The salted oatmeal chocolate chip cookie is my only claim to fame and I've been hoarding this recipe for years. But because I love my readers, it's time to share the secret to my all-time, go-to, forever-favored, well-known (because I use it for every occasion) salted oatmeal chocolate chip cookie.

It's actually a very classic recipe. I add a little more salt than most people (I've always been a fan of the salty-sweet combo!); I hand mix everything out of habit (when I started making these in college I didn't own a hand mixer); I also use dark chocolate chips rather than semi-sweet (swoon! I'm convinced dark chocolate will somehow play a role in winning my heart). But mostly it's about the love you bake with.

One reason I love this recipe is because I almost always have each of these ingredients in my pantry. All very generic ingredients. Granted, I may always have them because I am always making these cookies.... anywho...

You will need:

1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp pure vanilla
2 cup old fashioned oats
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt + extra to sprinkle
2 cup (Ghirardelli) dark chocolate chips

First, heat oven to 350. Stir brown sugar (1 1/2 cup) + butter (1 cup) until blended.

Stir in vanilla (1 tsp) + egg (1) until batter is light + fluffy.

Stir in oats (2 cups) + flour (1 1/2 cup) + baking soda (1 tsp) + salt (1 tsp).

Fold in chocolate chips (2 cups).

Bake 9 - 11 minutes.

Sprinkle with salt as soon as they come out of the oven, then let sit several minutes on cookie sheet before transferring to cooling rack. Enjoy! These are kind of my secret weapon for social events. So use the power wisely :) Let me know what you think!