Vanilla Pomegranate Oatmeal Cookies
These vanilla pomegranate oatmeal cookies are chunky, chewy and totally crunchy! This easy cookie recipe is perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges. (Originally published Dec 2013. Pictures and recipe updated Dec 2017 but text remains the same)
It seems as if everyone is sharing a list of their favorite things or gift guides to help folks out with their holiday shopping. Oh don’t worry, I will not be specifically helping you in that arena. This is not that kind of list. Instead, since we are all friends here, I am sharing with you a few of my (soon-to-be) or (I-wish-I-had) favorite things.
Aka I am thinking out loud my Christmas list for the hubs (which he usually shares with whoever asks him for ideas). But if you happen to have someone on your list with similar tastes, then you are in luck!
Here are a few of my (I-wish-I had) favorite things this holiday season:
Cookbooks: There are so many in this category but the most immediate ones right now that I can’t wait to get my hands on are: The Cook’s Illustrated Baking Book, Bountiful, The Flavor Bible.
Kitchen Gadgets: With the amount of time I spend in the kitchen, I am always in need of some new tools and gadgets. Here are a few things I am looking at. These measuring cups, this layer cake slicing kit and cake box from Food52. I am in need of some serious storage for my flour, sugar and icing sugar. These OXO 5-Piece Good Grips Pop Containers Set are high up on my list. Finally, corpus amounts of LΓ‘grima Pure Vanilla Extract that inspired the creation of these vanilla pomegranate oatmeal cookies.
Photography: This Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 Lens but I will settle for its close relative here. (No I am not jumping the gun here, I bought a DSLR camera on black Friday!!! It should be delivered today but of course I won’t be home so I will have to figure out when I can go pick it up at UPS this week)
Fashion: I am not much of an online shopper when it comes to clothes. I love the in-store experience very much but with all the crowds these days and good deals online, I am coming around for somethings. Like these boots, boots and boots and this blazer from Zara!
Too much? Of course, but it’s Christmas π
Anyway, onto these vanilla pomegranate oatmeal cookies.
I received a generous sample of vanilla extract from my friends at LΓ‘grima. After trying their vanilla in several recipes over a week, I needed to showcase this high-quality pure vanilla extract in a stand-alone recipe. These vanilla oatmeal cookies highlight the flavor, aroma, and richness of the Ugandan vanilla beans used to make this extract.
These cookies are thick and chewy, and I just love how hearty oatmeal cookies are. The pomegranate gives the cookies an added crunch. Do not skip on using a good quality vanilla extract here because you will miss out on the enhanced flavor and aroma that makes these cookies delicious.
If you have a foodie or baker on your Christmas list, please get them LΓ‘grima Vanilla Extract. Pretty pleased because they will never go back to generic or store-bought vanilla extract after they taste how real vanilla transforms a recipe. Enjoy these vanilla pomegranate oatmeal cookies!
Vanilla Pomegranate Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup cake flour, sifted
- ΒΎ cup bread flour
- Β½ teaspoon baking soda
- Β½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 Β½ cups old-fashioned oats
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- Β½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Β½ cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- Β½ cup pomegranate seeds (drained and dried on a paper towel)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, baking soda, salt, and oats.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and pomegranate seeds using a stiff rubber spatula.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes to an hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop out cookie dough and arrange 2 inches apart.
- Bake cookies for 12-14 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges.
- Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet for two minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Cool completely.
So many good things going on in these cookies! Pomegranate seeds just make things pretty. And festive! Love all the stuff on your wish list!
Can I copy your list and give it to family members? π I agree with everything on that, especially all those boots and kitchen gadgets! (Forget the fact that I already have an overflowing pantry and closet … π And these cookies! They are SO thick (perfection in my book) and I can’t believe you put pomegranate in cookies. I always am a fan of oatmeal and chocolate and these look incredible. Pinning and making!
Zainab, I am dying over here! I never thought to add pomegranates to cookies but it makes so much sense. I bet these would be amazing with some orange zest somewhere in there π
Amy I love that suggestion. Now I HAVE to remake this cookie with some orange zest. Thanks my dear, You are the best π
I love your Christmas list! Such fun things! And congrats on the camera purchse!!! Your pix already look stunning, I can’t wait to see what you do with a “real” camera! These cookies – yum!! What a great idea to use pomegranate seeds. They look so festive π
Thank you Cate. I’m looking forward to the new camera. Pomegranates are so gooood and crunchy!!
Beautiful cookies and I am sure they taste amazing! I have a few kitchen items on my list this year.
Thanks Ashley!! It’s always fun to get more kitchen stuff.
These cookies look so delicious — I love the addition of the pomegranate. I’ve never baked with it. Pinning!
Thank you Marcie. They are crunchy in cookies!! Hope you try them.
You are a smart girl, the close relative 1.8 is a beautiful lens. It does a great job, have it and love it. Congrats on your new camera.
These cookies look so festive.
Thank you very much. I’m glad to hear you love that lens because I love your photos. I look forward to getting it.
I like that you used fresh pomegranate. It makes them so pretty!
Thanks Renee!
These cookies look delicious! I have never had pomegranate in a baked good before! Definitely need to try!
Thanks Nancy!! Pomegranates are great in cookies so try it please π
That BLAZER!!!!!!! *-* ^.^ HEART IT! And these cookies???? Do I even need to mention how AWESOME they look??????? <3 <3 <3 I love the addition of pomegranates !!!! I've never used anything apart from store bought vanilla… I need to go order this online! Not sure if it'll be shipped outside of the US!
OMG that blazer!! It needs to get on sale. I am not allowed to get it at that price lol! Thank you so much for your sweet comment. Oh and they do ship internationally, including India. I asked them this afternoon.
hahaha!!! OMG! I wait desperately for the sale too!!! Flat 70 % off, count me in! π They do!!!!?!??? That’s excellent!!!! π Thanks Zainab! You’re the sweetest! π
How did you know that oatmeal cookies are one of my favorites?? And these look delicious. I can’t wait to see the new photography…your pics are already amazing!
David a little bird might have whispered to me lol! I love oatmeal cookies too. Mainly because they are justified for breakfast :). I am excited to play around in big girl shoes!
Yay for beautiful cookies…and a new camera! Enjoy!! π
Thanks Jennifer! I hope you and the beauty are doing great π