Name: Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter (softened); ½ cup vegetable shortening (softened); 1 cup light brown sugar (packed); ½ cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 tablespoon corn syrup; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon salt; 3 cups quick-cooking oats; 1 cup white chocolate chips; 1 cup dried cranberries

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Thick, chewy, and perfect for the holidays, these cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookies are loaded with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. No chill time for the dough makes these a quick and easy cookie to pull together this holiday season.

A stack of cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookies, the top one with a bite missing

Soft and chewy cranberry cookies

Adapted from my most popular oatmeal raisin cookies, these cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookies bake up soft and chewy. The dried cranberries and white chocolate chips give them a holiday twist and a sweet, tangy flavor while the butter and shortening keep the cookies moist and chewy.

I also added light corn syrup which is a secret trick I learned from Better Homes and Gardens as a way of keeping cookies soft for days after baking.

I don’t always add it to my cookie recipes but I find it helpful to do so for Christmas cookies, especially ones that will be added to cookie trays or served at parties. Even if I make the cookies a day or two in advance, I don’t have to worry about them being dried out or tasting stale.

Overall, these oatmeal cranberry cookies are a pretty simple Christmas cookie to pull together. The tangy-sweet flavor from the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips gives them a festive twist too and with a cup of each in the dough, every bite is loaded with a beautiful contrast of flavor.

If you’re looking for a different but easy holiday cookie this year, definitely give these a try!

Overhead view of cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookies, one with a bite missing

What you’ll need

While these cookies are loaded with cranberries and white chocolate chips, the dough is made from your basic oatmeal cookie ingredients.

Ingredients

The full ingredient amounts are listed below in the printable recipe.

Unsalted butter – Butter should be softened but melted.
Vegetable shortening – Using both shortening and butter helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much.
Sugar – Light brown sugar and granulated sugar keep these cookies on the sweet side.
Eggs
Corn syrup – Adding corn syrup will keep the cookies soft for days after baking.
Vanilla extract
All-purpose flour
Baking soda
Ground cinnamon
Salt
Quick-cooking oats – Be sure to grab quick-cooking, not old-fashioned oats.
White chocolate chips
Dried cranberries

Helpful tools

Mixer – I find a stand mixer with paddle attachment works best but you can use a handheld electric mixer.
Cookie scoop – A 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop works best for portioning the dough.

How to make cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookies

These cranberry white chocolate cookies require just a few minutes of prep and 10 minutes in the oven!

Whipped butters and sugars in a mixing bowl

Beat the wet ingredients. Beat the butter and shortening with an electric mixer until well blended. Then beat in the sugars until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the corn syrup and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl with a whisk. Slowly add to the butter mixture. Once combined, gently stir in the oats, white chocolate chips, and cranberries.

Cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookie dough in a mixing bowl

Oatmeal cookie dough balls on a baking sheet

Bake. Transfer 1.5 tablespoon-sized balls to a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The edges should be slightly brown and the cookies puffy. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Overhead view of white chocolate oatmeal cookies on a white plate

Tips for success

After making these white chocolate oatmeal cookies and other varieties of oatmeal cookies many times, there are a few things I’ve learned to make the absolute best cookies.

All of the ingredients must be room temperature. Set the butter, shortening, and eggs out on the counter about 30 minutes prior to baking.
You need quick-cooking oats, not old-fashioned rolled oats. Old-fashioned oats will absorb too much moisture from the cookie resulting in a drier texture. I don’t recommend using the oats interchangeably. Here’s a forum on Food 52 that explains why and how to if you absolutely must.
Be sure not to overbake them. They should look slightly underbaked when you remove them from the oven. They’ll continue to set as they cool.

Serving suggestions

These cranberry cookies are one of my favorite cookies to add to a holiday cookie platter or to add to the party dessert table, maybe next to some classic buckeyes, thumbprint cookies, or praline pecans.

Of course, they are also great with just a glass of milk, anytime you want them!

How to store

At room temperature. These cookies will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll be just as soft and chewy on day 3 as they were direct from the oven!
In the freezer. Once cooled completely, you can freeze these oatmeal cookies in a freezer ziploc bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge then enjoy.

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