My favourite Christmas cookie! These Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies are studded with white chocolate and pistachios.
An easy to make chewy oatmeal cookie recipe with holiday flavours. Perfect for cookie swaps.
In 2015 I took part in a food blogger cookie swap raising money for the charity Cookies for Kid’s Cancer. These were the cookies I made and shipped out to my secret recipients. They were a hit!
What a fun year that was. I also received lots of delicious goodies in the mail from the other participating bloggers.
There are certain things that are a must at Christmas in our house.
- Christmas Morning Sandwiches have been a family tradition for decades.
- Homemade Cranberry Sauce with bourbon and maple syrup made with fresh cranberries.
- Rum and Eggnog Coffee Latte for present wrapping and movie watching.
- Bourbon Fudge for stocking stuffers.
- Cranberry Sweet Rolls are great for holiday brunch, Christmas morning or even dessert.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for these oatmeal cranberry cookies can be found at the bottom of this post.
When it comes to holiday baking, the more I can make ahead of time the better. In fact, I love to freeze some of my delicious delights so they all don’t get eaten before the festivities begin.
This Cookie Recipe Needs:
- Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Eggs
- Rolled Oats
- All-Purpose Flour
- Salt
- Baking Powder
- Dried Cranberries
- White Chocolate Chips
- Pistachios
All the basics of a good cookie recipe.
The Best Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
I do love a good oatmeal cookie recipe. Some people prefer crispy cookies. I prefer chewy cookies. These cookies with cranberries will not disappoint. Be sure to check the recipe card for full instructions.
If you can mix and dump, bake these cookies!
- Preheat your oven and get your baking pans ready.
- Combine the oats, flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl.
- Cream the butter, sugar and eggs.
- Add the dry mixture (gradually you want to mix it well).
- Combine the cranberries, nuts and white chocolate chips.
- Drop the cookie dough by spoonfuls onto the baking sheets.
- Bake, cool and eat!
Drop cookies are the best. No chilling, no rolling, and no decorating. The flavour speaks for itself.
YES I consider white chocolate as chocolate (although I know lots of people, including my daughter that beg to differ). Check out these White Chocolate Popcorn Balls!
Recipe Tips/Substitutions
- Dried cranberries can be replaced with raisins, currents or dried blueberries.
- Pistachios can be swapped out with pecans, macadamia nuts, walnuts or almonds.
- Regular or large flake oatmeal works great in these cookies. Instant oatmeal will not work.
- White chocolate chips can be replaced with chopped white chocolate bar pieces, or even white baking chocolate.
- I always like to lightly toast nuts before adding to any recipe. Brings out a wonderful flavour.
- You can line your baking pans with parchment. Makes for easy cleanup and no worries of the cookies sticking to the pan.
- I just use a large spoon to drop the cookies with. You can always use a small cookie scoop.
- These cookies can be made ahead of time and kept in the freezer until ready to devour. Be sure they are in a sealed container or freezer bag. I like to place them on a tray in a single layer for about an hour before placing into the container. This stops them from sticking together in the container.
FAQ
Most all store-bought varieties are sweetened with sugar. You can also make your own dried cranberries from fresh berries.
Not necessary, but if you prefer you can rehydrate them by covering them with water and place them in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds. Let stand for a few minutes and pour off the water. Your cranberries will be plump and ready to use.
Need a few more recipes using dried cranberries? I have some delicious suggestions right here:
- Baked Oatmeal Breakfast Donuts
- Holiday Croissants
- Turkey Wraps
- Festive Crunchy Granola
- Apple Cottage Cheese Smoothie
- Apple Chickpea Salad
- Soft Chewy Granola Bars
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies For Christmas
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup butter (softened)
- ⅔ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups flour (all purpose)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup pistachios (toasted and chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- Combine oats, flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl and set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Beat in eggs.
- Add flour mixture (mixing until well combined).
- Add cranberries, white chocolate chips and nuts.
- Drop by spoonfuls onto non greased cookie sheets.
- Bake for approximately 12 minutes until golden.
- Cool on baking racks.
Toasting Nuts
- I find the easiest way is to place the nuts in a non-stick frying pan and cook on medium heat just until you can smell them. They burn quickly, so be careful.
Karen
Do these cookies stay soft and chewy after baking?
The recipe I use now the cookies turn crunchy on day 2 after baking ~ Thank you
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
If you keep them in a really good sealed container that helps keep them chewy.
Natalie
Amazing cookies Gloria. I love added white chocolate. Gives such a nice holiday vibes to the cookies. I have to bake them. Yum.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
These are one of my favourite cookies for the holidays. ENJOY!
Elena
These cookies are my new favorites, there is so much texture in every bite. I’ll be making another batch soon!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I love all the textures and tastes in this Christmas cookie.
Chandice Probst
These cookies have all the best flavors of winter… So yummy and so easy too!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I can enjoy these Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies all year long.
Liz
I love making cranberry oatmeal cookies for the holidays! The red color adds a festive touch! Thanks for the share!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You are very welcome. Enjoy these holiday cookies.
Ramona
Wow, these oatmeal cranberry cookies look super delicious and very flavorsome. Thank you for sharing this recipe, I cant wait to give them a go!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I know they will be a hit in your house….they sure are in mine.
Marie
I love pistachios, cranberries, and white chocolate together! Such a pretty flavor and color combo! I was just looking around to add a new cookie to my holiday lineup and this is it. Everyone’s gonna love them!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
All the flavours and colours of the holidays in one delicious bite.
Loreto and Nicoletta
I love these clunky hearty cookies. Lovely flavors and texture, perfect with a nice tea or coffee or like I do it, a huge glass of milk. Great work for a wonderful cause! Good on you!
Cheers!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Hoping you have a wonderful holiday season….and eat lots of cookies.
Linda
Love the addition of pistachios in these cookies!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Me too, they really work well in these cookies.
Brianna
Soft,chewy and easy to make! Made these for a cookie swap and they were a hit.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I have to agree, these are the perfect cookie for the Christmas cookie swap.
Healing Tomato
Oatmeal is such a delicious cookie ingredient. Your cookies look so interesting and delicious. Must bake it right away
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give these Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies a try soon.
Mikayla
This cookie baked up beautifully and tasted like the perfect holiday party cookie.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I love this cranberry cookie recipe for the holidays.
Sharon
These oatmeal cookies are full of holiday flavor! I really love the addition of white chocolate and pistachios.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This cookie has all the colours of the holiday in one bite.
Jill
I participated in this exchange in 2013! Now I want to re-write my own post.
Excited to try your cookies too. Love the flavor combination.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Those cookie exchanges were fun for sure. It’s nice to reflect on what we sent and make them all over again. ENJOY!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
I hardly ever use pistachios in cooking so I can’t wait to try this. They look totally irresistable though!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I happen to think they most certainly are. ENJOY!