Year of the Snake Five Spice Chocolate Chip Walnut Date Cookies

Chinese New Year is almost here, beginning on February 10, 2013.
It is time to start planning a warm and festive welcome for the Year of the Snake, Lunar Year 4711.

Last Mother’s Day, Quill gave me several drawings she had made especially for me and for my website, Guava Rose.

It was such a sweet gift. As a mother, handmade cards and hand-drawn pictures from my children mean more to me than almost anything else. I have a special box where I have saved their cards, notes, and favorite drawings from the time they were very small.

I will be sharing some of Quill’s artwork in my blog posts from time to time. This particular drawing felt just right for celebrating the Year of the Snake. And honestly, how can you not love that cookie with a bite missing from it?

Quill’s drawing inspired me to create a cookie that matched the playful spirit of her picture.

I wanted something sweet, slightly chewy, warmly spiced, and easy enough to make without much fuss.

These Chinese 5 Spice Chocolate Chip Walnut Date Cookies bring together chocolate chips, walnuts, dates, oats, and Chinese five spice powder for a cookie that feels both familiar and a little unexpected.

The cookie dough is quick and simple to prepare.

It takes about ten minutes to mix everything together and scoop the dough onto the baking sheets, making this a wonderful recipe when you want a homemade treat without spending all afternoon in the kitchen.

Chinese 5 Spice Chocolate Chip Walnut Date Cookies made with quick oats

You can make these cookies with quick oats or with ground oats, depending on the texture you prefer.

When I used quick oats, the cookies turned out especially chewy, with a hearty texture from the oats and little pockets of sweetness from the dates and chocolate chips.

When I made the same recipe with ground oats, made by processing rolled oats for several seconds in my Vitamix blender, the cookies had crispier edges and softer centers. The Chinese five spice flavor also seemed to stand out a bit more in that version.

Both versions tasted wonderful, and both disappeared just as quickly.

This year, I am keeping the Chinese New Year treats simple by stacking these cookies in my Chinese Candy Box.

Chinese 5 Spice Chocolate Chip Walnut Date Cookies made with ground oats

Place the cookies on a gold doily, and they are ready for serving.

The colors red and gold always look festive and lucky, especially for a Chinese New Year dessert table.

Of course, cookies need something refreshing to go with them.

A little Tangerine Hibiscus Tea Juice served in small tea cups looks bright, cheerful, and perfectly suited for the celebration.

Then again, the Tangerine Hibiscus Tea Juice is so tasty that you may want to pour yourself a larger glass instead.

Here is one more look at the drawing that inspired everything.

I decided that since snakes are reptiles and enjoy sunning themselves, it makes perfect sense for the drink in the picture to wear sunglasses. After all, the sun can be bright.

I am still wondering about that cookie with the bite missing from it. Do you think the snake was the one who took a nibble?

Chinese 5 Spice Chocolate Chip Walnut Date Cookies and Tangerine Hibiscus Tea Juice

Oops, we cannot forget the straw. Now everything feels complete and perfectly inspired by Quill’s drawing.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!