Loaded Oatmeal Cookies (Paula Deen)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For Glaze

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2-3 cups sifted powdered sugar (see note below)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3-4 tablespoons water

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F Lightly grease cookie sheets. With electric mixer cream together butter, shortening and sugar in a bowl until fluffy. Add eggs and beat until mixture is light in color. Add buttermilk (it will appear a little curdled at this stage, don't worry).

2. 2

   Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg,cinnamon, cloves and allspice; stir into creamed mixture. Stir in oatmeal, raisins, walnuts and vanilla, blending well. (Dough will be soft and sticky).

3. 3

   Drop by rounded teaspoons onto cookie sheet. (I use a small cookie dough scoop that looks like an ice cream scoop--makes this job easy and ensures uniformly rounded cookies).

4. 4

   Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Oven temperatures and size of cookies you make vary, so check your first batch at least by 9 to 10 minutes.

5. 5

   For Brown Butter Glaze: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat, then continue to cook, stirring occasionally until butter is a golden brown.

6. 6

   Remove pan from heat and stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in enough water to make the icing of drizzling consistency. Drizzle over warm cookies.

7. 7

   *Cook's Note: Paula Deen's original recipe calls for 3 cups of sifted powdered sugar. I found that to be too much. I also found it easier to bake all of the cookies and line them up closely on cooling rack, then make glaze and drizzle cookies all at one time. You get a more consistent glaze this way as it tends to harden as it cools.