Mama's Cranberry Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

What happens when you crave something sweet at night, but don't have the ingredients for your usual treats? Tonight I glanced in the cupboard to see what I could bake with what I had on hand. I had cookie-making ingredients, but was missing some of my usual add-ins. Then I realized I did have oats. "Hmm, what if I put these dried cranberries in there too?" I threw it all together and came up with a great cranberry oatmeal cookie recipe. There aren't any left, so apparently, the eight people in the house approve.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar (packed)

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1tsp pure almond extract

1 tsp baking soda

2 cups flour

2 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.

Many cookie recipes call for creaming the butter and sugar first, but I'm very non-traditional. I'm also a risk-taker. So, sometimes my baking is a little haphazard, but it always comes out good. Just ask my live-in taste testers (aka my kids). If they'll eat it without a complaint, it's good.

I just throw everything in the mixing bowl in whatever order I feel like at the time. Stir it all together until it's blended well. The consistency should be soft and easy to create a ball with. If it's too sticky, add a little bit of flour until you can work with it better.

Now, take your cranberry oatmeal cookie dough and create small 4 inch balls and place them on the cookie sheet about an inch apart. Cook for about 15 minutes or until brown. I usually prefer my cookies soft. If you'd like more firmness in your cranberry oatmeal cookies, just cook them a touch longer. Once the cookies are done, let them cool on a plate or cooking rack and serve.

Yield: About 3 dozen cranberry oatmeal cookies

For different taste variations, add some cinnamon, nutmeg, or both.

For more cranberry baked goods, read these great recipes by my friend and fellow writer, Marie Anne St Jean:

Cranberry Nut Cookie Recipe

Cranberry Nut Tea Bread Recipe

More from Lyn:

5 Yummy Oatmeal Cookie Recipes

Making Mealtimes Fun, Healthy, and Tasty for Toddlers

Mama's "Everything" Cookies - Recipe and Presentation Idea