Chewy Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, and Raisin Cookies

Do you ever long for summer in the dead of winter?  I sure do!  We had my parents over for a little barbeque in winter this evening; hamburgers on the grill, a big green salad, and these tasty cookies for desert.  I love that these cookies have the perfect blend of crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside.

I try to use whole wheat flour as much as possible in the foods I prepare for my family.  This cookie recipe is no exception, try it! I promise you wont taste the difference :)

Chewy Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, and Raisin Cookies

1 cup Butter softened
1 cup Light Brown Sugar packed
1/2 cup White Sugar
2 Eggs
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 3/4 cups Whole Wheat Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
3 cups Oats
1 cup Raisins
2 cups Chocolate Chips

1. In a large mixing bowl cream together Butter and Sugars until smooth.  Don't rush this step, blend well!
2. Beat in Eggs then stir in Vanilla.
3. Combine Flour, Baking Soda, and Salt in a separate bowl then add to creamed mixture.  Mix until just blended.
4. Mix in Oats, Raisins, and Chocolate Chips.
5. Refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour.  Do not skip this step or your cookies will spread and you will loose the chewy inside!
6. Drop small balls onto greased cookie sheet and gently press to flatten top.
7. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F.  Delicious hot from the oven with a big glass of milk!

I made just one cookie sheet worth for our dinner this evening and will bake up the rest tomorrow.  Of the nine cookies that came out of the oven the one pictured above was all that remained. Maybe I'll go finish it off now...Yum!