Oatmeal Walnut Cocoa Nib Cookies
It’s a slow slow week we’re living, these days after Christmas and before New Year’s Day… but what’s on your brain?
Are you ready to say goodbye to 2011? Are you ready to shake it out?
2011 was a beautiful year… but I’m ready to shake it out so I can put some beauty in 2012.
These days between Christmas and New Years feel so still and quiet… and yet very contemplative and heavy with potential.
I’m not talking about the potential of… I dunno, losing weight and eating better and drinking more water… and all that important nonsense.
I’m talking about the potential of it all. Another year behind us and another chance in front of us.
What are we going to do with it? Now is the time to think.
Now is the time to think and eat cookies.
Let’s get into imagining our future selves! This is it!
Aaaahh oatmeal cookies. So much potential. It feels like all you need is brown sugar, cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg.
Such a simple treat.
Oh… you also need oatmeal. Duh.
I love to use old-fashioned oats because they’re big and hearty.
We’re also going to add two kinds of chocolate to the cookies. Chocolate chips and cocoa nibs. We’re talking melty chocolate and crunchy chocolate flavor.
I’d like you to meet my dear friend, Cocoa Nibs.
Cocoa nibs are coarsely ground cocoa beans. I think they taste like a mix between roasted coffee beans and dark chocolate. They’re crunchy and full of nutrients. I love cocoa nibs on top of vanilla ice cream, with yogurt and fruit, and definitely in these oatmeal cookies where they add a lovely crunch and deep chocolate flavor.
Cocoa nibs. Get into it! Seriously.
These Oatmeal Walnut Cocoa Nib Cookies are exactly what you want them to be. Expected and hearty. Totally comforting and delicious… and with a touch of something just a bit different (that’s the cocoa nib part). These cookies are exactly the way I like to approach a new year: with certain expected comforts, but full of newness and surprise… and chocolate.
We’re almost in the future!
Oh! Ps. The best, most delightful way to scoop cookies from a big heap of dough into perfectly portioned individual cookies is with a cookie scoop. I gifted myself one of these and I’m hooked.
Oatmeal Walnut Cocoa Nib Cookies
makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup cocoa nibs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Place racks in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, add butter and sugars. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stop the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and beat in eggs. Add eggs one at a time, beating for one minute on medium speed between each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture all at once to the butter and egg mixture. Beat on low speed until the mixture just comes together. There will still be large flour pockets… that’s ok.
Add the oats, walnuts, cocoa nibs, and chocolate chips. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a spatula to finish incorporating the mixture by hand. Mix together until no flour bits remain, and everything is well mixed together.
Scoop dough out by the tablespoonful onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes until toasted brown on top. Remove from the oven. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cookies will last, well wrapped at room temperature, for up to 4 days. Unbaked cookie dough can also be left in the fridge for about a week, and freezer for over a month.
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These look so lovely! I’ve been crunching on cocoa nibs from the bag…it’s about time they made their way into a cookie!
Happy New Year, sweet lady! :)
Great looking cookies! I love oatmeal cookies with whole, rolled, old-fashioned oats. The chunkier the better. Texture is key. And I bet the cocoa nibs add great texture. And I like how you said they’re full of nutrients. I’ll go with that as my hand is deep into my Navitas bag of nibs :)
Cookies…mmm, I need these!
I need cacao nibs then I am set, for life.. Happy New Year, Joy :D
Oooh, these look really delicious. I wonder if Whole Foods sells cocoa nibs? I’m far too impatient to order them online.
Have a Happy New Year!!!
Beautiful and inspiring post – as always. Happy New Year Joy! All the bestest wishes for a rockin 2012!
The baker who has never made oatmeal cookies-that’s me! :-) I plan to make them next year for sure. Feeling like oatmeal in some form is in order after the amount of food I’ve eaten this week. :-) Will look into trying cocoa nibs too!
Cheers to a Happy New Year!
Hi Joy!
New Year’s Eve is, indeed, a time of contemplation and celebration! Hope you have a wonderful New Year! I am on a mission now to find Cacao Nibs (or order them….thanks for the link!) and try this delicious looking recipe for Oatmeal cookies with a twist! Thanks for sharing the recipe on your wonderful blog! xoxo Kim
Okay, I just bought those cacao nibs AND the cookie dough scoop from amazon … you are such a bad influence! Good thing I had a gift card. Stop linking to awesome things!
i just want you to have awesome things… that’s all! thank heavens for gift cards!
Hey Joy, do you know any sites that ship cacao nibs internationally? Amazon does not ship those to Asia and I’m :-(
nibs make me weak at the knees.
I agree. Contemplating the past year is so much easier with cookies. :)
I can’t wait to make these, they’ll definitely be on the top of my list of recipes I want to make in 2012. :D
I have been wanting to gift myself with a cookies scoop for approximately five years. Maybe that will be one of my new years resolutions.
Cocoa nibs always add a special texture, whether it be in a candy bar or a cookie. It’s actually rare to hear about cookies with nibs so your recipe is very welcome. Thanks for sharing.
I’m in love with cocoa nibs at the moment – they’re incredible baked on top of a flourless chocolate cake as they don’t burn. Your cookies look gorgeous – definitely making some very soon!
Cookie scoops are the greatest. Ever since I bought mine, people ask how my cookies look so perfect and professional :)
I’ve never seen cocoa nibs before. They look very interesting – and delicious. I’ll have to be on the look-out for some!
is there a specific place you buy your cocoa nibs? i’m sure whole foods carries them, but i always wonder if maybe there’s a better place to get them!
i get them from whole foods, surfas, amazon… you’d be surprised the sneaky places nibs show up.
