CCJC: Audio Podcast Episode 00069, Season 2
Henriette’s Real Pecan Vanilla Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
General consensus here at Cajun Chronicles Podcast Corporation is that one common bond we all have is knowing for sure that we all had a Henriette or a Maurice ancestor relative when we were growing up. Those were the family members who often sat at the table with none of us exactly sure how we were related, or if we were related. So we are about to dive into a bowl of typical Louisiana family history thicker than Maman’s gumbo and just as likely to have a few unexpected ingredients.
It is also a given that Cajun Chronicles Podcast Corporation’s staff during our often rigorous and definitely not just chicory coffee-fueled brainstorming sessions, we’ve come to a profound realization every single one of us has a Henriette or a Maurice cookie recipe floating around in our family trees. You know the ones who show u with them.
They’d pull up to a family gathering with a bayou mysterious Tupperware container. They’d be wearing a grin that suggested they knew exactly how you were related, even if nobody else did. If you dared to inquire about specifics, you’d just get a hearty, “Eh, bébé, we’re all just Cajun cousines!” It was accompanied by a genealogical shrug wrapped in a warm embrace and a kiss on the cheek. And without fail, they’d bring a dessert so sweet it could mend any unspoken family squabbles.
As we group pondered on that, we got to thinking about how sweet things often bring folks together, so let's talk about “cookies.” Now you might be wondering what a recipe for Pecan Vanilla Oatmeal Cookies has to do with our long-lost Aunt Henriette and the tangled web of Louisiana kinship?
Well, one of our support staff secretaries hauled out a dusty binder filled with questionable handwriting and even more questionable family stories. In it Henriette herself declared that “Pecan Vanilla Oatmeal Cookies” are odd marriages between spices that often are very much related to each other.
Think of this first recipe (before you make the 2nd one) as our culinary welcom mat, a sweet invitation for all listeners and readers to pull up a chair to our metaphorical (and sometimes literal, depending upon who brought the boudin) table. It’s a little bit nutty, but straight from the heart, a tad comforting, and a whole lot of genuine “come on in, ya’ll.”
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Henriette’s “We’re All Cousins Here Anyway” Pecan Vanilla Oatmeal Cookie Class
Ingredients:
🍪 1 cup of “Who knows where they came from, but they’re “good” all purpose flour
🍪 ½ teaspoon of “We’re probably related” baking soda
🍪 ¼ teaspoon of “A pinch of everything that makes us unique” salt
🍪 1/2 cup (1 stick) of “Smooth like our blended heritage” unsalted butter, softened
🍪 1/2 cup of “Sweet like a reunion” granulated sugar
🍪 1/2 cup of “Rich like our cultural DNA” packed brown sugar
🍪 large “Every family has one” nerdy egg head
🍪 1 teaspoon of “Classic like our Cajun & Creole roots” vanilla extract
🍪 1 ½ cups of “Hearty like a good family meal” rolled oats
🍪 ½ cup of “Nutty like our extended family” chopped pecans
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) - Hot enough to melt away any awkward family silences.
2. In a medium bowl, which together the dry ingredients – The foundational elements that somehow always manage to stick together.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy – Just like those hazy beloved childhood memories.
4. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract – The individual flavors that make each of us who we are.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined – Don’t over mix or you’ll end up with something tougher than explaining your family tree at Thanksgiving.
6. Stir in the rolled oats and chopped pecans –The unexpected yet delightful additions that make life (and cookies) interesting.
7. Drop by the rounded tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheets – Each one a little different, just like us.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown – A sign that they’re ready to be shared and enjoyed.
9. Let cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely – Patience is a virtue, especially when waiting for cookies and tracing your lineage.
Just like this simple wannabe cookie recipe, the cultural history of Louisiana is a delicious blend of different flavors, textures, and origins. And just like all of our Aunt Henriette’s and Noncle Maurice’s knew, even if the exact recipe for our ancestry is a bit of a mystery – the most important ingredient is always the willingness to share good times (and even the bad) around the table, leaving no one out.
The following Cajun Diabetic Recipe is an Diabetic Friendly version of her original recipe.
Henriette’s Pecan Vanilla Oatmeal Cookies
⏳Prep Time: 10 - 15 minutes
⏰Cook Time: Approximately 10 - 12 minutes
🍽 Servings: 1 ½ dozen
Ingredients
¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 jumbo egg
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup King Arthur’s Baking Company White Whole Wheat Stone Ground Flour
1 ½ cup of oats
¾ cup of Splenda Sweetener Granulated
2 ½ tablespoons Swerve Brown Sugar
2 additional tablespoons of Swerve Brown Sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon McCormick’s Apple Pie Spice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon of ground ginger1 teaspoon of ground Watkins Herbes de Provence
Pam Nonstick Cooking Spray Fat Free Canola Oil Blend
½ cup Stevia Chocolate Chips or Raisins (Optional)
½ cup of finely crushed pecans
Cajun Chronicles Audio Podcast - Bringing you the heart of Louisiana. Artwork generated with Google Docs Image Maker Instructions:
🧑🍳 Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
Mix well by hand or mixer – softened butter, applesauce, egg, vanilla extract
Add flour and mix
Add oats and mix
Add baking soda and mix
Add Splenda and mix
Add Swerve Brown Sugar and mix
Add cinnamon, apple pie spice, ginger, Herbes de Provence and mix
Add optional chocolate chips or raisins if desired
Spray non-stick baking pan with nonstick Pam
Drop cookies by the teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet (about 1 inch apart on all sides)
Dip a flat bottomed juice glass in water and then in the reserved Swerve Brown Sugar
Sprinkle apple pie spice on each flattened cookie
Bake 8 - 10 minutes
Cool on rack
Diabetic Nutrition Facts
1 serving = Calories: 175 Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 25mg; Sodium: 0mg; Carbohydrate: 25g; Dietary Fiber: 2; Protein: 0.4g; Sugars 0g.
Disclaimer: The information in this Diabetic version recipe is intended strictly for educational purposes and not intended to replace the advice of a certified health professional, diagnose, or cure any particular disease or Type 2 diabetes.
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Our fictional and non-fictional tales are inspired by real Louisiana and New Orleans history, but some details may have been spiced up for a good story. While we've respected the truth, a bit of creative license could have been used. Please note that all characters may be based on real people, but their identities in some cases have been Avatar masked for privacy. Others are fictional characters with connections to Louisiana.
A Word of Wisdom:
As you read, remember history and real life is a complex mix of joy, sorrow, triumph, and tragedy. While we may have (or not) added a bit of fiction, the core message remains: the human spirit's power to endure, adapt, and overcome.
© Jerilee Wei 2025 All Rights Reserved.
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