A Southern Grace: a pleasant surprise

August 19, 2013

a pleasant surprise

Yum

What's a gal to do when someone gives her a box of shredded wheat cereal?


We're talking the unflavored, unsweetened, MASSIVE kind here, so if you were thinking about recommending eating it with some milk, don't waste your breath. Blech.

Rather than feed the birds, I made it my mission to find an edible way to make use of those dry, brittle biscuits. I was in a cookie kind of mood, and it didn't take long for my search to turn up a pretty decent-looking recipe.


As if the shredded wheat wasn't a good enough source of dietary fiber, there are also oats AND cherries in these little treats. Upon tasting one, I would never suspect that they're so nutritious. The cherries don't stand out much flavor-wise, but they contribute to a very unique texture. The chocolate chips are important for a bit of rich sweetness. My favorite part about this batch of cookies is actually due to the shredded wheat--they have a chewy crunchiness that I've never experienced in a cookie.

If you have a box of shredded wheat* on hand, give these a try--your colon will thank you.


*What's that you say? You only have frosted? Use 'em anyway, but cut back on the granulated sugar a bit.

Intestine-Friendly Cherry Chocolate Cookies
(inspired by this recipe)
Makes about 60 small cookies
Ingredients:
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1-1/2 cups butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups crushed shredded wheat cereal
  • 2 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • 1 cup milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Set aside a few ungreased cookie sheets.
Mix together the flour and baking soda in small bowl.
In a larger bowl, beat the butter with electric mixer until creamy.
Gradually add the sugars, beating until light and fluffy after each addition.
Blend in the egg and vanilla.
Gradually add the flour mixture, beating well after each addition.
Stir in the crushed cereal, oats, cherries, and chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 minutes or until lightly browned, rotating the pan halfway through baking.
Cool 1 minute on the pan, then carefully move the cookies from the cookie sheets onto wire racks.

26 comments:

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Lovely cookies and combination!

Cheers,

Rosa

Caroline Taylor said...

Great way to use up some cereal!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I LOVE Shredded Wheat cereal. It is probably one of the only cereals I buy, but each to their own:D Of course I am sure it is equally delicious combined with chocolate in these flavourful cookies.

Blond Duck said...

I love this! What about bran flakes-- anything for those?

Gloria Baker said...

these cookies look absolutely delicious Grace!!

Shashi at SavorySpin said...

What an amazing way to use shredded wheat! These cookies look GREAT!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com

Dianne @ Sweet Journey Home said...

You obviously have a gift for turning lemons - uh, shredded wheat - into something delicious looking! ;-)

Angie's Recipes said...

I would have turned them into cookies too! These look very delicious.

Rosita Vargas said...

Estupenda receta de galletas muy lindas,saludos.

Beth said...

What a great was to use an ingredient that you're not fond of. Necessity really is the mother of invention!

Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic said...

I love chocolate and cherry together, and the fact that these cookies are actually healthy make them a winner!

~~louise~~ said...

Love the name of these cookies, Grace:)

My granddaughter is a huge Shredded Wheat fan. (which is a good thing because she has such problems with her tummy:) I'm sure she would like it even more in cookies! I'll be passing this recipe along to my daughter after I pin it to my Cereal board, lol...

Thanks for sharing, Grace...

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

OMG yes shredded wheat is so uninspiring isn't it? The first time I tried it I thought "people eat this?" But then you did this and now I see why people buy it ;)

Anonymous said...

so wow cool

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

Cookies so thick and chewy and delicious :D
I want one! One batch...

Cheers
CCU

My Kitchen Stories. said...

You are just too clever. Fancy making something so delicious out of those plain shredded wheats

Joanne said...

"your colon will thank you" - ha! Love it.

I would never have thought shredded wheat could be exciting...but you've proven me very wrong.

Pam said...

I used to like the big shredded wheat when I was a kid but that's because I covered it in sugar before adding the milk.

The cookies look tasty!

Marjie said...

I actually like the massive shredded wheat, with sliced strawberries. But these cookies look like a good alternate plan.

Juliana said...

What a great idea to use the shredded wheat cereal...and what could taste better than cookies...like the combination of cherries chocolate...
Oh! Almost forgot...I love how you named the cookie hahaha!
Have a wonderful week Grace :D

vanillasugarblog said...

I love the way you think.
Have I ever added cherries to cc cookies?
No, but should!

Mimi said...

Colon cookies, I wonder if my Dr. will buy it!
Mimi

Blond Duck said...

Happy Wednesday!

Erica said...

What a delicious idea,Grace!Those cookies look delicious!

Katerina said...

You had the perfect idea Grace! I love these cookies!

Nutmeg Nanny said...

This is such a brilliant way to use up that bland cereal :) love it!!