Behind The Butter

Loaded Oatmeal Cookies

Excuse me if I got you all hot and bothered over a whole week of savory recipes.

That’s next week.

Today, my friends, is Friday and time for one last cookie recipe before I begrudgingly stow away the chocolate and sugar for a week. Note that I still will be consuming both (who do you think I am, anyway?). I’m just not baking with them, that’s all.

I honestly don’t know what has come over me. I like to think it’s three pounds of cheese.

Anyways! These cookies are loaded with dark chocolate, dried cranberries and toasted walnuts and are, hands down, my favorite way to enjoy oatmeal.

There’s just something about a warm, chewy oatmeal cookie that gets me every time. However, I hate raisins. Oatmeal raisin cookies? No thank you.

When I bake oatmeal cookies I load them with something even better: chocolate.

And cranberries…and walnuts! Sometimes even peanuts. Heck, you could pretty much load whatever you want in these cookies. But if it’s raisins, don’t tell me about it.

With a dough like this, it doesn’t really matter anyway.

Loaded Oatmeal Cookies

makes about 3 dozen cookies

Print this recipe!

1 3/4 cup old fashioned oats

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 stick butter, softened

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup toasted chopped walnuts

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1/3 cup dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 375.

In a medium sized bowl, stir together the oats, flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, walnuts, cranberries and chocolate chips. Set aside.

Cream together the brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and continue to beat until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and beat only until combined.

Scoop out whopping tablespoons of dough on a lined baking sheet. Flatten a little with your fingers (works best if your fingers are wet so the dough won’t stick as much). Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.

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  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
    January 7, 2011 at 5:05 am

    I’m ready to get in the kitchen and bake a batch of these up. You can never go wrong with chocolate + oatmeal. Except… adding peanut butter??

  • jen @ taste life
    January 7, 2011 at 5:06 am

    Wow, those look absolutely stellar. Chocolate, cranberries AND walnuts? In one cookie? It’s a one way ticket to cookie rehab!

  • Elaina
    January 7, 2011 at 5:07 am

    Wow, these look so amazing! Now, I’m going to have to make some. 😀

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite
    January 7, 2011 at 5:07 am

    Can you magically make two of these appear next to my just filled mug of coffee?

    Thanks 🙂

  • R Chandra
    January 7, 2011 at 5:08 am

    these cookies remind me of my mom’s – a little bit of everything and delicious!

    also i totally degree chocolate is way better than raisins 🙂

  • Liz (Little Bitty Bakes)
    January 7, 2011 at 5:10 am

    I’d prefer this to be my Friday breakfast 🙂

  • Mary (Sisters Running the Kitchen)
    January 7, 2011 at 5:12 am

    these look great! I’d love to put craisins, white chocolate chips, and walnuts in them!

  • Alexia @ Dimple Snatcher
    January 7, 2011 at 5:17 am

    I love oatmeal raisin Jenna…with walnuts too. I’ve been craving that kind of cookie actually. I love your combination, too :)))))

  • Molly
    January 7, 2011 at 5:17 am

    Many feel this way towards raisins in oatmeals. I, however, have an oatmeal cookie (fully equipped with delicious) that keeps them coming back for more. It’s a cookie of its own, really. Keep your options open.

    • Molly
      January 7, 2011 at 6:07 am

      delicious raisins**

      • Baking 'n' Books
        January 7, 2011 at 10:31 am

        I LOVE raisins with chocolate in my cookies 🙂

  • megan @ whatmegansmaking
    January 7, 2011 at 5:20 am

    These look like monster cookies without the peanut butter! And they look amazing. I want one.

  • Heather (Heather's Dish)
    January 7, 2011 at 5:21 am

    loaded indeed! i love adding things like cranberries or tart cherries to chocolate to cut the richness with acidity a little bit. and walnuts? heck yes!

  • Kristina @ Life as Kristina
    January 7, 2011 at 5:29 am

    3 words that belong together- loaded. oatmeal.cookies. <—amazing!

  • Blog is the New Black
    January 7, 2011 at 5:30 am

    I agree with you-chocolate, not raisins!

  • Jaime Ramsay
    January 7, 2011 at 5:30 am

    Ooh, these look good and I am so with you on raisins in cookies. Why do people do that? It ruins a perfectly good sweet good. I think I’m going to have to bake these – my lazy side likes that I already have all of the ingredients in my cupboard!

  • Bethany @Bridezilla Bakes
    January 7, 2011 at 5:31 am

    Ah, totally agree — I can’t handle raisins in cookies. What are they DOING there?? The worst disappointment is thinking that you are biting into an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie… and then tasting raisins.

