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    Home » Recipes » Desserts (Baked) » Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies recipe

    LAST UPDATED: December 2, 2021 • FIRST PUBLISHED: November 11, 2020 By Toni Dash 18 Comments

    Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies recipe

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    CRANBERRY OATMEAL COOKIES TITLE IMAGE

    Soft and chewy Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies are always a favorite. The homey flavor and texture of oatmeal cookies with a sweet bite of dried cranberries are great for holiday baking and the rest of the year too!

    CRANBERRY OATMEAL COOKIES TITLE IMAGE

    If you love to bake cookies but fussy cookies aren’t for you, you’ll love this cookie recipe.

    It’s straight forward, easy and the cookies are delicious.

    It’s a classic cookie with a little change up using sweetened dried cranberries for some special sweetness.

    An Easy Oatmeal Cookie recipe

    Whether you use a mixer or mix by hand, this oatmeal cookie recipe is so easy to make! 

    It has three main steps to create the dough. The dough will be stiff or thick by the end and bakes to make a chewy oatmeal cookie you’ll love! 

    This is a big batch recipe creating 6 dozen cookies.

    If you’d like to make less you can easily cut the recipe in half or make one third. 

    cranberry oatmeal cookie stack

    Recipe Ingredients + Notes

    Unsalted Butter. Creamed together with the sugar to make a sweet, rich base for the cookies. We prefer unsalted butter for the sweetness. Use room temperature butter.

    Light Brown Sugar. Homey sweet flavor and it keeps the cookies moist.

    Egg. Helps in rising and binding the dough together.

    Whole Milk. We prefer the richness of whole dairy milk. However if you prefer a lower fat milk it should work well too. We have not tested the recipe with non-dairy milk however it should work.

    Vanilla Extract. Adds flavor.

    Rolled Oats. Also called Old Fashioned Oats, these give texture and flavor. Either regular or gluten-free rolled oats can be used (we tested both). Do not use instant oats.

    All Purpose Flour. Either regular or gluten-free All Purpose Flour can be used. We tested both!

    Baking Soda. Will help the cookies rise.

    Salt. We prefer kosher salt which is a less salty tasting salt. However iodized salt will also work.

    Cinnamon. Just a touch to give a perfect warming spice flavor to the cookies.

    Dried Sweetened Cranberries. These add a slightly chewy texture and sweet cranberry flavor to the cookies. Dried cranberries are usually softer than raisins so will not become drier/tougher when baked.

    cranberry oatmeal cookies ingredients

    Variations

    These cookies are very flexible to change them up! Here are some ideas:

    Add chopped nuts. Adding 3/4 cup of chopped pecans, walnuts or even macadamia nuts would be great. Just stir them in with the cranberries.

    Add chocolate chips. Try adding 3/4 cup of white chocolate chips, toffee bits, regular chocolate chips or a mix! Stir in with the cranberries.

    Swap for a different dried fruit. Raisins or dried cherries would be delicious in place of the cranberries.

    Tried and Tested Recipe

    We’ve tested this recipe at sea level, at altitude, with regular All Purpose Flour and with gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend. 

    The results in all conditions were delicious!

    I used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free 1-to-1 Flour Blend for the gluten-free recipe testing.

    How to Make it – Step-by-Step

    STEP 1. Preparations.

    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet(s) with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.

    STEP 2. Making the Cookie Dough.

    In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy.

    Add the milk, egg and vanilla; mix to combine.

    In another large bowl combine the dry ingredients: flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. 

    Spoon the flour mixture into the wet ingredients 1 cup at a time, mixing together fully.

    Stir in the cranberries (final dough photo 1).

    cranberry oatmeal cookies recipe steps 1-4

    STEP 3. Baking the Cookies.

    Make heaping tablespoons of the dough and place onto the prepared baking trays (photo 2). NOTE: a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop works great for this.

    Bake for 10-11 minutes baking time until the edges turn light brown (photo 3). 

    Remove from oven and allow to cool on the baking pan for a minute. Remove and place onto a wire rack to cool fully (photo 4).

    Storing them

    Store at room temperature in a sealed airtight container for up to 1 week. 

    The cookies have a better texture when stored at room temperature versus being chilled in the refrigerator.

    cranberry oatmeal cookie close up

    How to Freeze Oatmeal Cookies

    These cookies freeze very well. With a large batch recipe it’s a great option to freeze some for later.

