I knew I needed an intervention when I came to the bottom of my bottle of molasses. I mean, who finishes an entire bottle of molasses?!? That’s like finishing a bottle of nail polish — it just doesn’t happen. Molasses is one of those things that hangs out in the back of your pantry for decades, waiting with bated breath every time you reach for a sweetener, only to be passed over in favour of its milder cousins, brown sugar and honey.
But there I was, standing in my kitchen clutching an inverted bottle of molasses as I impatiently waited for that last sluggish tablespoon to make its way down the side of the bottle and into my mixing bowl. Needless to say, I was standing there for quite some time. I needed it, though — needed my fix. After all, what good was trying to make a [third] batch of chocolate gingerbread brownies without the molasses? No good at all.
Now, I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, so I took that as a sign that it was time to step away from the bottle [of molasses] and move on to a new obsession. Allow me to introduce you to it…
White chocolate and cranberries — a match made in heaven. You’ve got your slightly-too-sweet chocolate on the one hand, and your slightly-too-tart cranberries on the other. Put them together and you’re left with that kind of perfect harmony that seems to only exist in the movies… but better because its edible. And I haven’t even told you the best part…
While white chocolate and cranberries are good, what really sets these cookies apart is the addition of orange zest. I know they usually say three’s a crowd, but in this case three’s what takes things from “Man, this is delicious!” to “holy sh*t… fsssshaaaawlalalala.” Exactly. So… white chocolate, cranberries, and orange — my newest downfall obsession.
It took me three tries (and two meltdowns) to get this recipe right, but it was more than worth it. Batch #1 failed because I had a brain fart and somehow only ended up tossing in half the amount of oats that I was supposed to. Batch #2 failed because there was [apparently] too much butter in the dough and I was left with a solid tray of melted oatmeal cookie bark. But batch #3? Batch #3 was good…
Slightly crisp on the outside while being soft and chewy on the inside, these guys are pretty much everything I look for in a perfect oatmeal cookie. Not only do they melt in your mouth in a way that only the most comforting of cookies do, but they offer up an absolutely amazing shot of flavour in the process. Sweet white chocolate and tart dried cranberries rounded out by an aromatic hint of citrus — feel free to swoon.
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White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 tsp. grated orange zest
- 1/2 tsp. almond extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl using a hand-held or stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars until smooth. Beat in the egg, orange zest, and almond extract, mixing until light and fluffy — about 2-3 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add to wet ingredients. Stir in oats, dried cranberries, and chocolate chips, mixing until evenly distributed.
- Drop dough by rounded tablespoon onto your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 -12 minutes, until edges begin to turn golden brown.
- After removing from oven, allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
These just came out of my oven and I can’t wait for hubby to get back home and taste them. They are incredibly delicious!! The orange zest simply takes the flavor to a whole new level.
These are the BEST cookies ever! One of my husband’s favorites. Thanks for the recipe!!
I’ve done these a few times already. They just don’t look like the ones you have posted here. I bake them @ 12 minutes and they are still round in the oven. I then have to push down on them. What I’m I doing wrong???
This is a wonderful recipe. The cookies are moist and delicious. Added a little bit (1/2 tsp) orange extract plus the orange rind. I sometimes uses toasted chopped walnuts in this recipe. It is a keeper and my husband loves them.
Thank you for letting me know, Elaina! I’m glad to hear that your family likes them 🙂
Hi Amanda! I’m a frequent reader of your blog but have never posted before. I made your cookies this weekend as part of my holiday baking and they were fantastic! My husband really loved them (and ate far more than he was supposed to! They’re supposed to be gifts!)
Hi Avery! Thanks so much for letting me know 😀 I’m glad you liked them, and I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas <3
These look dangerous!
I’m loving peanut butter and pomegranate lately… tastes JUST like peanut butter & jelly mixed in oatmeal or yogurt!
Such delicious looking cookies! Love them!
I’m sorry to hear you had meltdowns while making these, and I sure do appreciate your sacrifices for the sake of bringing these delicious cookies. I love the combination of white chocolate, orange zest and cranberries. In fact, I use the same flavor profile in scones I make this time of year. They’re divine.
these look amazing! cranberries and white chocolate are my favorite combination and these cookies remind me of my grandma- she loves them! 🙂
Oh my gosh, don’t even get me started on molasses. This weekend I discovered six (SIX!) cartons of molasses in my parents’ cupboard. I swear they are going to be the death of me this year. I’m counting down the days until I can move out and have my own beautiful organized pantry haha.
Right now I’m seriously loving molasses. I made a batch of molasses cookies this past weekend and I’m planning on making another batch tonight!
Anyways, these cookies look amazing! Chocolate chip cookies with oatmeal are wayyyy better than without!
“That’s like finishing a bottle of nail polish — it just doesn’t happen.” <- Omg, how TRUE is that?!
