Cookies Worth Waiting by the Oven For

Tags: bakefeed, baking, cakes, chocolate chip cookies, cookies, Country House, holiday rental, homebaked, homemade, Irelands Blue Book, luxury private rental, peanut butter cookies, private chef, recipe

Our youngest in back in school this Monday and like many of you out there, I am so relieved. It is worrying not knowing how long they will be in or back out for but at the moment, I’m relishing the fact I don’t have to jump-start the brain to remember the finer details of 6th class Maths or Irish!

There are plenty of recipes out there for lunchbox and “back to school” ideas – instead I’ve got a few recipes here for the grown ups. These Cookies are perfect when you finally get the chance to sit down in a peaceful kitchen with a cup in hand. Enjoy it while it lasts!!

Use the same base recipe and alternate the ingredients to give you a Peanut Butter and “Bounty Bar” version.

Cookies on a rack.
Cookies on a rack.
Ingredients:
  • 175g butter, softened
  • 250g plain flour
  • 1/2 tsp bicarb soda
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 200g soft dark brown sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 egg & 1 egg yolk
Method:

1. Preheat oven to 170C and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
2. Cream the butter, brown sugar, caster sugar together with a electric whisk until light and well combined.
3. Add in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla then mix again until light and creamy.
4. Sift in the flour and bicarb soda then mix again until just blended – do not over mix.

 

  • Chocolate & Coconut “Bounty” Cookies:* After stage 4 above, add in 150g dark chocolate chips and 150g desiccated coconut. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until just combined.

 

 

  • Peanut Butter Cookies:* Make the dough up until you complete stage 3 above, leaving out the vanilla extract. Mix in 150g chunky peanut butter and 150g chopped walnuts. I got my hands on a jar of Harry’s Nut Butter which is slightly spicy (and absolutely delicious) but use your preferred crunchy peanut butter. Add in the flour & bicarb soda then mix again until blended.

 

5. For both versions, drop tablespoon size amounts of mix onto the baking sheet. Space out well and don’t flatten the dough as it will spread itself during cooking.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for approx 15 mins until golden around the edges. Remove and allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking trays before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. I added a sprinkling of sea-salt flakes over the top of the peanut butter cookies which made them even more delicious!

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

"A Dream Wedding Come to Life"

We were blown away with the unmatched beauty of Dunowen – the set- ting, the people and all the details make it come to life. We feel so blessed to have had our wedding here and so grateful for Kela and Stephen for making this the most special day of our lives. We are leaving a piece of our hearts here so we will absolutely have to come back again. All our love

"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

"Surrounded by Dunowen’s Gardens and Coastal Beauty"

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

Flowers and fruits cake close up Flowers and fruits cake close up