Fast Fudgy Oatmeal Cookies

Fast Fudgy Oatmeal Cookies 

(From the kitchen of Kelli A. Wilkins)

These yummy cookies are tasty, and even a bit healthy! 

(recipe makes about 20 cookies)

Ingredients: 

2 cups quick-cooking oats 

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 

2/3 cup cocoa powder 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon baking powder 

3/4 teaspoon salt 

1 1/2 cups sugar 

2/3 cup milk (or vanilla almond milk) 

2/3 cup canola oil 

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/4 teaspoon almond, chocolate, or vanilla extract 

3/4 cups chocolate chips 

1 cup dried chopped cherries or raisins (optional) 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350F. 

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 

In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients (oats through salt). Set aside. 

In another large bowl, beat together sugar and milk until smooth. Then add oil and extracts and beat until well mixed. 

Fold in half of the dry ingredients until well-moistened. Then fold in remaining half.

Just before the mixture is completely combined, add chocolate chips and/or dried fruit. 

Drop a generous 2 tablespoons of dough onto cookie sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. 

For crisper cookies, flatten the dough slightly. For more chewy cookies, leave dough unflattened. 

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until cookies are firm and risen. Ovens vary, so keep an eye on your cookies! (It’s okay to take them out a minute or so early.) 

Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5-10 minutes and then transfer to wire rack to finish cooling. 

Enjoy! 

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, and 6 mystery/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror and mystery stories. She released The Route 9 Killer, a mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in 2023. Visit her website www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.