Munchie Monday: Peanut & H.O. Cookies

This week, Curator of Education and Community Engagement Cynthia Winslow had the opportunity to look at the original nineteenth-century cookbook belonging to Louisa Macculloch (1785-1863). One of the first things she noticed was that there were at least three distinct handwritings in the cookbook, the earliest most likely belonging to Louisa Macculloch. The cookbook contains some dates and some phrases which help to date the recipes.

In today’s recipe for Peanut & H.O. Cookies, the ingredient. H.O. refers to an oat milling company. In the 1880’s Alexander Hornby bought a mill in Craigville, New York and began processing oats by rolling and steam cooking them to make the H-O (Hornby’s Oats) trademarked product. Hornby later sold his business to the Hecker Company in 1920. The Hecker Company was allowed to use the H-O symbol because they continued the same process to make the rolled oats. Since this recipe does not contain flour, it can be safely made as a gluten-free cookie option.

Original Recipe—Peanut & H.O. Cookies

Butter the size of a walnut

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cups H.O.

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon almond extract

½ cup chopped peanuts

Mix butter and sugar. Beat eggs & add H.O. slowly. Then add salt, nuts, baking powder & lastly, extract.

 

Adapted Recipe—Peanut & H.O. Cookies

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cups rolled oats

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon almond extract

½ cup chopped peanuts (using food processor)

Optional—gluten-free chocolate chips or dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine softened butter and sugar. Add beaten egg and oats slowly to incorporate. Add salt, chopped nuts, baking powder and almond extract. Scoop out one-inch teaspoons of cookie dough on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 12-13 minutes until the edges are slightly brown. *Let cool on pan for 5 minutes. Cookies are thin and crispy. Makes approximately two dozen cookies.

 

Visit Chester Historical Society in Chester, New York: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=214933955299520&story_fbid=3048535108606043

See a Hornby’s Steam Cooked Oats Trade Card, circa 1880, used to promote the product: https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/chs/id/296