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 Lágrima 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 🙂
Anyway, onto these vanilla pomegranate oatmeal cookies.
I received a generous sample of vanilla extract from my friends at Lágrima. 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 Lágrima 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
- ¾ cup bread flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned oats
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ½ 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.
Yay for beautiful cookies…and a new camera! Enjoy!! 🙂
Thanks Jennifer! I hope you and the beauty are doing great 🙂
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!
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! 😀 They do!!!!?!??? That’s excellent!!!! 🙂 Thanks Zainab! You’re the sweetest! 🙂
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 🙂
I like that you used fresh pomegranate. It makes them so pretty!
Thanks Renee!
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.
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.
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.
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 🙂
Thank you Cate. I’m looking forward to the new camera. Pomegranates are so gooood and crunchy!!
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 🙂
Amy I love that suggestion. Now I HAVE to remake this cookie with some orange zest. Thanks my dear, You are the best 🙂
Can I copy your list and give it to family members? 🙂 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 … 🙂 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!
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!
Great cookies!
I love the fact that you added pomegranate seeds. I must try this recipe 🙂
Thank you dear. You have to try this recipe 🙂
Aww I’m so excited for you and your DSLR!! Your pictures will be (even) more beautiful now, I cannot wait to see them!
And these cookies look gorgeous! So festive and fun 😉
I love your Christmas list, I agree with you on pretty much all of it 🙂 I am with you on shopping online… I enjoy the experience of going to buy my clothes at the mall more too! Now onto your cookies… these look so gorgeous and festive! I love your pictures! And congratulations on the purchase of your DSLR camera… you will love it! I’m so excited for you!
Amazing combination !
Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
These look way too good! Oh and that vanilla looks so high quality.
I really want some cookbooks this Christmas too. The Bouchon Bakery and Momofuku Milk Bar books are at the top of my list!
These cookies look amazing Zainab! Chunky and chewy oatmeal cookies are my favorite and I love the addition of pomegranates in here, they look incredible and so festive 🙂 Yay for your new camera, your pictures are already beautiful so can’t wait to see more 🙂 Great Christmas list, the boots and blazer are gorgeous!
These are so colorful and festive with the pomegranate in them! I adore chewy cookies and vanilla so these may find themselves on my holiday baking list :).
Zainab they look divine, thanks for linking up at Showcase Your Talent!
I love the sound of these cookies, never had anything with pomegranate in before. That Cooks Illustrated book is on my Christmas list too.
You can never ask for too much for Christmas! My list just grows and grows. I love that you baked with pomegranate seeds. I have a slight obsession with them but wasn’t sure if they were baking appropriate.
Laura, they are definitely baking appropriate and made these cookies extra special!!
You are too funny, I so need to do this with the whole none chalant christmas list to the hubbie! I think I’m wanting all the same stuff you want. 🙂
These cookies look amazing Zainab, love the pomegranate in them. I so need to venture out and start working with them. Pinning! 🙂
Krista, thank you very much. And I’m just thinking if he bothers reading blog (which I force him to just so he can check my grammar :0) he will see my list haha.
I am super impressed that you were taking such amazing pics without a DSLR camera-was it just a point and shoot?! Wow!
These cookies look 100% amazing-if I have time and do your recipe, would you mind if I posted the recipe with a link back to you?
Christine thank you so much! Of course I don’t mind if you posted the recipe. That’s why I share :). I’d love for you to try it! It’s really good.
And yeah i was using a point and shoot but felt like I outgrew it and was time to take the next move. I’m so happy I did.
Yummy! After baking them, whats the best way to store them, because of the seeds. In the fridge or a ziploc?
These are best stored in the fridge.
You have no idea how excited I am about this recipe! One of the restaurants I get cookies from has a pomegranate cookie and now I can make one myself. Yeah!
Happy Saturday Sharefest!
Thank you Carla! I’m glad this recipe will be well appreciated. Pomegranates are my favorite. I have another one coming up tomorrow so be on the look out 🙂
okay, just finished baking some cookies for an exchange tomorrow, really wishing I had read my blogs before that! would love to try these…oh well, now I have an excuse to bake! 🙂
I love new boots! here’s hoping you get a few things on your list friend!
Oh no :(. But now you get to bake some more cookies! Hooray to that!! I got a pair of boots this weekend :0 couldn’t wait any longer lol! Thanks Alex!
You make the most beautiful dessert, Zainab! Thanks for always sharing them with us at Marvelous Mondays! Pinned!
Thank you Paula! I love Marvelous Mondays. You ladies are the best 🙂
What a great idea! And I’m off to check out your other pomegranate recipes…
Thanks Julia! Hope u liked the cake too.
Thanks for sharing this awesome looking cookie at our Marvelous Monday party! Pinning to my board!
I don’t think I’ve ever had a cookie with pomegranate in them. That is a unique cookie. My daughter loves those seeds! Please share this on Christmas Cookie Link-up party. http://www.somersetlaneblog.com
Zainab, what a beautiful name! You are a gorgeous person and I am so looking forward to making these cookies. I recently developed (out of need) my own recipe for gluten-free Pomegranate and peppercorn Biscotti with a dark chocolate drizzle. Everyone was so intrigued. The pepper adds depth of flavour and isn’t overwhelming. I’ll have to try the Vanilla you suggested too!
Thank-you and God bless(0:
I am loving these fun holiday cookies. I love the pop of pomegranate in these! Enjoy that new camera!
These cookies have a nice taste, but This is the hardest dough to handle. Will never make these again.
Made a batch last night and they really are delicious. Followed the recipe scrupulously. Thanks for the advice to keep the dough chilled until popping it in the oven. That worked well and they looked just like those in your photos. Great flavor and lovely texture! YAY!!
However, the recipe is woefully misnamed. They are wonderful Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pomegranate. The pomegranate added fun color and a delightful crunch, but the chocolate chips totally overwhelmed any other flavor. Am planning to make them again (sans the chips) and see if that delivers the promised “Vanilla” component. Will keep my fingers crossed.
Hi Jen, glad to hear the cookies turned out great. the flavors are all in there but you are right, the vanilla is muted given the chocolate chips.