Out with a crunch and a chew



Well friends, my trusty toaster oven and I have reached our creative limits. And so, in what is becoming an annual event, the Casual Baker is officially on hiatus.

Tune in this summer for a new set of culinary adventures. If all goes as planned, we'll have bid adieu to Paris, hop-scotched our way through southeast Asia, trekked across Spain and landed in a new Canadian city to start all over again.

In the meantime, I leave you with the crunchiest, chewiest (yes, it's true!) oatmeal raisin cookies you've ever tasted. Before the chocolate lovers leave the room, take a quick scroll down the ingredients list. Thanks to R., you won't be disappointed.

Oatmeal Raisin Crunchy Chews

1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tablespoons golden syrup (I used Roger's)
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, heaping
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oats, old fashioned
2/3 cup raisins
2/3 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugars and golden syrup and blend. Add the egg and vanilla, and beat for several minutes.

In another bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Stir in the oats, raisins and chocolate until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Drop the dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

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