I can’t believe that I am a day late acknowledging National Cookie Day (December 4th), obviously a very important day on the my calendar. As a self-subscribed cookie-a-holic, how could this have slipped by me? I must have been in a cookie-coma or something…

Clearly this is the perfect opportunity to share some of my favorite cookie recipes. Here are a three of my current faves along with a newbie I’ve yet to try. You will notice that three of the four recipes contain oatmeal, which of course automatically makes them “healthy”!

Chocolate Cherry Heart Smart Cookies

This recipe is courtesy of Cooking Light magazine.

Recipe number two I baked for the first time last week to rave reviews. These Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies, care of Sally’s Baking Addiction are super easy to make and quite yummy.

The hubs particularly likes recipe number three, probably because he is crazy about bananas.

Banana-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies 

½ cup packed brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

½ cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 medium)

1 large egg

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.  Combine sugars, butter and vanilla in a mixer at medium speed until creamy.  Add mashed banana, beat well.  Add egg; beat well.

3.  Spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife.  Combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a wisk.  Add flour mixture to banana mixture and beat at medium speed until well blended.  Stir in chocolate chips.

4. Drop batter using a cookie scoop onto baking sheets ½ inches apart.  I line my baking sheets with silpats.  If you don’t have those you can spray with Pam or use parchment paper.  Bake at 350 for 11-12 minutes (depending on your oven).  Remove cookies from pans; cool completely on wire racks.

Last, but not least is a recipe that I found on Pinterest, but have yet to try.  It comes from the blog Ambitious Kitchen and features the latest obsession in baking, Nutella and Sea Salt, apparently a winning combination.

Fudgy Nutella Cookies with Sea Salt are sure to be debuting from my kitchen soon.

What are your favorite cookies?  Will you be doing any baking during the holidays? Please share your recipes and happy baking!