What is it about cranberries and orange? An absolute PERFECT match! And you can never go wrong with white chocolate! As much as I adore my dark chocolate, there will always be a special place in my heart for the "fake" stuff! 😉 But while these cookies look fantastical, I just have to say that I could totally be down with some melted oatmeal cookie bark too! 😉
I've been obsessed with yogurt bowls lately…especially with banana and persimmon and a heavy hand of Saigon cinnamon! 😀 And I've STILL yet to try a chocolate chip OATMEAL cookie! I know, I've failed you! 🙁
you amaze me when you do things like this! 🙂
These look amazing! I still need to go buy some molasses especially after hearing you finished yours, with that comment I know it must be good 🙂
I’ve never actually had choc chip cookies with oats before but it is something I really need to try!
Never? Oh goodness – you must! They add so much comfort… and such a lovely chewy texture!
So I am ridiculously full of cookies/cookie dough right now…but I still want these. Cranberries and white chocolate is a pretty perfect combo, and oatmeal cookies are always my favourite.
right now, im all about the chocolate and peppermint combo. tis the season!
Those cookies look amazing! I’m currently loving classic chocolate chip cookies but with an add in of some peanut butter chips – so yummy:) I haven’t thought about adding oatmeal though, that might be up next!
Wow girl these look unreal!! Love the combo and who doesn’t love cookies? Yum!
I love me some oatmeal cookies!! These look amazing!
These look phenomenal! I know there’s no molasses in them but I must say, I am *so glad* I’m not the only molasses addict out there! I actually go through phases with it – one phase being I forget about it and the other being I crave it all.the.time. Do you think that maybe the molasses cravings mean that our bodies are lacking in some nutrient that molasses has (like iron for example)? Who knows…but either way I’ve been adding it to everything all month!
I honestly have -no- idea, but if our bodies needed iron, why wouldn’t we just crave beef? 😯 I figure molasses is just plain delicious and Christmassy 😀
Just printed this recipe- can’t wait to try it after we get back from our trip back home. Have everything in the pantry already, too!
I hope you enjoy them, Kim!
Oh my YUM! That looks absolutely delish. Haha to brain fart. Third time lucky and it looks absolutely gorgeous. 🙂
These cookies are killing me… they look amazing & brilliant combo w/the white chocolate & the cranberries. 🙂
i think i need a molassses intervention too. Oh nevermind, i will always need it! Love the oats addition. I like my cookies chewy and a little crunchy, so perrrrrrrrfect
OOO! I just bought some cranberries at the store tonight (on a whim!) I thought they could be fun to bake into something (bread, cookies, dessert of some sort!) I may have to try these cookies out on Wednesday night (my baking night this week!) 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!!
Yum- and oats in chocolate chip cookies- yes (but really I am pretty flexible- but I think you Need butter- that part is essential for me :)!) These are my favourite recipe you have ever done! Love fresh baked cookies (Christmas is made extra fun by them too :)!) A combo I am loving at the moment? Cream cheese and fresh fluffy bagels (I made my own!!) just so simple and good! Also loving ice cream mixed with Lindt balls (do you like Lindt balls?) it’s amazing what the vanilla ice cream does to the smooth chocolate- HEAVEN- (it’s like adding choc-chips fit for angels lol!) Happy Monday 🙂
I’ve actually never been able to eat Lindt balls because of my allergies 🙁 I definitely ogle them around this time of the year though!
You continue to amaze me with all the deliciousness you cook up in the kitchen! I am definitely a white chocolate and cranberry fan but I am also loving cranberry and orange. So yum.
YES. That is all.
😆 Remember our deal 😉
Yum! What a great combo! Lately I have been all about anything ginger! I love the spicy kick, especially this time of year. 🙂
One of my all time favourite cookies is white chocolate and macadamia from Subway but the caveat has always been its been too sickly sweet….the addition of cranberries would rectify that- Who knew spoons could be such geniuses? 😉 Feel free to FedEx stat.
oh my goodness you are a mind reader! I was trying to hunt down a good oatmeal cookie recipe over the weekend. Thanks!
I have a few squished up molasses containers that are evidence of my “get every last drop” mentality haha.
Those look REALLY amazing! That food photography book you mentioned is really bringing out the best (even though your photos have always been terriffic.)
I love the white chocolate/macadamia combo and when I think about it these would be really good with some macs added in.
I think? But why mess with perfection? (0:
Mmm… I love chocolate chip cookies WITH oatmeal. Potbelly’s (do you have that sandwich shop in Canada?) has the most amazing chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. I don’t really like their sandwiches but I’ll go there if I’m promised a cookie 😉 And I don’t think I need to tell you my favorite flavor combination. It’s fairly obviously 😉
You know how I feel about chocolate and cranberries. Delicious. If I had to choose, I’d say chocolate chip without oatmeal – that goes back to our shared understanding of coming from only eating the plainest of plain foods. That being said, I am NOT one to discriminate against any cookie (unless I’m allergic).
YUM!! Also, is it bad that I think I might like white chocolate better than milk chocolate? I feel like maybe that is a sin? 😉
No worries, I won’t tell… I’m actually kind of partial to that and milk chocolate myself 😉