Chocolate Pomegranate Cookies

I have a half dozen or so pomegranates in my fruit bowl, and had no idea what to do with them.  Eating them is fun, but 6 of them by myself is a bit much.  Then I saw a post on Bountiful Basket's blog for Chocolate Pomegranate Cookies.  It sounded pretty simple, and like a good excuse to break in the cookie paddles for Ulga, so I thought I would try it.  I think I might have put a few more pomegranate arils in the recipe, but it was like eating a chocolate chip cookie with a sweet and crunchy suprise.

First preheat the oven to 375 F.  Then you will need:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup coconut oil (you could use another 1/2 cup butter, but I like substituting a healthy alternative when I can)

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp almond extract

2 eggs

2 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp baking soda

12 oz chocolate chips (either dark chocolate or white)

1 1/2 cups pomegranate arils (about 2 medium pomegranates)

Mix everything except the chocolate chips and pomegranate arils until well blended.  Slowly add the chocolate chips, mixing after each addition.  Then add the pomegranate arils 1/2 cup at a time, mixing after each addition.  Spoon onto a baking sheet, and bake for 10-12 minutes.  Let cool on a wire rack.  Then enjoy!