Late Monday evening I started to come down with a bit of a sore throat. When my alarm clock went off Tuesday I felt like a log as I lay in bed moaning like a beached whale. At 4am today I woke up, took some cold and sinus medicine, heated up a therapeutic stuffed pig filled with lavender and flax seeds in the microwave, blindly stumbled back to bed, and prayed to the Health Gods that I’d feel better if not immediately, as soon as possible, preferably before Friday. Sues and I are heading up to Sugarbush on Friday for a fun weekend of snowboarding lessons and luxury with SkiVermont, Cabot Cheese, and some other bloggers, so that’s why I’m praying I feel better. I need to be at 100% for those slopes especially since my snowboarding skills are about 20% when I’m feeling perfectly fine. Eep.
I’ve convinced myself that cookies can cure all (rough weeks, heartache, bad hair days… the common cold, why not?) so when I got home from work this afternoon I decided I’d make some. But I didn’t want to leave the house again to go grocery shopping. Because being in public while delirious isn’t always cute. So I paid the lovely Recipe Girl a visit because she knows cookies and baked goods better than anyone on the World Wide Web. The first recipe I clicked on was for Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies and I scrolled down to make sure I had everything. Sure enough, I did. Including pitted dates. Helloooo, well stocked pantry! I also figured since I’m sick eating “healthy” cookies was the best and only option. Duh.
Here’s what you need:
• 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1.5 cups old fashioned oatmeal
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup finely chopped pitted dates
• 3 ounces dark chocolate, chopped (I ended up using dark semi-sweet chocolate chips… because that’s what I had and I didn’t want to leave the house, remember?)
Here’s what you do:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets or line with parchment
• Place butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in microwave until just melted.
• Remove from microwave and add brown sugar, stir until just smooth-ish.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer (or you can just do it by hand), whisk together oats, flours, baking soda and salt. Stir until smooth.
• Stir in butter and sugar mixture, along with egg, vanilla, and dates.
• Fold in chocolate chips and mix well.
• Using a tablespoon, gently drop cookie dough onto your prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until the cookies set. I ended up keeping mine in the oven for about 15 minutes since they still appeared a bit undone at the 12-minute mark.
I ate 2 of these while I waited for my dinner to finish. And about 3 after dinner. Because straight out of the oven, these cookies will knock your socks off and probably cure your illness, too. The oatmeal melts in your mouth and the tiny hints of sweet stickiness from the dates will clear your sinuses. Kidding. But they’ll do something that will just make you happy and forget that you’re sick. 
[Chels]
Yes cookies can cure all!! This sounds like a winning recipe. I always have dates on hand too (I love grandma foods). And it’s healthy so hello, you can eat as many as you want
Feel better!
Ah man, I’m sick right now too and this is exactly what I wanted to make for dessert tonight. Unfortunately, we’re out of brown sugar. Lame sauce. Feel better. Your upcoming weekend sounds amazing!
cookies look too good,..
oh those cookies look great! Hope you feel better soon!
I can always use a tasty healthier cookie! Hope you are feeling better for the weekend, it sounds amazing!
oh gosh- I hope you feel better! Sounds like a FUN weekend! Oatmeal chocolate chip are my favorite! I’m actually planning on making some today
Your version looks yummy
Feel better soon Chelsee!
We have the same bug – it sucks! Your cookies look awesome . . . not sure I have energy to bake today (reclining with laptop on belly is all I’m up for right now) but they sure look tempting! Fingers crossed your weekend doesn’t get wrecked . . . .
My crystal ball tells me that you’ll soon feel as good as your cookies look. You’ll be better in no time
. Hugs and blessings…Mary
hello – this weekend trip sounds like it will be fab! I hope you’re starting to feel better
I know these cookies would help me get well soon!
feel better!!
Girl you are awesome. when i was sick i wanted cookies but didnt have the strength to stand in the kitchen so i sliced a round of cookie dough and ate that… then passed out lol
These are goreous and rustic!
Cookies DO cure everything
These look awesome – I bought dates a while ago and can’t wait to use them in cookies!
hey! just think that your body needs calories to fight off the icky germs. those look fab!
(feel better!)
I saw “healthy” “chocolate” and “cookies” and I came a-runnin! Love the idea of dates. Want. Now.
Laura
oh yummy! my very favorite cookie is an oatmeal white chocolate cranberry cookie. with a few substitutions im sure i could make this recipe work for those!
These sound great and would be a good breakfast.
Now I’m craving oatmeal cookies.
yay! a healthy choc chip oatmeal cookies that doesn’t have nuts in it. only because, i’m allergic to all of it.
by the way, dark semi-sweet chocolate is always better. that’s what i think, anyway.
These look amazing – hope you are feeling better in time to hit the slopes!
sounds yummy!! i hope you feel better soon so you can enjoy your weekend! have fun!
Great ingredients and wonderful cookies. I’d love some right now!
Nisrine
I don’t know what’s more impressive-that you had pitted dates in your pantry or that these cookies are healthy! They look a good cure to me. Hope you feel better!
yum – i love that you added dates. just got a whole bag of them!
I hope you feel better! These look delicious and I’m totally with you that cookies make everything better.
wow, just made this recipe expecting to be the only one who ate them, but they are all gone, everyone loved them. It is all about the dates. I even cut the sugar and added a little honey. Definitely making them again.
These look great. I will have to try them sometime. How long does it usually take you them make a whole batch?