Sea Salt & Olive Oil Brownie Cookies {Olivari “Year of the Little”} Recipe posted by Pin Share Tweet Email Jump to Recipe SomethingSwanky is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. How often do you take time to enjoy the little things in life? I know that making an effort to pause in our busy lives to celebrate the small moments can be difficult. It certainly is for me! Which is one reason I’m so excited about Olivari’s “Year of Little” campaign. You can find more information about this campaign on the Olivari Facebook page, but basically they’re taking time to remind their fans and consumers that “the little things are everything.” They’re giving away coupons, released small songs by a small band, taken out little ads in small town newspapers, and made short videos capturing some of those detailed moments. I thought this one was particularly sweet: The days seem to go by in one big blur lately, and I can’t seem to slow them down. I often find myself looking up from my laptop or from behind the camera and notice that Emma looks grown up all of a sudden! So this week I’ve been trying a little harder to notice all the little things about my sweet girl. And honestly, she’s made it pretty easy… She’s been in speech therapy for about 18 months. And all of a sudden, this week her speech just EXPLODED. I have NO idea what happened, but all week it’s been a constant stream of… Mom. Mom? What are you doing, Mom? Mom, what are you doing? Is that chocolate? I like chocolate. I like chocolate cupcakes. Sugar is nummy good. Chocolate is nummy good. Mmmm. Is this flour? Flour is nummy good. Mom? Mom? What are you doing, Mom? Let’s make a cake. I’m making a cake, Mom. Cake is nummy good. Mom? Mom. Mom? Mom. Mom? What are you doing, Mom? Mmmm. I found chocolate. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! It goes on and on and on all day long. The past two nights I’ve had to turn dinner into “quiet time,” because I thought I was going to lose my mind if I heard the M-word one more time! Anyway. All of this all-day toddler conversation, while admittedly exhausting, has also been so precious at the same time. At the very moment that I feel like I can’t stand another ‘Mom, what are you doing???’ I remember how amazing it is that she’s speaking to me at all. And not only speaking– conversing. She’s using full sentences, in correct context, at appropriate times (although, when you don’t stop speaking ever, you’re bound to land on an appropriate moment every now and then). With all of this new communication going on, it’s been a little easier to pause and enjoy moments with her, because she pulls me right out of my distractions with some of the funny things she says. I’ve also been able to include her in my work a little more. She really loves measuring out ingredients, feeling them, tasting them, and watching how they come together to form a dough or batter. It’s all very sensory and stimulating, so we’ve typically had pretty great on-going conversations during our baking. She’s also been a lot of fun to photograph with lately. I think you’ll notice her little hands in my shots a little more often now that we’ve “mastered” the concept of hold still and don’t move! I’m so glad Olivari challenged me with this great post prompt! I don’t take the time to really write about the meaningful moments in my life as often as I should. I’ve been meaning to document this change in Emma’s speech somewhere in a journal or on our personal blog, but I just haven’t sat down to actually do it. So this was the perfect moment to write it down, to save it and share it. I hope you’ll take some time to appreciate and celebrate the little moments in your life! And definitely be sure to swing by the Olivari Facebook page to check out all of the cool ways they’re making this the “year of little!” And maybe while you’re hitting the pause button on life, you’d like to sit down to a plate of cookies? Gather the family, enjoy a conversation while the cookies are baking, and then savor the moments of ensuing finger licking and milk guzzling. These Sea Salt & Olive Oil Brownie Cookies are nothing short of decadent, flavorful, and totally worth a moment of your day. Continue to Content Sea Salt & Olive Oil Brownie Cookies {Olivari “Year of the Little”} Print Ingredients 1/2 cup Olive Oil 1 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 eggs 3/4 cup all purpose flour 3/4 cup cocoa powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 tbsp. hot water 1/2 tsp sea salt + more for sprinkling 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips Instructions Using a large bowl and a hand mixer, beat the olive oil and sugar until well mixed. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating in between the addition of each egg. The mixture should become creamy as the eggs are added. Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water, set aside. Add the cocoa powder, flour, and salt. Beat until dough forms. Mix in the dissolved baking soda. Mix in the chocolate chips. Scoop the dough by heaping tablespoons onto a parchment or silicon lined baking sheet. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top of each cookie dough ball. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes, until the edges are set. Let cool completely on the baking sheet before removing to a wire rack. Olivari Olive Oil is celebrating “One Year of Little”. Visit their Facebook page to learn why the little things are everything. This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olivari . The opinions and text are all mine. This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olivari . The opinions and text are all mine. 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Oh, Ashton, she is precious! I wish my little guy would stay still for photos! And naturally, the cookies look fabulous.
Emma is so stinking cute, seriously, adorbs. I laughed really hard about your transcript of her stream of words, and had to share with my boyfriend, who also died over the cuteness. Um and oh yeah those cookies are large and chocolatey and MMM!! I love chocolate 😀
I almost always use extra virgin olive oil in all my baked goods. I got into that habit when I lived in Italy and it just kind of stuck! These cookies look incredible!
It’s always nice to take time to notice the little things about your kids…..they do grow up fast, that’s for sure! It’s even better when you can share cookies with them, too! 🙂
Your little pumpkin is precious. I agree it’s hard to make time for these little things. Lately I’ve been trying to plan that better. These cookies sound wonderful. I’ve always wondered if you could use olive oil in baked goods. 😉
I love everything about this. The cookies, the story and the sentiment. Oh how it warms my heart. Love. Love. Love. And that little girl of yours . . . what. a. cutie!
She is so cute! And those cookies look amazing! I’ve wondered about olive oil in baked goods before. Now I know. 🙂
Your daughter is just so cute! I was a lot like her- I always had to be shadowing my mom around the kitchen, measuring and tasting all of the ingredients that went into her baked goods. I think you have a little baker in the making!
OMG These look amazing!!! So rich looking! Never used oil in cookie baking, but I often use it in cakes and love the results, definitely be trying these out 🙂
Ashton what a sweet post! I am so happy that Emma is gabbing up a storm for you!!! I am also in love with these brownie cookies!! Totally pinning and tweeting!
Awh, this post had me tearing up! Sweet little Emma is growing up WAY too fast, but oh my gosh, Congratulations to you guys and to her now that she’s talking in full sentences! What an amazing feat for her. You’re probably so very proud of her and I am, too! And I am totally in love with the fact that she enjoys baking with you. Melts my heart!
This looks amazing! Nice and gooey with chocolate-y goodness…my favorite! Emma looks adorable. I love toddler talk; it’s just so cute (:
What a lovely post, and what a lovely and sophisticated cookie. Where did you get that egg container? We only have two chickens, but we still can’t keep up with their production. I’d love to have a cute way to store their eggs.
I definitely need reminders to slow down and notice the little things. And I definitely need one of these cookies!
