When invited at the last minute to a six year old’s birthday party, what would you do? Would you go shopping and spend countless minutes agonising over whether to buy them a sparkly fairy costume or that new pink Lego house they can build for Barbie?
Or do you decide to do some baking, knowing that from the kid who made famous the term, “Not my favourite”, you will get the tick of approval with a bucket of cookies?
I know what I did.
A well-loved recipe, this one has been with me for as long as I can remember. Generally known as Ranger Cookies, I think of them as Everything-but-the-Kitchen-Sink Cookies. Like my Maple Toasted Muesli, these are infinitely tweak-able. I’ve seen recipes made with Rice Crispies instead of Corn Flakes, with or without choc chips, with or without nuts…
Certainly you can add whatever nuts you have on hand (I used cashews)… and make them more or less ‘healthy’ by adding or omitting the choc chips. If you prefer sultanas or raisins, I’m sure they would work just as well. Whatever you decide, know that these will be popular wherever you go, even (or especially) if it’s to a favourite 6 year old’s birthday party.
Ranger Cookies (a.k.a. Everything-but-the-Kitchen-Sink Cookies)
Makes 4-5 dozen
Ingredients
1 cup butter (227g/80z.stick)
1 cup caster sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 Tbs molasses or golden syrup
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla essence
2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 cups oats
2 cups cornflakes
½ cup coconut
½ cup chopped walnuts (opt.)
1 cup chocolate chips (opt.)
Method
Cream softened butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Add molasses, eggs, and vanilla and beat well. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add cereals, and remaining ingredients; mix until well blended.
Roll dough in walnut-size balls (or drop by teaspoon) onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 F. (180 C.) about 8-10 minutes. Cool slightly, remove to wire rack. Store in airtight container.