    Apparently I don’t look too carefully at my food before horking it down.

    • Errign
      January 7, 2011 at 5:53 am

      Yes. This. I hate that. Especially when you’re SURE it’s a chocolate chip….

  • jenna
    January 7, 2011 at 5:32 am

    these look amazing!! 🙂

  • Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean
    January 7, 2011 at 5:33 am

    this is very close to the recipe i use! my favorite cookies ever 🙂

  • Lauren at KeepItSweet
    January 7, 2011 at 5:39 am

    I completely agree with you about raisins – they ruin anything from cookies to breads to muffins! Oatmeal + chocolate, though, I am happy!

  • Lindsey
    January 7, 2011 at 5:40 am

    Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are my absolute favorite! I can’t wait to try this recipe 🙂

  • Stacy @ Every Little Thing
    January 7, 2011 at 5:42 am

    Those look fantastic! I made some salted oatmeal cookies over the holidays and they were fan-tas-tic.

  • Cathy B. @ Bright Bakes
    January 7, 2011 at 5:43 am

    Oatmeal cookies. Walnuts. Chocolate.
    These may just get me through the remaining 6 months of winter here in the Northwoods. Fact.
    love,
    cathy b. @ brightbakes

  • Errign
    January 7, 2011 at 5:51 am

    I hate raisins too! Gah-rossssss. And the whole “they’re just grapes” argument – um, no, they’re not. 🙂

  • Erica
    January 7, 2011 at 6:08 am

    Oatmeal cookies are my favorite! I just made a batch of oatmeal chocolate chippers yesterday. Something about the great texture they have…yum! Yours look fabulous. I love the additional add-ins. Happy Friday!

  • Lindsey @ Dishes'N'Diapers
    January 7, 2011 at 6:10 am

    These look phenomenal! I make a similar recipe using white chocolate and dried cranberries… that was my husbands only Christmas request this year!
    I’m thinking tomorrow morning’s oatmeal will include dark chocolate, dried cranberries and walnuts. Who says you can’t have dark chocolate for breakfast?

    • jenna
      January 7, 2011 at 6:35 am

      dark chocolate is perfectly acceptable at breakfast! well, in my house anyways!

  • Julie (Food & Other Things)
    January 7, 2011 at 6:11 am

    I’m with you on the raisins! Generally I like them, but just not in cookies! These cookies look amazing, I love cookies that are loaded with all different kinds of delicious flavors!

  • Melomeals: Vegan for $3.33 a Day
    January 7, 2011 at 6:20 am

    Oatmeal cookies are my favorite… adding cranberries and chocolate.. that is perfection.

  • Camille
    January 7, 2011 at 6:20 am

    I looove oatmeal cookies, but these have definitely stepped it up a notch! Awesome!

  • Marie
    January 7, 2011 at 6:21 am

    Chocolate chips > raisins, most certainly. I really don’t like raisins. This post is so timely, I’m heading to a friend’s house for a bakestravaganza and I suggested we make my favorite chocolate chip oatmeal cookies… now I’m considering picking up cranberries and walnuts, yum!

  • Dee
    January 7, 2011 at 6:24 am

    Oh my gosh! This looks amazing!

  • Current Instincts
    January 7, 2011 at 6:28 am

    MUST try this recipe! These sound amazing. And I also hate raisins. Down with raisins!

    • jenna
      January 7, 2011 at 6:34 am

      they just freak me out! who wants shriveled grapes in their cookies?!

  • Happy Healthy Mama
    January 7, 2011 at 6:31 am

    Oh, my. My husband loves chocolate chip cookies; I love oatmeal cookies. This looks like the perfect compromise.

  • Natalie @ Will Jog For Food
    January 7, 2011 at 6:35 am

    Love the combo of cranberries and dark chocolate 🙂 Anything with “loaded” in the title has to be good!!

  • Meg
    January 7, 2011 at 6:37 am

    Wiping drool off of my keyboard, thanks, Jenna 🙂

  • Kelly
    January 7, 2011 at 6:45 am

    I hate chocolate chips in my cookies too!! But I hate raisins and craisins in there too! I like my oatmeal cookies plain jane! Welcome back…glad you made it back safely and that you got to enjoy a wonderful vacation with your family.

