These soft and chewy oatmeal cranberry cookies are packed with flavor, and the combination of chewy oats, tart cranberries, dark chocolate chips, and chopped walnuts is simply irresistible. These cookies are perfect for a midday snack, are great for holiday cookie exchange parties, or for a special occasion.
Some holiday recipes are over the top. They’re loaded with mix-ins or frosting – or both. Or they’re layered and layered or any number of other baking tricks to make them extra special. I know because I make recipes like that almost every holiday season. That said, I find that some of the best holiday recipes are the simplest. Take these oatmeal cranberry cookies for example. They’re very unassuming. They have no frosting, and they aren’t colored in any way with red or green. However, they are some of the best holiday cookies you’ll ever enjoy. That’s because the flavors do all the work!
I make these cookies at least a few times every holiday season, and they’re so good that I’ll actually make them throughout the year at times if I get the craving. After you make a batch, you’ll understand why!
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
These delicious cookies start with a basic oatmeal cookie dough that uses rolled outs for an extra chewy texture. Then, I add coarsely chopped cranberries, dark chocolate chips, and chopped walnuts. Finally, I bake them until they’re golden around the edges. That’s all there is to it! These cookies are marvels of simplicity and flavor, and every bite is both holly and jolly!
Why You’ll Love This Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie Recipe
- It’s a unique flavor combination of sweet, tart, and salty flavors in one delicious cookie recipe.
- The oatmeal provides a hearty base, the cranberries add a burst of tartness, the dark chocolate chips add sweetness, and the chopped walnuts add a satisfying crunch.
- They are soft and chewy, and the variety of textures makes these cookies even more enjoyable to eat.
- They are super easy to make and are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them.
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie Ingredients
These simple cookies only take a few basic ingredients to make, and you can find them all in your kitchen right now. This time of year, you might just have the cranberries in the fridge, as well! If by chance you don’t have something, you’ll find it easily at your local grocery store.
- Butter
- Light brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Large eggs
- Vanilla extract
- All purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Rolled oat or quick oats
- Fresh cranberries
- Dark chocolate chips
- Chopped walnuts
How to Make Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
Making these cookies is quick and easy – the perfect recipe for the holidays when you want tasty treats but you also want to hang out with the family! It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps, and you’ll have a plate full of delicious cookies that everyone will love.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Step 2: Combine the Wet Dough Ingredients
Cream the butter, brown sugar, and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
Step 3: Combine the Dry Dough Ingredients
Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together in a medium bowl.
Step 4: Make the Cookie Dough
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Then, stir in the oatmeal, followed by the cranberries, dark chocolate chips, and walnuts.
Step 5: Bake
Drop by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden around the edges. Cool the cookies on a wire rack and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy before adding the rest of the wet ingredients.
- A hand mixer or stand mixer yields the best results.
- Add the oats after making the base cookie dough to ensure everything is properly mixed.
- It’s important to drop the cookie dough onto the baking sheet rather than rolling it for proper spread while baking.
- It is important to use room temperature eggs because they provide a smoother batter, improved texture, and absorbs the flavor of the other ingredients verses using cold eggs.
Mix-In Ideas
- Use milk, semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or white chocolate chips in this recipe.
- Walnuts, pecans, or almonds all work well.
- Try adding a bit of orange zest for even more classic holiday flavor.
- For extra sweetness and color, add holiday M&Ms.
What to Serve with Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
Serve these delicious cookies with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea. For a more grownup pairing, try them with a dessert wine or a nice cocktail. Of course, these cookies also make a great addition to a larger holiday dessert spread alongside your other favorite sweet treats.
Recipe FAQ
For chewy oatmeal cookies, use rolled oats. For oatmeal cookies with a less chewy texture, use quick oats.
Homemade oatmeal cookies will last for up to 4 days in an airtight container at room temperature. They can also be frozen for up to 6 months.
Yes, you can. Just defrost the cranberries and chop them as you would fresh cranberries.
Store your cookies in an airtight container, not a cookie jar with a loose lid. In addition, you can place a piece of fresh white bread in the container with the cookies to keep them from getting stale and hard.
Yes. These oatmeal cranberry cookies freeze well and will last for up to 6 months when properly stored.
How to Store and Freeze Leftover Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
Store these cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 days at room temperature. For longer storage, place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container in single layers separated by parchment paper and freeze for up to 6 months. Never refrigerate the cookies. It dries them out.
Try These Delicious Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies Today
These oatmeal cranberry cookies are loaded with the classic holiday flavors of cranberries, dark chocolate, walnuts, and cinnamon. What they aren’t loaded with is work! These holiday cookies are so simple and delicious that you’ll be making several batches over the holiday season, I guarantee it. They are the perfect cookie to add to the Christmas dessert menu. And because you can make them with frozen cranberries, you’ll probably find yourself making them throughout the year as well. Give them a try and get ready to fall in love!
More Delicious Cookie Recipes You’ll Enjoy
These Caramel Pretzel Cookies with Walnuts are a delicious sweet and salty, soft and chewy cookie recipe that is easy to make and a family favorite cookie recipe.
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies with Dark Chocolate Chips
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened, 2 sticks
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups rolled oat or quick oats
- 1 ½ cup fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet(s) with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, and sugar together until combined and creamy.
- Mix eggs and vanilla, and beat until combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and mix well.
- Stir in oatmeal then gently stir in cranberries, dark chocolate chips, and walnuts.
- Drop by heaping teaspoons onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies start to brown around the edges.
- Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
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