Prune Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Don't grimace because these cookies have prunes....if you don't like them use raisins!

These are large, old fashioned, homey drop cookies. They are mildly spiced, wonderfully satisfying, crunchy crisp, and chewy!!!

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp ginger

1 1/2 cups pitted prunes or raisins

1/2 pound (2 sticks or 227g) unsalted butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 cup quick cooking oats

1 cup chopped walnuts

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F. Line cookie sheets with parchment or Silpat.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger and set aside.

Cut the prunes with scissors or a knife into small pieces and set aside.

In a large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter. Add both sugars and beat well. Beat in the egg, then on low speed add the sifted dry ingredients and beat only to mix; it will be a stiff mixture.

Remove the bowl from the mixer, and with a large wooden spoon stir in the rolled oats, prunes, walnuts, and chocolate chips. It will be stiff and you will need strength.

Shape dough into large tablespoonful balls about 70g each. Place on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly to about 1/2 inch thickness. These cookies don't spread too much.

Bake until cookies are well-coloured all over about 16-18 minutes. Let cookies cool for 5 minutes on sheets before removing to cooling racks.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen large cookies.

Adapted recipe from Maida Heatter's Book of Great Chocolate Desserts