    There are two ways to freeze them and it depends on how you’ll use the cookies: in a large quantity or a few at a time.

    Option 1 – To remove a few cookies at a time

    If you only want to take a few out of the freezer at a time, allow the baked cookies to cool completely.

    Place them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Put it into the freezer to freeze the cookies.

    When frozen, place them into a freezer proof container separating layers with parchment or wax paper. Or place them into a freezer jar. 

    When desires remove a few cookie and allow them to thaw on the counter top.

    Option 2 – Batch freezing

    To freeze and thaw a full batch, allow the cookies to cool fully.

    Place them in a freezer proof container separating layers with parchment or wax paper. 

    Place the container in the freezer. To thaw: remove from the freezer and place cookies in a single layer at room temperature.

    cranberry oatmeal cookie pile close

    More Cookie Recipes You’ll Love!

    • Cranberry White Chocolate Pecan cookies
    • Carrot Cake Cookies
    • Banana Bread Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies
    • Coconut Macaroons

    Try these Recipes too!

    • Baked Oatmeal with Chocolate Chips
    • Blackberry Oatmeal Bars
    • Creamy Overnight Oatmeal Pudding with Cherries
    • Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    CRANBERRY OATMEAL COOKIES TITLE IMAGE

    Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

    Chewy, moist Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies are easy to make and a comfort food dessert. They have a wonderful rustic texture and the dried cranberries make them a favorite any time of the year.
    5 from 14 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 11 minutes
    Cooling Time (estimate): 20 minutes
    Total Time: 41 minutes
    Servings: 36 2-cookie servings (total yield: 6 dozen or 72 cookies)
    Calories: 150kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Unsalted butter softened
    • 1.5 cups Light brown sugar packed
    • 1 large Egg
    • 1/3 cup Whole milk
    • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
    • 3 cups Old fashioned oats (rolled oats) do not use instant oats
    • 2 cups All purpose flour regular or gluten-free
    • 1 teaspoon Baking soda
    • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
    • 1.5 cups dried sweetened Cranberries

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • In a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the butter and brown sugar together until fluffy, about 1 minute.
    • Add in the egg, milk, and vanilla, mix to combine.
    • In a second large bowl stir together the oats, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
    • Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture about 1 cup at a time; mix well. NOTE: the dough will be stiff.
    • Add the cranberries and stir to fully mix into the dough.
    • Make heaping 1 tablespoon sized dollops on the sheet trays about 2 inches apart. PRO TIP: a a 1 tablespoon sized cookie scoop works perfectly for this.
    • Bake for 10-11 minutes until the edges turn lightly golden brown.
    • Let cool on the sheet tray for about a minute, transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Notes

    Cooking Time note
    The time for cooking one batch of the cookies is 10-11 minutes. If making the full recipe you may rotate batches through the oven (versus doing them all at once due to oven space constraints) so the total cooking time for total batches will be lengthened based on that.
    Storing the Cookies
    After they cool, store the cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
    The cookies can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
    Variations
    • Add 3/4 cup of chocolate chips (white chocolate, toffee bits or chocolate).
    • Add 3/4 cup of chopped nuts.
    • Swap the cranberries for raisins or dried cherries.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 69mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 168IU | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Marie says

      January 22, 2022 at 10:47 am

      Has anyone made these with fresh cranberries as I have some packages in the freezer? Any adjustments?

      Reply
    2. Sara Welch says

      November 12, 2020 at 2:48 pm

      5 stars
      Gave these a try and they did not disappoint! Exactly what I needed to cure my sweet tooth!

      Reply
    3. Sandra McCollum says

      November 12, 2020 at 10:02 am

      5 stars
      These cookies were really delish! My kids enjoyed a whole batch!

      Reply
    4. Beti says

      November 12, 2020 at 8:57 am

      5 stars
      My kids love these cranberry oatmeal cookies!! I can’t wait to make them again!

      Reply
    5. katerina says

      November 12, 2020 at 8:56 am

      5 stars
      These cookies are SO YUMMY!! Everyone loved them!!

      Reply
    6. Erin says

      November 12, 2020 at 2:29 am

      These Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies are couldn’t be any more perfect!

      Reply
    7. Beth says

      November 11, 2020 at 2:24 pm

      5 stars
      These looks so delicious and yummy! My daughter is going to love this recipe! I can’t wait!

      Reply
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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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