Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
I spent the morning interviewing ex-cons.
For them, the employees of Homeboy Industries, it’s a second chance and fresh start. A non-profit that works with gang members, fresh out of jail, provides culinary training, GED prep, job placement, parenting skills and so much more. "It’s like a big family, but everyone believes in you." Said one guy, back for a second chance at his second chance.
But sitting at the front of the Homegirl Cafe, interviewing and photographing the employees, it felt like a second chance and fresh start for me too. I was hired to write an article about food. Paid to go there, talk to people and take photos. A rare opportunity it seems for me to bulldog my way into this food writing world that I’ve been fighting so hard to be ย a part of. An article I hope to do justice to, undoubtably spending the better part of the next week working on.
So here we are. Me and them. My transformation so much less dramatic, so much less important to my survival. They inspire me. When I asked the man I met, the one who is back for his second time and only 3 days out of jail, how he is going to do things different this time around, he shrugs, "I’m just going to keep showing up. That’s all."
I think he’s on to something there.
Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 2/3 cups white sugar
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup bread flour
- 2/3 cup cake flour
- 1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Makes 2 dozen
Instructions
- In a pot over medium high heat, add the butter. Stir until butter has melted. Continue to cook, swirling the pot continuously, until the butter has turned an amber brown color and remove from heat. This will take about 5 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and the sugar. Add the vanilla and the browned butter, stir until combined.
- In a separate bowl add the remaining ingredients and stir until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined, don’t over mix.
Line two baking sheets with a Silpat or parchment paper. - Form dough into balls a bit larger than a golf ball. Place on the baking sheets.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, and up to 24.
- Preheat oven to 350. Bake for about 18 minutes or until light golden brown. Keep an eye on your cookies at about the 12 minutes mark. Cookies that aren’t as chilled will cook much faster.
Comments
Cassie October 1, 2012 um 4:13 pm
I love your stories and I admire you whole-heartedly. I love that you are part of second chances for people, it’s a great place to be! Love these cookies too!
Blog is the New Black October 1, 2012 um 4:49 pm
I love how round and dense these look! YUM!
Julie @ Table for Two October 1, 2012 um 6:17 pm
you have the best stories of real life, gut-wrenching experiences. everyone always deserves a second chance, no matter what. these cookies with brown butter in them? um, yes please!
amy @ fearless homemaker October 1, 2012 um 7:02 pm
What an amazing program that sounds like. And how wonderful that you were able to experience the positive effects of it (both on you + them) firsthand. And these cookies? Look absolutely wonderful!
Anna @ hiddenponies October 1, 2012 um 7:39 pm
What an interesting way to spend your day! These cookies are exactly my kind of cookie…yum!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious October 1, 2012 um 9:24 pm
I think I need to hang out with you because you have such amazing life experiences. Plus, I get to sneak away some cookies from you for myself!
claire @ the realistic nutritionist October 2, 2012 um 4:43 am
I would drink brown butter if it wasn’t so frowned upon in society.
Jen @ Savory Simple October 2, 2012 um 5:52 am
I love your stories ๐ And these cookies as well. Brown butter makes everything better.
Bree October 2, 2012 um 6:51 am
You are always doing something interesting! Great cookies too ๐
Laura October 2, 2012 um 4:43 pm
Great post. Love the cookies too. ๐
Laurie October 3, 2012 um 1:31 am
Howdy! I just made these and they where very puffy and light, very good!
Sidney October 16, 2012 um 10:53 am
OMG!These sound so good
Misha October 24, 2012 um 3:39 pm
At what point do you add the browned butter? The directions don’t specify and almost make it sound like they get added to the dry ingredients? My natural assumption is that it should be added to the wet after it cools…
Jackie October 24, 2012 um 3:54 pm
Yes. Add it to the sugar and eggs with the vanilla.
national cookie day recipe round up | Crunchy Creamy Sweet December 4, 2012 um 10:43 am
[…] Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies from Domestic Fits […]
Whole Wheat Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe – 131 calories | Diet Recipes under 200 calories December 21, 2012 um 8:43 am
[…] domesticfits.com via Diet on […]