing on low. Mix just until all ingredients are incorporated. Stir in the almonds.

Using a cookie scoop or spoon, place the cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 minutes. Remove from the baking sheet and place on a cooling rack. Makes 2 to 2 1/2 dozen cookies.