This Bunny Runs

In an effort to stay sane, pass the time and use what we have in our cupboards I’ve been thinking about fun recipes that use simple products- products that there is a high chance we will have in our cupboards. I have run out of eggs and flour, which means my cookery skills are severely limited (that combined with the fact that 99.9% of the time I’m a rubbish baker). So I thought it was time to get experimenting. One firm favourite of mine is an oatmeal raisin cookie, so I had a go at making these with what I had at home- think of it as a science experiment. Whilst these aren’t going to win any awards anytime soon, this is a recipe that uses a bare minimum of products. I present to you, my oatmeal, raisin and (optional) dark chocolate cookies.

What you’ll need:

• 5 cups of oats, this works out at about 150g. You can use plain oats if you have them or even substitute this for a packet porridge oats such as quaker oats (flavours like cinnamon or golden syrup would work well). If you’re lucky enough to have flour use 1 cup of oats and half a cup of sifted flour.
• 90g of butter, margarine or in my case I used Vitalite
• 2 – 3 tablespoons of syrup or honey depending on how sweet you like them. I’d say three though it’s more fun!
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 40g of dried fruit (or a generous handful if you’re not into scales)
• 20g of chopped dark chocolate, or milk chocolate if that is what you have in the house (a less generous handful)
• A dash of water if the mixture feels dry

You’ll also need a baking tray, some baking paper (although not essential), a bowl to mix it all in, a smaller microwave proof bowl for the margarine and a spoon, cause you can’t mix anything without a utensil.

This makes 8 medium sized chunky cookies which I think is perfect for 2 – 4 people to eat over a few days (or hours haha).

What to do:

WASH YOUR HANDS, preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius and cover a baking tray with some baking paper

Add the oats, or oats and flour mix if you’re one of those super lucky people who has flour to the bigger bowl that you’re using for mixing. If you did use flour make sure this and the oats are well mixed.

Add the cinnamon and stir

Melt the margarine/butter in the microwave, I found 30 seconds worked fine. Add this to the mixture and stir so that the buttery gloop coats the dry mixture. Then add the syrup/honey- be generous! You’ll thank me later

Chuck in the dried fruit and stir, followed by the chocolate and again stir so these are evenly distributed throughout the mixture

Check that the mixture has a sticky consistency. For me it looked drier in the bowl than it felt when I actually came to roll it into cookie shapes. If it still feels dry add a few drops of water, stir and test again. Repeat this process until it feels sticky but isn’t saturated. If it feels too wet add in a few more oats- this is quite an experimental recipe.

Using your hands make 8 evenly sized balls of ‘dough’ pop these onto your baking tray then flatten out into cookie shapes about 3cm thick. Space them evenly on the tray so they aren’t touching- this is especially important if you included flour in the mixture

Pop in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown- I found 22 was just right

Allow to cool, take photos for Instagram and use the cookies as a bargaining tool to bribe your kids or significant other to do the washing up. If you’re home alone then enjoy a cookie before you embark on the tidying up. Another tactic is to wash up whilst they’re in the oven and you’ll feel like a smug domestic god or goddess when you’re done.

This isn’t a sparklingly great recipe, unless you are a dab hand in the kitchen these probably will make some basic, albeit somewhat yummy cookies (especially if you were generous with that syrup!). Begin with low expectations and you might surprise yourself! 

You might also enjoy my cupboard granola recipe