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.
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.
These cookies have a nice taste, but This is the hardest dough to handle. Will never make these again.
I am loving these fun holiday cookies. I love the pop of pomegranate in these! Enjoy that new camera!
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 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
Thanks for sharing this awesome looking cookie at our Marvelous Monday party! Pinning to my board!
What a great idea! And I’m off to check out your other pomegranate recipes…
Thanks Julia! Hope u liked the cake too.
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 🙂
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 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 🙂