Lacey Oatmeal Cookies with Butterscotch and Walnuts

This past week I had the pleasure of attending an ornament exchange party with some of my girls here in San Diego.  It was an all female evening filled with libations, yummy finger food, desserts and of course tons of laughter and holiday cheer.

This was my first ornament exchange, yet it worked very much like a white elephant party.  The goal is to draw a very high number, in order to have a larger selection of ornaments to steal, or take your chances and pick a wrapped festive decoration.

 The evening started out very calm and refined with each attendee picking a wrapped ornament instead of stealing from a fellow party guest.  Then the gloves came off.  A cherished ornament was plucked from an unsuspecting guest.

I personally rode a roller coaster of emotions with my selections.  Since I held a high number, I felt fairly confident I would leave with my ornament of choice.  My eye had zeroed in on my friend’s purchase of a couple of sparkling penquin balls and I easily stole them on my turn.  I sat comfortably as a few more selections and transactions occurred, when I suddenly felt a presence from across the room  swoop in and steel my penguins!  I was heart broken.  I decided to pick from the wrapped table and received a dangling gold, high heeled shoe.  I missed my penguins.

Then a miracle occurred and someone stole my fancy shoe.  I would not risk a wrapped ornament again; I must steal.  I ended up taking the ornament I purchased and immediately regretted it.  I mean, I liked it but it was kind of boring to take home your own.  And then I saw it – someone unwrapped a a sparkling, crimson, cylindrical Santa that shined and exuded Christmas in one festive hanging ball.  Then a true Christmas miracle occurred – someone stole my ornament.  I was the last one to steal, and although I broke someone’s heart, the Santa was mine!

So the round about point of the story is (aside from being giddy with Santa joy)... I made these yummy Oatmeal Lace Cookies for the party.  They are chewy, delicate and crunchy all at the same time.  You could get a little bit crazy and toss some walnuts and butterscotch chips in these to create an addictive holiday tradition.

Lacey Oatmeal Cookies with Butterscotch and Walnuts

Yield: 4 dozen cookies
Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cups quick-cooking rolled oats
• 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup butterscotch chips (optonal to chop in finer pieces)
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease.
2. Toss the oats, flour cinnamon and baking soda together in a bowl.
3. Cream butter and both sugars together in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Then slowly beat in the dry ingredients. Stir in chips and walnuts.
4. Drop batter by rounded teaspoonfuls about two inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Press each cookie with the back of a spoon until slightly flattened. 
5.  Bake until golden brown - about 10 minutes. Leave cookies on sheets to cool for a couple of minutes. Transfer to wire racks.