Goblin Goodies

Loaded oatmeal cookies packed with raisins, chopped walnuts, and orange-and-brown chocolate candies that make them perfect for Halloween. Orange zest and orange extract in the dough add a citrusy warmth that’s subtle but noticeable, and it pairs surprisingly well with the cinnamon and brown sugar.

Three cups of quick-cooking oats give these cookies a hearty, chewy texture while only one cup of flour keeps them from being too cakey. The brown sugar creates a deeper, more toffee-like sweetness than white sugar, and the shortening keeps the cookies soft rather than crispy.

Every bite hits something different: a raisin, a walnut piece, a chocolate candy, or a pocket of cinnamon-orange dough. These are thick, substantial cookies that satisfy.

Pro Tips

• Space the dough 3 inches apart on the sheet. These spread more than average because of the milk and shortening in the dough.
• Bake one sheet at a time for even browning. Two sheets at once means uneven heat.
• Pull at 10 minutes if you want chewier cookies. They firm up as they cool on the sheet.
• Cool 2 minutes on the pan before transferring. Moving them too soon and they fall apart.

Variations

• Use any color M&M candies to match other holidays or party themes.
• Swap raisins for dried cranberries for a tart-sweet twist.
• Replace orange extract with almond extract for a completely different flavor profile.