TWD: Chockablock Cookies

I love recipes that call for loads of nuts, fruits and chocolate, even more so when the recipe is entirely suitable for a myriad of substitutes and variations. This ravishing cookie - with its colorful bits of fruits, nuts and the jewel of it all: embedded chunks of gooey chocolate  - is just what its moniker implies. Chock full of goodness!

I was happy that I could make use of the leftover odds and ends I had from other bakes: walnuts, pecans, almonds, cranberries, golden raisins, sweet dates and even a streusel-y mélange of cereal, oatmeal , coconut flakes and flax!

I used brown sugar in place of regular white sugar, for color as well as to complement the molasses. The recipe calls for loads of chocolate.....almost 4 full bars (regular 3.5-ounce bars)! I used dark chocolate (70% cacao). The richness of the chocolate comes through on first bite, but then you get to taste the sweetness of the dried fruits the more you chew, with wonderful contrasting texture from the nuts against the slightly crispy-chewy oats and coconut flakes. A rare example of more is more.
You must, must - absolutely must - read this entry by Mary of Popsicles and Sandy Feet for the recipe and her experiment with various nuts-fruit combinations (she has tried 6 versions!!). That's what I call dedication! And passion! I'm always so motivated and encouraged by people who took the time and put in great effort. Mary's post summarizes beautifully what TWD means to so many of us. Especially for me, it's about baking - trying out good, no great recipes (Dorie's have been excellent, bar none), being connected to those with similar passions and above all, fostering new friendship and that special sense of camaraderie amongst TWD members.