OATMEAL, CHOCOLATE AND FRUIT COOKIES.

I was in the mood for baking this weekend and thought of making these oatmeal, fruit and chocolate cookies. I probably won't  do any baking for a while so I am enjoying this weekend, dedicated to baking. I am going to bake half of the batch today but keep the other half in the fridge which will  keep for a week or so,  to bake whenever we have guests  over for tea. I used mix dried fruit of berries, apricots,raisins, dates,cranberries and pineapple but use any dried fruit combination you prefer or have in your cupboard. Below makes 80- 82 cookies.

INGREDIENTS

• 125 g butter
• 200 g light brown soft sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 tsp vanilla
• 2 tbsp milk
• 150 g crunchy peanut butter
• 150 g wholemeal self raising flour
• 150 g self raising flour
• 200 g wholegrain oats
• 50 g chopped chocolate pieces
• 100 g mixed dried fruit.

Pre heat the oven to 180 C, 160 Fan setting. Grease and line 2 baking trays with sheets of baking parchment.

1) Cream the butter with sugar, in a large  mixing bowl. Add the beaten eggs gradually beating after each addition. Add the vanilla and milk.

2) Combine the peanut butter, flour, oats, chocolate chips and dried fruit. Add to the creamed mixture in the bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon together thoroughly.

3) Divide the dough into 3 equal batches. Each batch will make 20 cookies.

4) Either cooked them all, the same day or like me cook half and store the other half ( uncooked ) in the fridge till you need it.

5) Bake the cookies for 10- 12 minutes or until lightly golden  on preheated oven. Cool them on wire rack before serving.

CHILI CHOCOLATE BISCUITS-COOKIES ( aci biber ve cukulota biskuvisi )

I have heard people talking about chili cookies and instantly thought that I would love  to make my own. I used my basic cookie dough recipe with little changes made because of the chili used. When I made the first batch I was so excited to see how they turned out. I made myself a nice cup of coffee and sat down to enjoy chili and chocolate cookie. I like chili and use it almost everyday with my cooking. As I finished my cookie I realized I used extra hot chili which I use making curry.It tasted rather hot and over powering.

So I was back in  the kitchen and by second and third try I perfected it and eventually got it right. As you can imagine, I ended up with lots of cookies in my tin which I have to give away to  friends and also enjoy them with family. Hope you enjoy...

CHILI CHOCOLATE BISCUITS

• 100 g butter, melted,( 9-10 tbsp melted )
• 150 g caster sugar ( 1 cup )
• 1 egg, beaten
• 200g plain flour ( 2 cups )
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 level  tsp cayenne pepper
• 100 g fruit and nut chocolate bar
• 2 tsp runny honey

1) Lightly grease 2 baking trays. Preheat the oven to 190C, 170 C fan setting.

2) In a dip mixing bowl mix butter and sugar and beat well. Add the beaten egg little at time, mixing and beating after each addition.

3) Sieve the flour together with baking powder and chili powder. Add the flour into the bowl. 

4) Place broken chocolate pieces in a freezer bag and roll it with a rolling pin. We should have roughly chopped pieces.

5) Add chocolate pieces and  and honey to the bowl of flour mixture.  Mix all the ingredients together to form a soft dough. Wrap and let it rest 15-20 if you have time.

6) Form the dough into round  pieces and press them lightly. Place them onto the baking tray. (use floured hands if sticky ).Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly  golden brown. Transfer the cookies onto wire rack and leave to cool. Makes 20 cookies.

CHILI AND MIXED DRIED FRUIT COOKIES

While I was in the mood for baking I thought I experiment a little and make another batch. This time I replaced the chocolate with 100 g of dried mix fruit and instead of butter I used  9-10 tb spoons of flavorless oil . I also used 2 tb spoon of sesame seeds for sprinkling.

All the other ingredients and method of making these is the same as chili and chocolate cookie method.. They were lovely and softer in texture.  This also makes 20.

NOT : If you just want a hint of chili taste, only use half a teaspoon of the cayenne pepper.

FRUIT & NUT CHOCOLATE COOKIES WITH SESAME SEEDS (cukulota ve susam biskuvi,kuki ))

Yesterday it was snowing outside and I thought what better than to put the kettle on,  for a nice cup of coffee  and make some cookies while watching the snow falling. I was in a creative mood and  created this recipe. It took couple of attempts  to get the recipe right but the result was very good and the cookies were lovely. Makes 30- 32 cookies.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 tbsp melted butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 5 tbsp light brown sugar
• 1 egg and plus 1 egg white, beaten
• 2  full cups of self raising wholemeal flour ( 250 g )
• pinch of salt
• 1 level tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 100 g fruit and nut chocolate, chopped
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 yolk of an egg for glazing
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds for sprinkling.

METHOD

Preheat the oven and grease the baking tray. Place chocolate in a plastic bag and break them with the rolling pin until you have small pieces. Set aside. Separate one of the eggs to use the yolk for glazing and white for the dough mixture.

1) In a large  mixing bowl, cream the butter, olive oil and sugar until light and fluffy. I used electric hand blender. 

2) Add the beaten egg and egg white gradually. Sieve the flour, cinnamon and salt together. Mix the sesame seeds and chocolate pieces with the flour. Then add flour and nut mixture into the  creamed mixture, mix well with a wooden spoon. Add milk and mix thoroughly.

3) Divide the dough in to 30 walnut size pieces and shape them with floured hands,  into rounds. 

4) Place them into the baking tray and press them gently to make 5 cm round cookies. Brush them with egg yolk and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

5) Bake in preheated oven 190 C, 170 Fan setting for 12- 15 minutes. Cool them on wire rack before serving.

HAZELNUT COOKIES ( FINDIKLI KURABIYE )

These  little cookies are so nice and ready in no time for tea. it is my friend Funda's recipe with hazelnuts and raisins in, but you can use any dried fruit you desire. I also added the rose water which made it lovely and fragrant.

YOU NEED

• 1 cup natural yogurt
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs ( keep one yolk for the top of the cookies )
• Half a cup vegetable oil
• 2 tbls chopped hazelnuts
• 2 tbsp raisins
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2tbsp rose water
• 4 cups self raising flour

First mix the sugar and oil well together, add the beaten eggs. Mix  well. Add the hazelnuts, raisins, cinnamon to the flour and mix with all the ingredients into a smooth dough with the rose water. Shape into rounds, brush it with egg yolk and decorate with whole hazelnuts. Cook in pre-heated oven on 175C for 10-15 minutes. Serve warm.