Do you love cookies that strike the perfect balance between soft and chewy? These Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies deliver just that! With a slightly crispy exterior and a tender, chewy center, each bite is packed with the wholesome goodness of oats and the tart sweetness of dried cranberries.
These Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies Are Delicious
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies are a delicious treat combining chewy oats with the tangy flavor of dried cranberries. They’re a family favorite in my house, especially during the holiday season, but they’re just as perfect for everyday snacking or packing into lunch boxes.
My top tips for the best oatmeal cranberry cookies:
- Use old-fashioned oats. They provide the perfect chewy texture and hold up well in the cookie dough. Avoid quick oats, as they can make the cookies too soft.
- Soften your butter. Softened butter ensures the dough mixes smoothly for evenly baked cookies.
- Don’t overmix. Once the dry ingredients are added, mix just until combined to avoid tough cookies.
- Chill the dough if needed. If your dough feels too soft, chilling it for 20–30 minutes will help the cookies keep their shape while baking.
These cookies are wonderfully chewy, lightly spiced, and full of flavor. Whether you’re making them for a holiday platter or just because they’re sure to disappear quickly!
Ingredients For Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
- Oats - Use old-fashioned oatmeal or rolled oats. The thicker oats work best in this cookie because has great texture. Do not use instant or one-minute oats.
- Brown sugar - the brown sugar helps keep the cookie soft and chewy
- Butter - I use salted butter. Make certain your butter is at room temperature so it can easily be mixed in with the sugar.
- Cranberries - dried sweetened cranberries
How to Make Chewy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
- Cream butter and sugar together
- Add eggs and vanilla
3. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Mix to combine
4. Mix in oats
5. Stir in cranberries
6. Use a cookie scoop or two spoons to form balls of cookie dough on an ungreased cookie sheet
7. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 8-10 minutes
8. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 1-2 minutes and then remove to a baking rack until fully cooled
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie Recipe Variations
- Use raisins in place of the cranberries
- Add a cup of chocolate chips
- Stir in toasted pecans or walnuts
- For a delicious twist, add orange zest to the batter
- Top unbaked cookies with a sprinkle of sea salt
Tips For Making Craisin Oatmeal Cookies
- Make certain your butter is at room temperature
- Whip butter for 3-4 minutes along with brown sugar
- Use real vanilla, not imitation
- Use Old Fashioned Oats - not quick-cook oats. Old Fashioned Oats are thicker and hold together better in these cookies.
- Don't overbake the cookies.
Storing this Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies Recipe
These cookies are perfect for making ahead of time and freezing.
My grandmother used to make batches of cookies and freeze them. She always had cookies to serve if anyone dropped over for a visit.
My sister also freezes cookies, but not to serve to company. She likes to eat them frozen! She pulls out one at a time and eats them in their hard frozen state.
To freeze
- Allow cookies to cool completely on a baking rack
- Place cookies in an airtight container or a freezer bag
- Arrange cookies in a single layer
- Place a piece of parchment paper or waxed paper on top of cookies and add another layer of cookies
- Freeze the container in a flat position
- Cookies will last up to three months in a deep freezer
To thaw
- Remove cookies from freezer
- Let sit for at least 2 hours at room temperature
Recipe Faqs
Allow cookies to fully cool on baking rack. Place in an airtight container or storage bag. Store at room temperature.
Yes, these cookies freeze well. Once the cookies are fully cool, place in a freezer safe container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
More from Beyond The Chicken Coop
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Cookie Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, salted (softened)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ¾ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups oats
- 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter until soft and light. Add brown sugar and continue mixing. Mix together until light and creamy, about 3-4 minutes.1 cup butter, salted, 1 cup brown sugar
- Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well.1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 eggs
- Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Mix well.1 ¾ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Add oats. Mix just until combined.3 cups oats
- Fold in dried cranberries.1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
- Form small scoops of cookies. Place on an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake in a preheated 350° F oven for 8-10 minutes.
- Allow cookies to cool for a few minutes on baking sheet and then remove to a baking rack to continue cooling.
Notes
- Make certain your butter is at room temperature
- Use real vanilla, not imitation
- Use old fashioned oats or rolled oats - not quick cook oats. Old Fashioned Oats are thicker and hold together better in these cookies.
