Favorite Oatmeal Cookies

  These oatmeal cookies are a favorite with everyone I make them for A quick and easy recipe that always bring smiles to friends' faces is definitely a winner! I know most cookie recipes call for softened butter creamed with sugar, but I usually make cookies on a whim and never wanted to wait around for butter to soften, so I started melting it instead, and now always melt it to mix with the sugar.

• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tbs molasses
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups oatmeal
• 2 cups all purpose white flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 5 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 5 oz craisins or dried cherries -- or, I cover both bases by using cherry-juice infused craisins

  

Preheat oven to 350⁰.
  If you have an electric mixer with a paddle, by all means use it, but I just mix in a large bowl with a wooden spoon. Add melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar to a bowl and mix well. Add two eggs and mix again. Add molasses and vanilla extract and continue mixing.
  Add oatmeal, flour, baking soda, salt, chocolate chips and craisins and mix til well-blended. Roll golf ball size portions of cookie dough and place on a nonstick or greased plain cookie sheet. This recipe should make two dozen cookies plus two or three extra for the cook. Gently press down on portioned cookies to slightly flatten them, and place in preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, depending on how crispy you want them. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes (if possible) before enjoying.