Ice cream is always a simple and satisfying dessert, and with the many intriguing flavors…
Oat Aggregate Cookies
A story goes with these cookies… In February 1979 the Cal Poly Construction Engineering students (known as ConE’s) held their 2nd Annual Bake-Off competition. Rosie (a Home Ec student at the time) thought it was a scam — free cookies and a date with the judges, oh riiight! But the night before the contest she whipped up these cookies. The mixture of dried fruit, nuts and coconut in the cookies inspired the name, since ConE’s should know about aggregate concrete (a mixture). Her recipe ‘officially’ placed 3rd in the most original category, and her blind date for the bake-off winners’ dinner was ConE Bernie Mark. He says she won 1st place. He’s right! xoxo Rosie 🙂
Oat Aggregate Cookies
The grated orange zest and cinnamon make this cookie distinctive. Add or subtract the nuts and dried fruit to your own liking. I've made a few changes to my original recipe. We prefer them less sweet now, and the bake time is longer than I'd written on the recipe card circa 1979.
Servings: 40 cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp grated orange zest
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup wheat germ* optional
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup chopped walnuts toasted, optional
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup raisins
- 3/4 cup chopped dried apricots
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened flaked coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Beat butter and sugars until creamy. Beat in eggs, orange zest, and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, stir together flour, wheat germ, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and mix well.
- Gradually mix in oats. Stir in walnuts, chocolate chips, raisins, apricots, and coconut.
- Drop 2 tablespoon scoops 2 inches apart onto ungreased or parchment lined baking sheets. Bake about 15 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Cool on pan 2 minutes. Remove cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
We changed, the cookies didn’t! 
What a perfectly charming story! Love it!
thank you Peggy! 🙂
What a handsome couple! Loved the story too!
Thanks for putting a smile on my face (and Michaels too) love when love stories come true!!
Thanks Trish! It’s a funny one but it worked 🙂
What a darling story and photos.
Thank you Mary Lynne!
I can’t say I ever recall hearing how you met! I thought it was through high school or college, but a Blind Date! Big hugs to you both.
hehe! It was so long ago Margaret! And what if I’d not entered that contest…life would be different.
Going to make these and I love the then and now pics!!
add your own add-ins twist! We think the orange zest is the game changer