Have you ever had brewed cocoa? It’s roasted ground cocoa beans made like coffee in a french press. Really tasty and chock full o’ antioxidants. Goes by the names Choffy and Crio Bru, but it’s way cheaper if you buy it somewhere else. I wonder if it’s really the name thing as nibs….
I’ve just finished to write my list for the things I’d love to do/to change/to keep in 2012. I love the beginning of a new year. It makes me feel as if everything could be possible, again.
Happy New Year! These look yummy, can’t wait to try them out. I love cocoa nibs. I love to grind them up in a coffee grinder to make my own chocolate chips.
…Hello Joy! *waving* That second photo pretty much sums me up. New Year, Schmew Year – gimme cookies! ;o)
…I’ve heard of Cocoa Nibs, yeah I get out now and then, but I’ve never seen ‘em available locally. These cookies look and sound delish’! Perfect to pair with a cup of coffee or hot tea. Yum the thought. :o)
…Thank you Miss Joy for making this past year a delight! And here’s wishing you all the BEST in 2012! I’m talkin’ THE. BEST.
…Love to you and blessings too. :o)
thank you so much tj! thank you for being here!
I keep saying that I will not make cookies for a solid month after making so many for Christmas. I might have to make an exception.
Joy, I swear you read my mind. I just made some oatmeal cookies but have been wanting to do something oatmeal-y and chocolaty. I’ve also been wondering about cocoa nibs. I wasn’t sure whether to try them or not… but now I think I’ll give it ago.
Thanks, Joy!
Also, I just made whole wheat whiskey chocolate chip cookies…and did a blog post about it. I think you’d be proud.
whole wheat, whiskey, and chocolate. i like the way you think!!
Thanks for sharing Joy! Also, I use my cookie scoop for sooo much…getting cake batter to cupcake liners..YES! Happy New Year!
Joy you have such a beautiful way with words. I feel the same about the last week of the year…it’s probably one of my favourite weeks because everything just slows down for a bit. It’s a great time to breathe. Wishing you a great 2012!
I got into cacoa nibs earlier this year and then fell off the bandwagon so I still have a cup or so left in the pantry. Perfect :) Have an amazing New Year!
I have cocoa nibs that neeeeeed to be used up! THANK YOU for this deliciousness to put them into!
Something easy and delicious to cook post-Christmas. Perfect.
Hope you had a nice Christmas, and I look forward to reading more of your blog in the New Year.
looks good. nuff said.
Oohhhh this is perfect – I just received a can of awesome cocoa nibs and I didn’t know what else to do with them (aside from eating them straight from the can) :) Happy New Year!
Ummm hello that looks delicious!! NYE cookies – yes please.
R
Mmm, what a great combo. I’ve been hanging onto some cocoa nibs for a while now, can’t wait to try them in something like this :D
I’ve been looking for some new ways to use cocoa nibs; why I never thought of oatmeal cookies I’ll never know. Yum!
I adore my cookie scoop!! It feels like my not-so-secret secret to the perfectly shaped cookie.
Happy *early* New Year!!!
heart heart,
Kasey
I don’t have any resolutions (I like to do goals instead) but I resolve to eat more cookies like these next year.
Love the idea of combining the cocoa nibs into the oatmeal cookie! I love putting some cocoa nibs in my oatmeal on occasion when I am in the mood for a semi-decadent breakfast. :)
What a perfect cookie for the New Year. Happy 2012, Joy!
I love this cookies! Fashioned oats introduces a perfect taste between nuts and chocolate…
Happy new year from Barcelona (I take one! :P)
Making these tonight!!! Oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies are the best on the planet. I have two awesome chocolate bars in the freezer begging to be added to this.
enjoyenjoy!
I really like the description of the days between Christmas and the New Year as full of potential. You’re right, now’s the time for some reflection and planning for our future selves.
high-five!
These cookies look yummy! I haven’t seen cocoa nibs up here, where would a person get them? As for 2011, I am so done with this year, you don’t even know! Can’t wait for a brand new healthy,happy, exciting year! Looking forward to 2012 for sure! I don’t know what it will bring, but I am sure it will be fantastic. Happy New Year to everyone!
Oh! I’ve never tried cocoa nibs! THey look delish as I love to eat chocolate covered coffee beans, so it’d be similar, but more chocolatey? Oh yeah!
A cookie scoop is one of my absolute favorite kitchen gadgets! So handy!
I love love love using cocoa nibs in my baking projects. They are so yummy when folded into chocolate cakes, brownies, cookies, or–as you said above–simply sprinkled on top of vanilla ice cream. I use Taza’s chocolate-covered nibs, which is pretty much the best thing ever. Thanks for the scoop recommendation, I have been eying a dough/ice cream scoop for years now. What the heck am I waiting for? Happy New Year, Joy!
Oh yeah, this recipe is a winner. New Year’s resolution – eat more cocoa nibs.
Cocoa nibs are the bees knees! Thanks for this awesome post– I am excited to try it out, b/c I have a tin of cocoa nibs I’ve been wanting to use!
I thought maybe I was cookied out from the holiday, but I think I need one more cookie… these!
I love your cookies! And how do you imagine 2012?
Love everything about these! And, I need a cookie scoop! :)
Any preference as to roasted or raw nibs? I know the link was to raw nibs, but does would it make much of a difference? Thanks!
raw or roasted. either are fine.