If you are looking for some cookies to leave for Santa, bake for a friend or neighbor or chow on yourself this holiday, these cookies are for you! The recipe has been tested and perfected for over ten years ever since we got our hands on this fabulous little concoction.

Here is what you need:

12 oz package of semi sweet chocolate morsels (Nestle Toll House or Ghirardelli work well)

2 sticks of butter softened (either salted or unsalted depending on your tastes or what you have)

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 cup sugar (regular white sugar, you could substitute white baking Splenda)

1 cup light brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups whole oats (do not get instant oats)

Cookie sheets

Cooling rack, but if you don’t have one have a plate handy to transfer cookies

How to make fabulous cookies:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder in a small bowl. Mix with a fork or whisk to combine. Beat the butter, both sugars and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. If you don’t have an electric mixer you can do this by hand with a rubber spatula (be prepared for an arm workout). Add the eggs and beat well. The mixture should take on a grainy texture. Add the bowl of dry ingredients gradually. Stir in the chocolate chips and oats. The mixture is going to become almost crumbly. You may want to mix with your hands at this point.  Place rounded teaspoons on an ungreased cookie sheet and pop into the oven for 7 to 9 minutes. You want the cookies to be  a light golden brown on the edges and the center will still look slightly uncooked. Take them out of the oven and let them cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Then transfer to a wire cooling rack. If you do not have a cooling rack, leave the cookies on the cookies sheet for five minutes and then transfer to a plate to continue cooling. Makes about 4-5 dozen cookies.

So, put on your apron, buy some organic milk and some cookie tins and enjoy this shortcut to fabulous chocolate chip oat cookies!