Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies

I love baking all year long, but holiday baking is my favorite! It gives me an excuse to make massive amounts of treats to share with friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, anyone and everyone! And I am even more excited this year because my handsome husband gets to help! Yahoo!!

I go into mad baking mode. I turn on the holiday tunes and spend hours and hours in the kitchen. I can really belt out "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree." :) It is so much fun!! And when the baking is complete, I get to package my goodies in cute bags, boxes, and tins with festive colors and ribbons!! Oh, I am getting excited already!!

This year my baking "to do" list is still not completely finalized. I keep changing my mind on what I want to bake and give out. There are too many great recipes out there. I do have my standards that I will be doing, but I am going to add in some new treats this year.

I recently tried a new cookie recipe and it might make the holiday list. I made Cranberry Orange Oatmeal cookies and they are so good and so festive!

To bring out the orange flavor, I soaked the dried cranberries in orange juice for ten minutes and then drained them. I also added in orange zest. The flavor was amazing! I love cranberry and orange together. The oats made the cookies nice and chewy...and they stayed soft, my favorite kind of cookie!!

I know the holidays are meant for splurging, but these cookies are actually healthy!! There is so much flavor going on you won't be able to tell though!I promise...you will love these!! And if you live close, beware, you might be receiving these in the near future:)



I am submitting these to Susan at Food Blogga, who has started a collection of Christmas cookies. Be sure to go to this site for lots of great holiday recipes!!

Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
½ cup chunky-style applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
Zest of one orange
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup dried cranberries
½ cup orange juice

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put the dried cranberries in a small bowl. Pour orange juice over the berries and soak for ten minutes.
2. Put butter and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until combined. Add egg, applesauce, vanilla, and orange zest, mix until well blended, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Drain the orange juice from the cranberries and mix them into the dough.
3. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper or Silpats, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake cookies until golden and just set, about 13 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool them completely.