There’s something incredibly heartwarming about the aroma of freshly baked oatmeal cookies filling your kitchen. These chewy oatmeal cookies are not just a delightful treat; they’re a canvas for creativity. I often invite friends over for baking sessions, and we love to experiment by adding our favorite mix-ins. This particular recipe features a twist with chocolate chips and dried cranberries, making it a perfect blend of sweet and tart.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This will ensure your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take about 3-4 minutes. The secret to chewy cookies lies in this step, so take your time!
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually incorporate this dry mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Fold in the rolled oats, chocolate chips, and dried cranberries gently, ensuring an even distribution of all the goodies throughout the batter.
Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. These cookies will spread a bit while baking, giving them that perfect chewy texture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown but the centers still look soft. They will continue to cook a bit on the baking sheet after you remove them from the oven, so resist the urge to bake them too long!
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. The smell alone will have everyone gathering around, eager to grab a warm cookie.
These chewy oatmeal cookies are perfect for sharing, or you can keep them all to yourself (I won’t tell!). Enjoy them with a glass of milk or a cup of tea, and savor the delightful combination of flavors in every bite.