I've been using the Alice's Tea Cup cookbook for a while, but am only now getting to the Rooibos Oatmeal Butterscotch Chip Cookies. Along with the tea and butterscotch chips, the recipe calls for turbinado sugar, and I just never seemed to have turbinado around. Determined to try these cookies, which are described as "crunchy and irresistible", I picked up all the ingredients this morning. For the tea, I used red rooibus, because Phoenix is not so easy to find around here.
The first category these should go in is "Bake Sale Worthy". They are thick, hearty, and have crunchy edges.
The recipe calls for Irish Oats, but quick oats will work in a pinch. For the butter, I used European style for less spreading, but regular butter would be fine. Oddly enough I couldn't really taste the tea. Maybe if I'd followed the directions and used actual Rooibus Phoenix I'd taste it, but I feel pretty comfortable saying you could just use a little vanilla and maybe some cold coffee to get the extra ¼ cup liquid.
At any rate, these are good and I'm going to put them in the rotation, which means I'll probably make them again in six years.
Recipe
Alice's Tea Cup Rooibos Oatmeal Butterscotch Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 4 heaping teaspoons of Rooibos Phoenix tea leaves or 4 tea bags of Red Rooibos
- 3 sticks 24 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature (mine was very cool)
- 2 ½ cups turbinado sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 3 cups 13.5 ounces all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 6 cups quick cooking oats
- 3 cups butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick foil.
- Steep the tea in ¼ cup boiling water for 7 minutes. Discard leaves (or bags). Let cool and chill.
- With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the cooled tea and the eggs and beat until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add to sugar mixture and stir until incorporated. Use a spatula or spoon to stir in the oats and chips.
- Drop heaping (and by heaping, they mean about ⅓ cup, apparently) tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheets. Press down slightly. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until slightly browned.
Notes
delia
Yay, Fuzz!
Sue
Cinnamon chips are a great idea. I should have thought of that on my own. I don't know why the butterscotch Chips seem too sweet to me these days.
Kimberly
I'm not a fan of hot tea, but I love tea infused desserts! One of my all-time favorite cakes is a Chocolate Earl Grey cake so I will definitely be working tea into a future cookie.
Jan Harris
I'm laughing at your 6 years comment. WTG Fuzz, break a leg. Jan
Anna
Sue, do you like the cinnamon flavored chips? I think those would be good, too. The cookies do need some kind of chip, though.
Lisa W
Congratulations Fuzz! Star of the show! Great job.
Gloria
Fuzz is one talented girl!!! She can act, sing, and bake!!! You must be proud!!! She must be thrilled to go to New York!!! I bought Rooibos Tea for something, but I can't remember what...Have a great holiday!!
Sue
Congratulations to Fuzz! That is a BIG deal. Made even bigger by going to see Annie on Broadway. Fabulous, fabulous!!!
About the cookies. I'm super intrigued by these. I drink A LOT of herbal tea. Lately I'm not so wild about butterscotch chips. I'm wondering if I could just sub nuts or some other kind of chips or would that change them so much that it's a bad idea?
Martha in KS
"Tomorrow, tomorrow, congrats Fuzz tomorrow. NY's only a plane ride away."
Anna
Thanks! Fuzz will read this and be happy for all the congrats. It was pretty stressful for her, but she is so excited and comes home happy after every rehearsal.
Rodzilla, I'm pretty sure I would have found an excuse either way ;).
Rodzilla
Congrats to Fuzz! I'm hoping you still would have taken her if she didn't get the part though!
karen
Congrats! How exciting!
Jen
Great news about Fuzz! I'm excited for her and for the both of you for the trip to NYC!
Erin
Fuzz! That's wonderful news. Congratulations. I remember my parents taking me to see Annie twice when I was a little girl in L.A. and in Vegas. My sister and I got the record and would dance around to Easy Street. I'm itching to take my two to NYC to see Annie also. What a great experience for Fuzz to be Annie. Now I will go back and read about the cookie.
Chewthefat
Interesting! NPR had a segment on baking with tea awhile ago. They times I have tried it, I agree that the flavor can be very subtle. I love your description of the overall texture of the cookie but I'd probably try it first with the lemon, orange, or even Early Grey teas I have first, before going on a hunt for specialty teas.