I want cookies
Really, do I need to say more?
My cupboards are about to explode with little bags of this and little half canisters of that left over from my April shoots. I have chocolates chips in an array of shapes and colors. I have candied dried fruits and just about any nut you can name. I’m not sure what to do with it all… I shutter at the idea of throwing it away (even things, like banana chips that no one in my family likes), but I really don’t have the room for it. So, when I started craving cookies today, I decided it was time to make a dent in at least some of it. Today’s lucky remnants included a bag of Trader Joe’s dried valencia oranges, a little can of Ginger People’s candied ginger chips, some Dagoba choco-drops and some oats thrown in for good measure. The resulting cookies look deceptively like plain old Toll House, but the ginger gives each nibble a lingering little zing.
PS: A piece on sour cherries that I worked on last summer with Matthew and Dana is now on Gourmet.com, along with one of my photos. It’s so exciting to seem my photo up there!
Everything Out Of the Cupboard Cookies
Makes about 24
1/2 c unsalted butter
1/2 c golden brown sugar
1/2 c granulated sugar
1 egg
2 t orange juice
1/2 t vanilla
1 c all purpose flour
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
pinch of salt
1/2 c oats
1/2 c dried orange pulp
1 t dried citrus zest
1/4 c candied ginger chips
1/2 c chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 350F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream the butter and both sugars until they are lightly fluffy, stopping the mixer a few times to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
In a separate bowl lightly mix the egg, orange juice and vanilla. Add, all at once, to the creamed butter and beat until it is pale and creamy.
Sift in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir until just combined.
Stir in the oats, orange pulp, citrus zest, ginger chips and chocolate chips.
Scoop little balls of dough, about 1/2 inch in diameter onto the baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown on the edges.
Let the cookies cool on a wire rack, if you can stand to wait.
What beautiful shots!! So simple, bright, crisp… lovely!
I love the idea of everything-out-of-the-cupboard cookies. My task tomorrow is to make a list of everything in the freezer, fridge and pantry and try to utilize as much as possible before we leave on a long summer vacation!
I love the side by side shot of the cookie dough and the finished cookies 🙂
Delish! I love making cookies with “everything leftover in the cupboard.” Chocolate, fruit, nuts — the more the merrier. Gorgeous images!
Cookies! Biscuits et une recette! Good photos, too. Keep up the good work.
I saw that on Gourmet…congrats.
I often make cleaning out the cupboard cookies…always a good way to used up the little bits you have here and there. Great pictures.
’nuff said! lovely combo – zest and chocolate mmmmmm!
I often do a clean-out-the-fridge/pantry for dinner, but baking? Awesome! I’m getting excited about the coconut, Brazilian chocolate, and dark brown sugar awaiting my mixer. So excited.
Looks delicious! These are some of my favorite cookies – the improvised kind. 😉
Only you can make simple cookies & milk look so beautiful … love the one stacked on bottle! Man! I wanna make some now :/
Lara, these are fantastic! I want some, please. 😉
Dried orange pulp? That’s a new one on me. But I bet chopped dried cherries or cranberries would work well with the citrus flavor of the juice & zest. Candied ginger is my favorite secret ingredient.
Now I am hungry. Great shots as usual. The sour cherry piece is great work nice job, and congrats on getting onto gourmet.com
I want Candy.
(ha ha)
Stupid 80’s joke.
The cookies look great, btw, and I’m dying to try the candied ginger chips.
Nice cookies!! You’ve made me want some now.
You reminded me that I still have some frozen pumpkin I need to use up. 🙂 These cookies look and sound fantastic.
I’ve stumbled upon your site a week ago and has been browsing through the pages.
I love your writing and photography. Would you let me know what camera you are using? I’m going to give it a try to do some home photography as a hobby?
Thanks
I love this idea! Question though… how exactly do I go about drying orange pulp?
I love these pictures. Makes me very hungry for cookies…
I want your cookies!
Yum! You can’t do anything to beat that cookie craving but STOP and MAKE cookies. Your cookies look fantastic.
Sharona May
words can not express how much i love this blog! everything always looks so amazing- great eye candy for my day, nothing better than beautiful images of food! So I have a question about cookies- every time I make cookies they always end up flat no matter what the recipe! help!! flat cookie syndrome here! yours look so beautiful…I would like to think I am an accomplished cook, baking is a little harder, but I do manage, but my cookies are just horribly flat! any ideas?
your berry muffins were a big hit at my house. oh and by the way congrats on your new gas stove!! It is ok- I was dreaming about a dishwasher at one time…lol, it is only normal! 😉
Hi L.
I just stumbled across your blog, and I just happened to see the Cupboard Cookie Receipe they look so yummy, I need to know where to purchase a few things before I try this receipe. (1) What is dried orange pulp and where do you purchase it. (2) What is dried citrus zest and are there different flavors and where would purchase it. And your note you mention Trader Joe’s dried Valencia Oranges are they used somewhere in this receipe. Also after making up a batch can I refrigerate it for a few hours before baking them.
Wow these look great and the best thing is: I have all the ingredients! 🙂
These sound great and I always seem to have a supply of some sort of dried fruit after I make my granola. I have candied ginger too, what a great addition to a cookie and with some good chocolate chips! Just found your site today, a am just discovering the world of cooking blogs! I am going nuts researching recipes and trying them out! My old father is loving it! Your pictures are amazing!