Soft, warm, chewy and citrusy….there is no better way to describe these Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies!
So I spent too much time pouring over Pinterest some evenings ago. Can you say rabbit hole?
And – believe it or not – Christmas cookies are taking over!
This fact of course created a stirring….a yearning….a burning, if you will, in me, for a cookie.
But not just any cookie, and not a holiday cookie (yet).
I had a craving for oatmeal and orange, cranberry and cinnamon.
All the natural warm spicy slightly-sweet flavors and textures of the season…
Goodness. Autumn knows what it is doing.
It didn’t take me long to zero in on my inspiration.
Hubby came home from a recent grocery excursion with a crunchy little citrusy breakfast cracker, no, it was more a crisp than a cracker, that he enjoys nibbling while enjoying his first cup of coffee. This crisp will do the trick when, alas, there is nothing homemade in the cookie jar. And by cookie jar I mean canister in the back of the pantry. Nothing but an echo these days.
But if that sweet little biscuit-cracker-crisp wrapped up in its brightly colored slippery sleeve isn’t delicious! Oh man, I was inspired. (Inspiration shows up in the funniest places, am I right?)
So I got to work.
And I believe I came pretty darn close, minus the crisp.
These cookies are as soft and warm as your favorite chenille sweater just waiting to come out of summer hiding.
COOK’S NOTES FOR CRANBERRY ORANGE OATMEAL COOKIES:
- The thing I love about this cookie is the exorbitant amount of fresh orange zest and orange extract I included. (I mean – have you noticed those gorgeous little orange speckles all over the cookies?)
- If you prefer the gentle flavor of vanilla in your oatmeal cookie – feel free to swap out the orange extract for vanilla.
- If all you have are raisins in the pantry, feel free to switch out the dried cranberries.
- Walnuts or pecans would make a fine addition, too!
Oh how lovely it is to hear the sound of the pantry door opening vs. the tear and crinkle of a small plastic package. 🙂
Buon Appetito!
MORE COOKIEEEEEEES: (In my best Cookie Monster voice.)
DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you decide to give these Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies a whirl – I’d love your feedback and photos! Tag @ciaochowbambina on Instagram, or share to my Pinterest and Facebook page!
Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies
Description
Soft, warm, chewy and citrusy….there is no better way to describe these Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies!
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
2 large eggs (room temperature)
1 tsp. orange extract
2 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
2 Tbsp orange zest
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 F.
Line two cookie sheets with parchment. Set aside.
Using an electric hand mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until light.
Next, stir in eggs one at a time.
Add orange extract, old-fashioned oats, flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix until just combined.
Add cranberries. Stir to mix.
Using a tablespoon, drop dough onto sheets, 3-inches apart.
Bake on middle rack for 15 minutes, until golden brown.
Transfer sheets to wire racks and let stand until cookies have cooled.
Enjoy!
Your cookies sound great Annie. I don’t have orange extract but what I do have in my pantry are orange flavored cranberries which should give a similar taste to the cookie.
Oh, that will work! Thanks, Karen!!
LOVE this flavor profile, Annie! I make a mean shortbread cookie out of this, but oh my gosh, oatmeal! I’m hooked! You make me want to get in the kitchen and bake – like right now! lol It’s crazy how this season seems to zoom by. But every year I’m determined to make. it. slow. down. And relish in all it’s beauty.
I have the baking bug too, my friend! Thanks, Traci!!
I love the combination of cranberry and orange (my mom makes amazing cranberry orange bread every Christmas). But I’ve never had this combo in oatmeal cookies – pure genius, Annie! These will be happening in my kitchen soon!
Ooooh – I want your mom’s cake!! Thank you, friend!
Annie, my mouth is literally watering..what I would give for one of these warm cranberry orange cookies right now! Sounds like Fall in a cookie. So delicious!!
Don’t you just love when fall shows up in our nibbles? Thanks, Haylie!!
Cranberry orange is one of my favourite fall flavour combos! And these oatmeal cookies look like they have such a great texture! I could definitely go for a few for breakfast right now! Pinning to my fall baking board!
Thanks for the pin, my friend! Enjoy!!
Cranberry orange is the BEST flavour! These would be so good right now, as I’m sitting here under a cozy blanket. I need to add them to the must-try!
These cookies happen to go very well with cozy blankets!
Love this flavor combination Annie! So cozy for the chilly fall days ahead! Pinned!
All about the cozy now! Thanks, Mary Ann!
What a match made in heaven…cranberry and orange compliment each other so well! One cookie to definitely share!
Definitely one to share! Thanks, Kevin!
Cranberry and orange is always a winning combination, so I’m loving it in these oatmeal cookies! I’ll take a dozen 🙂
Dozen coming right up!
Cranberry anything is my favorite in the fall! These sound amazing–the only way to top cranberries is to add a little orange to the mix. Have a great weekend, Annie!
Thanks, Kelsie! You too! 🙂
A warm soft and chewy citrus cookie sounds perfect right about now. Delightful little numbers:) Pinned.
I know – I could go for one right about now too! Thanks, Milena!!
I know what ya mean about rabbit hole…or the infinite scroll. Crazy sometimes! I definitely see holiday stuff popping up too..a little Halloween stuff mixed with Christmas stuff. I know that the whole fall is just going to fly by. I absolutely love cranberry and orange together so these cookies are totally calling my name. Love to have some for b fast right now with my coffee 🙂 Pinned! Have a wonderful weekend ahead, my friend! XOXO
For breakfast, afternoon nibble, midnight snack… equal opportunity treat! Thanks, friend! xoxo