·

The Best Oatmeal White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies Recipe for the Holidays

These oatmeal white chocolate cranberry cookies are a delightful twist on the classic oatmeal cookie. We’ve taken the warm and cozy oatmeal cookie recipe we all know and love and added a modern twist with the addition of chocolate and cranberries.

The combination of chewy oats, sweet white chocolate, and tart cranberries makes them an irresistible holiday treat. If you’re a fan of chocolate chip cookies but want something more festive, these cookies are perfect for Christmas!

plate of oatmeal white chocolate cranberry cookies

Oatmeal White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

A soft and delicious cookie with all the goodness of cranberries and oats plus the sweetness of white chocolate chips. A perfect easy Christmas cookie!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Serving Size 30 cookies

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup butter (at room temperature)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats (not quick or instant)
  • ¾ cup white chocolate chips
  • ¾ cup dried cranberries

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) with the rack in the center position. Then, line two baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly spray them with non-stick spray.
  • Mix wet ingredients. In a large bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and egg with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 3-5 minutes until smooth and slightly fluffy.
  • Combine dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
  • Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, blending on low speed, one cup at a time. Mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
  • Add mix-ins. Stir in the oats, white chocolate chips, and dried cranberries at low speed until they are combined.
  • Shape cookies. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Then, press the cookie dough down slightly to flatten it into discs. (Skip this step if you prefer thicker, rounded cookies.)
  • Bake. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are golden brown. Then, cool the cookies on a wire rack.

Notes

Remember to use room temperature butter for easy mixing with the sugars. Using cold butter can make the cookies dense.
When adding the dry ingredients to the wet ones, mix at low speed and stop as soon as they’re combined. Overmixing can make your cookies tough.
Dark chocolate chips in place of the white ones are also delicious!
If you want to make the dough ahead of time and bake the cookies fresh right before serving, that works too.
Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

More Tips:

Make sure to put the flour into your measuring cup using a spoon and level it off with a knife. Avoid scooping directly from the bag because it can pack the flour and give you more than you need.

Use a cookie scoop to make sure all your cookies are the same size, which helps them bake evenly.

If your kitchen is warm or the dough feels too soft, put it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before baking. This stops the cookies from spreading too much.

When halfway through baking, switch your baking sheets from front to back and top to bottom to guarantee even baking.

finished cookies on baking sheet

Serving Suggestions

Serve these chewy cookies with hot cocoa, freshly brewed coffee, vanilla ice cream, warm apple cider, or cold milk.

To make these cookies, you will need these important ingredients and tools:

cookie ingredients on counter
  • Regular oats: These can be found in the cereal or baking aisle. Make sure not to use quick or instant oats, as they won’t give the right texture.
  • White chocolate chips: These provide a sweet and creamy contrast to the tart cranberries. Look for these in the baking aisle, usually near the other types of chocolate chips.
  • Dried cranberries: These add a tangy burst of flavor that complements the sweetness of the white chocolate. You can usually find them in the baking aisle or near the dried fruits.
  • Hand mixer: Using a hand mixer ensures your butter and sugars are mixed together properly, which helps give the cookies a light and fluffy texture.
  • Parchment paper: This stops the cookies from sticking to the baking sheet and helps them bake evenly.

These ingredients and tools will help you make delicious, chewy cookies every time.

You can try these alternatives if you don’t have the ingredients:

  • White chocolate chips: Use dark or milk chocolate chips instead of white ones.
  • Dried cranberries: You can use raisins or dried cherries instead of dried cranberries.
  • Butter: Replace butter with margarine or a vegan substitute for dairy-free cookies.
  • Granulated sugar: Try granulated sugar with coconut or brown sugar for a different taste.

Just be aware that these changes might affect the recipe a bit, but go ahead and give it a try!

Storage Instructions

The simplest way to prepare cookies in advance is to bake them as instructed, let them cool completely, and then freeze them.

When you’re ready to eat, just defrost them on the counter for a few minutes. This is a great way to have your own secret cookie stash!

To keep cookies soft, store them with a slice of bread in an airtight container. The cookies will absorb moisture from the bread and stay fresh longer.

To freeze cookies, either freeze them after they are fully baked and cooled, or freeze the balls of dough and bake them straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time.

Enjoy making these oatmeal white chocolate cranberry cookies for a delightful treat that’s perfect for the holidays or any time of year. Whether you’re baking for a party or just for fun, these cookies are easy to prepare and will surely be a hit with friends and family.

white plate stacked with drop cookies with dried cranberry and oats
picture of smiling female

By Katie Shaw

Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This recipe is easy to make and delicious! They seem to be even better the next day. I made these cookies yesterday intending to give them to neighbors, but they are now almost gone, so I am making another batch. A very good choice any time of year, but really perfect for Christmas or Valentine’s Day.

  2. The recipe has no ingredient listing nor has it amounts… incomplete recipe… How can I possibly rate it??

    1. hi elke, this is an error that happened to some of my recipes! it’s listed in the body of the post itself but somehow disappeared from the recipe version! i’m fixing it now.