The Trials and Errors of Baking

Let it be known that not all baking adventures turn out so well. And although I did not mean for it to happen, I am completely guilty of this. I bought myself a five-dollar cookbook at Barnes and Noble one day and was dying to try one of the cookie recipes: Kitchen Aid Baking Basics--Oatmeal S'Mores Cookies.

Makes you hungry just thinking about it, huh? I'll make it even worse; here's what the photo in the cookbook said they would look like:

Does this not look amazing? Mini chocolate chips, fluffy white marshmallow pieces, and bits of chocolate graham cracker to create the ultimate s'more cookie.

So here's what mine looked like while baking, after I followed the directions exactly:

Not exactly true to the photo, right? Here's what happened when they came out of the oven:

100% NOT like the picture in my cookbook. Instead, the marshmallows actually completely melted and turned into glass on the cookie sheet. The chocolate chips were still intact, but definitely not like the photo. I think the only way Kitchen Aid could have gotten the marshmallow bits to stay fluffy and white was to plop them on at the last second. After baking for 16 minutes, there's no way they could stay intact.

They were not the best cookie I have ever eaten, but they weren't the worst either. Because the marshmallows spread out, the cookies became really chewy but not necessarily hard. My father loved them because he loves oatmeal cookies, but my fiance was not impressed. Neither was I, to be honest.

Despite the debacle, I learned a few things:
1. Marshmallow recipes are deceiving. Don't believe them. If I want to bake with them again, I will plop them on at the last second. It was upsetting because marshmallows (like everything else in moderation) are actually good for you (Two large marshmallows are only one point, for those familiar with Weight Watchers). I try to use them when I can because they are a sweet treat that won't make me feel guilty afterward.
2. This recipe is actually a pretty good oatmeal cookie recipe. I am plotting to already alter them for next time. Because I love chocolate chips, I am going to leave them, but I think I'll substitute the graham crackers and the marshmallows with walnuts or pecans, or even white chocolate chips. I might add more old-fashioned oats next time to make them a bit healthier.
3. Even following a recipe EXACTLY does not guarantee it is going to look like the photo or taste great.

Baking is a lot of trial and error, figuring out what works and what doesn't. This recipe has really taught me that but helped me realize I can personalize the ingredients to fix what didn't work.

I did not post the recipe because I would not really recommend it, but if someone is interested, just leave me a comment and I will post the image for you. Thanks for reading, all!