Red, White, and Blue Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cookies

If you love soft and chewy cookies, then you are going to LOVE these!

I get overly excited about the 4th of July every year because we spend that holiday with my family in Michigan. There is nothing like being on the lake in a wholesome midwest town, eating, drinking, and relaxing with the people you love the most in the world. It always helps if the weather is nice, but when I'm at the lake I actually enjoy the rainy days too. Cookies are a MUST on this holiday, and any holiday! I wanted to think of a fun red, white and blue cookie that didn't require any food coloring. I am ALWAYS experimenting with cookies and I was so excited that these ones turned out to have a rustic look, and great flavor.

To get the red, white, and blue look I combined dried cherries, white chocolate, and dried blueberries. I really like the combination because it adds a lot of great texture to the cookie. The dried fruit is chewy and slightly tart without being too sweet. The brown sugar is what makes these cookies soft! There is no flour in this batter, just oats as the foundation. To give the cookie some body I added sunflower seed butter because it's rich and hearty, and is also allergy-free. Peanut butter can definitely be used instead if you prefer. Something to keep in mind about the sunbutter is that it actually can make the cookies turn slightly green in the center. Don't let this steer you away! Since the sunflower seeds are, in fact, seeds, they have chlorophyll in them which bring out a green hue in the cookies once baked with the leavening ingredients. They are perfectly safe to eat! If that does bother you, then simply use another kind of nut butter. I love how the sunbutter tastes, so I recommend trying it out!

These red, white, and blue brown sugar oatmeal cookies are a perfectly soft and chewy cookie for any patriotic holiday!

Red, White, and Blue Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cookies

Author:

Maria Provenzano

Serves:

30-40

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs, room temperature
2 cups sunflower seed butter or peanut butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 1/2 cups old fashioned oatmeal
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup white chocolate
1 cup dried blueberries
1 cup dried cherries

Instructions

*Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
*In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or with a hand mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy
*Crack the eggs into a separate bowl
*Stir the eggs and vanilla into the butter and sugar, and combine until they are well incorporated
*Stir in the sunflower seed butter (or peanut butter); stir until well combined
*In a separate bowl combine the oatmeal, baking soda, and salt
*With the mixer on low, stir in the oat mixture
*Once combined add in the chocolate, dried blueberries, and dried cherries
*Stir until everything is combined together; it will be a thick batter
*Scoop the dough into about 2 tablespoon size mounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
*Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly brown on the outside, being careful not to over bake
*If you make the cookies larger or smaller make sure to adjust baking times