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.
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 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. π
These cookies look amazing Zainab, love the pomegranate in them. I so need to venture out and start working with them. Pinning! π
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.
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!!
I love the sound of these cookies, never had anything with pomegranate in before. That Cooks Illustrated book is on my Christmas list too.
Zainab they look divine, thanks for linking up at Showcase Your Talent!
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 :).
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 π Yay for your new camera, your pictures are already beautiful so can’t wait to see more π Great Christmas list, the boots and blazer are gorgeous!
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!
Amazing combination !
Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
I love your Christmas list, I agree with you on pretty much all of it π 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!
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 π
Great cookies!
I love the fact that you added pomegranate seeds. I must try this recipe π
Thank you dear. You have to try this recipe π