oatmeal cookies filled with chewy soft naturally sweet dates

golden brown and crisp on the outside, warm and tender on the inside…yum!

So awhile ago my mother in law had purchased date sandwich cookies from a little bakery near her cottage and pie pie just loved them and told grandma how yummy they were.  Then she began to tell me how those cookies reminded her of her own childhood; her grandmother used to make these amazing cookies that had a soft interior that was filled with dates…the way she described the cookie and her memory of it made me crave dates and cookies even though typically, I never really think of dates because I don’t like date squares!

Ever since I heard this story I have always wanted to try to make something maybe can come somewhat close to that memory filled cookie.  It always amazes me how food creates such a memorable experience and connects us to the people we love, forever.  Here is my version of an oatmeal cookie with a date surprise in the middle.  The cookie is just sweet enough itself but the addition of the soft gooey date in the centre makes for a special treat.  The recipe only makes about 12 so if you’re feeding a crowd be sure to double it!

Hope you like these Sue!

*oatmeal cookie part of the recipe adapted from smitten kitchen’s thick oatmeal raisin cookies*

prep: 20 min   bake: 10-12 min   yield: 12 cookies

what you need:

• 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, generously measured
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• pitted pressed dates, about 3/4 cup (you could also buzz up some pitted dates in a food processor)

what to do:

1. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Combine flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon in a medium bowl.
3. In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter until very smooth and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, beat well.
4. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture, mix until just incorporated.
5. Add rolled oats and mix until a sticky dough forms, don’t over mix.
6. Using your hands (you have to get a little messy for this!) – form little balls of dough then press onto lined cookie sheet, about 6-8 cookies per sheet. If you have a little bit of vegetable oil or butter on your hands it will help prevent the dough from sticking to your hands.  Press the centres down a bit to make a little hole for the dates to go in.
   

   bottom left cookie got topped up before the shot!

   

   ready for the oven

7. Cover up the dates on each cookie with a little bit more dough -just to cover the date. It doesn’t have to be a tight seal because the dates will not ooze out as the cookies bake in the oven.
8. Bake for 10 minutes in the middle rack. They are done when the outsides are slightly golden brown.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool just enough that you can transfer then to a cooling rack. These cookies are SO good served warm, so if you can bake them right when you want to serve them that would be ideal! Enjoy!