- Add sweetened dried cranberries or raisins
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Ann says
If you use gluten free flour what else should you add
Kathy says
Hi Ann,
I do not have experience using gluten free flour so I'm not certain what adjustments you'd need to make.
Kathy
Ann Marie says
Wonderful! I switched the vanilla for almond and loved the taste.
Kathy says
Sounds like a great way to mix things up! 🙂
Karen says
I will bake often! this is my new favorite oatmeal cookie recipe. Yummy!
Thank you
Kathy says
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoy them 🙂
Mary Beth McDonald says
Great recipe ...I annex some ground up coconut flakes to sweeten them up and threw in some nutmeg and orange zest
These cookies don't spread out of as some do...they stay nice and fluffy!
Kathy says
Thank you! I love the additions you've added! I'll need to give it a try - espcially the orange zest! 🙂
Carrie says
I love this recipe! It was very easy to make. I added pecans to mine. Thank you for sharing this recipe! 😋
Kathy says
Thanks, Carrie! Pecans are a perfect addition in these cookies! Thanks for leaving a comment - I really appreciate it.
Kathy 🙂
Grace Wahlman says
Delicious and quick. I added a cup of chopped walnuts and baked about 15 minutes as they were large. Will be making these often thanks
Kathy says
Thanks! Adding walnuts is a great idea!
F. Fox says
My family is crazy about these cookies! Yummy!
Kathy says
That is so awesome! Thanks for leaving a comment and letting me know! 🙂
Celia says
I have made these twice now and they have become our favorite cookies. I add chocolate chips to about half of the batter for that little extra chocolate treat.
Kathy says
A little chocolate is always a good thing! 🙂
Thank you!!!
Lupe b says
Really easy I added walnuts but I will add a bit more sugar good with coffee
Kathy says
Nothing better than freshly baked cookies with a good cup of coffee!
Ana says
I really liked them, they were delicious! Easy to prepare and good texture. Thanks!
Kathy says
Thank you!
Laura says
Really good flavor, but I think they could use a small amount of granulated sugar as well, they don’t spread out very much and they’re not very sweet, or you could use less oats. A really easy recipe though and you could totally add white chocolate chips or orange zest to really make them sing! Over all not bad at all.
Kathy says
Hi Laura,
Thanks for your feedback. These cookies do not spread out like a chocolate chip cookie, and you're right, they really aren't that sweet.
Elaine Huntsinger says
Delish! And I made them with gluten free flour. Thanks
Kathy says
Great! So glad you gave it a try and let me know!
Gerianne says
Even my picky eaters love these cookies! A new family favorite. Thanks for sharing.
Kathy says
Love it when you find something everyone loves! Thanks for leaving a comment! Happy baking 🙂
Kay says
These are my new favorite cookies. Soft and chewy and so good. Need to make more. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Kathy says
Thanks, Kay! They are one of our favorites too!
Dorothy says
I just finished baking these and they are cooling but I had to sneak a couple. This will be my new cookie thing because it was very easy to make
Kathy says
Hi Dorothy! There's nothing better than a delicious, easy to make cookie! I love eating them fresh out of the oven! 🙂 Happy Baking - Kathy
Gina mac says
Perfect! Thank You 😊
Kathy says
Thanks, Gina! Glad you loved them!!!
Donna says
Great easy recipe. Not too sweet which I like. I made them both with and without white chocolate chips. Both were yummy and didn’t last long!! 😋
Kathy says
White chocolate chips in these would be delicious! Thank you!!!
Cheryl says
Mmmm. You should have gotten more carried away! I've been making oatmeal craisin chocolate chip cookies for years! The best!
Kathy says
I can tell I'm going to have to go make more cookies - and add the chocolate chips!
Fred G says
Great combo
David @ Spiced says
Eating frozen cookies? Well now I've heard it all! But I do love the idea of freezing small amounts of dessert so you can portion-control yourself. We do that with slices of cake. As far as these cookies go, I'm all in! A good oatmeal raisin cookie is my favorite cookie of all time. Seriously! These look fantastic, and I'd like to order a couple dozen please. 🙂
Kathy says
I know...sometimes crazy things happen around here!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
I've been working hard at eating healthy so far in 2019, but it's time for a cookie Kathy! And nothing beats a hearty, delicious oatmeal cookie. Love the added cranberries!
Kathy says
Thanks, Mary Ann....some days we just have to let loose and eat a cookie! 🙂