Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies with Dried Cranberries and Pecans

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies with Dried Cranberries and Pecans

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies with Dried Cranberries and Pecans

1 C all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 C old fashioned rolled oats

1 C toasted pecans, chopped

1 C dried cranberries

1 C semi sweet chocolate chips or 4 oz. bar of semisweet or dark chocolate, chopped

4 oz./ 1 stick butter, at room temperature

1 C packed brown sugar, preferably dark

1 large egg

2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a heatproof bowl, pour about one cup of hot water on the dried cranberries and let them soak for 5 minutes. The cranberries will absorb some of the moisture and retain their chew after baking and won’t dry out. While the cranberries are soaking, chop the toasted pecans. After the cranberries have soaked, drain in a sieve, rinse them off under cold running water, and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. In another bowl, toss the chopped pecans, chocolate chips, and oats together.

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until fluffy, add the brown sugar and beat again. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the egg and vanilla and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, like frosting. Add the flour mixture and mix the dough is beginning to come together. Then add the oats, nuts, and chocolate mixture and cranberries and continue to beat until the dough is evenly mixed

I like to line my cookie sheets with parchment instead of a silicone baking mat, I find that cookies don't spread and brown as nicely on a baking mat. Scoop 1/4 C of the dough and space the dough 3 inches apart. It's easiest to use a trigger release cookie/ice cream scoop. Use your hands and flatten them slightly until they are about 3/4 inch thick and look like a hockey puck. My cookie sheet can hold 8 or 9 cookies and I like to bake only one sheet at a time.

Bake for 10 minutes then rotate the sheet, and continue to bake for another 5 to 8 minutes. The cookie edges should golden brown but the center will look a little underdone and still gooey and doughy in the middle. Remove the tray and let the cookies set for 1 minute on the sheet tray then using a spatula, slide them onto a cooling rack.

Makes 16 cookies.