  • Fi
    January 7, 2011 at 6:46 am

    OMG i love oats and raisins!! but i als love oats and anything else, starring this recipe, lve baking cookies!! and so do my family (and anyone else that happens t be in the house at the time of baking!!) x

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
    January 7, 2011 at 6:58 am

    LOOOOOVe oatmeal cookies like you would not believe!

  • Jessica @ Healthy Dairyland
    January 7, 2011 at 7:08 am

    My sister and I are obsessed with oatmeal cookies. These are definitely getting made this weekend!

  • Angharad
    January 7, 2011 at 7:17 am

    Oh gosh I haven’t baked a thing in about three weeks (just got back from a long holiday) and these might be just the thing to get me into the kitchen. Love a good oatmeal cookie!

  • Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf
    January 7, 2011 at 7:18 am

    I love loaded oatmeal cookies! I like making less-sweet varieties as fuel for a long hike and picnic. I typically use oats, dried cranberries, dark chocolate chips, and pecans (since I have a very fruitful pecan tree in my backyard). I’m constantly experimenting with them. 🙂

    • jenna
      January 7, 2011 at 7:19 am

      a pecan tree! I am very jealous 🙂

  • Beth @ DiningAndDishing
    January 7, 2011 at 7:18 am

    My favorite cookie is an oatmeal, white chocolate cranberry cookie my sister makes. With a few tweaks I think this recipe could work for that!

  • Amanda (Eating Up)
    January 7, 2011 at 7:18 am

    Oatmeal cookies are my favorite! It’s something about the texture, I think.

  • Marie @ PeoniesNCupcakes
    January 7, 2011 at 7:23 am

    I am making these babies this weekend! Absolutely! Thank you for sharing & yes, what a perfect way to enjoy oatmeal!

  • Natalia - a side of simple
    January 7, 2011 at 7:36 am

    I’m a loyal fan to oatmeal, in its one true form that is: cookies. Thanks for getting my weekend off to a preeeettty tasty start 🙂

  • Maria
    January 7, 2011 at 8:01 am

    Oatmeal cookies are my favorite, love your loaded version!

  • Allison
    January 7, 2011 at 8:04 am

    I am totally making these cookies this weekend! Thanks for the recipe!

  • Elizabeth@The Sweet Life
    January 7, 2011 at 8:06 am

    What beautiful and delicious cookies! I just posted about the impact of sugar on my acne–have you ever struggled with that? Or are you blessed with an “I can consume lots of cheese and bread and sugar and not break out” complexion? If so, I’m jealous!

  • Lizz @ Leading the Good Life
    January 7, 2011 at 8:06 am

    I agree, no raisins in my cookies either! Or in my bread. Cinnamon raisin toast – blech. But cinnamon swirl toast (sans raisins)? Sign me up!

    And I love oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. 🙂

  • Whitney @ Mylife.Myheart.MyJourney.
    January 7, 2011 at 8:12 am

    I love oatmeal so much I eat it raw sometimes. Is that wrong? Because it feels so right. Haha!! 🙂

  • Alina @ Duty Free Foodie
    January 7, 2011 at 8:17 am

    Oatmeal cookies are among my favourites! Looking forward to savoury week though.

    My body has been really craving savoury after the sugar-fest that was the holidays. I literally woke up one day and was like, “I am going to have a slice of cheesecake. Oh wait, I finished the cheesecake.”

  • Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef
    January 7, 2011 at 8:37 am

    sounds delightful! i don’t like baking with raisins but i do enjoy eating them plain 🙂

  • Ellen
    January 7, 2011 at 8:37 am

    these sound fantastic. my mom makes a loaded oatmeal cookie with dark chocolate, pecans, coconut and orange zest. it sounds a little unusual but it is amazing. one of those cookies that every one eats 3 of while trying to figure out what is in there that makes them taste so good and so unexpected!

  • Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen
    January 7, 2011 at 8:37 am

    My mom makes cookies just like these, and they are amazing!

  • amanda
    January 7, 2011 at 8:41 am

    i hate raisins too, although i used them recently in an apple muffin recipe, and i barely noticed them. but oatmeal raisin cookies aren’t cookies, that’s way too healthy sounding to be a dessert. could i use quick cooking oats in these? its what i got 🙂

  • Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
    January 7, 2011 at 8:46 am

    “one last cookie recipe before I begrudgingly stow away the chocolate and sugar for a week. “—-

    Awww, that makes it sounds like the butter and sugar and chocolate are going on a burial rite or something, No! haha!

    This recipe looks great, Jenna! i love oatmeal cookies and I love that yours are loaded up. They look perfectly chewy and awesome!!!

  • mary (what's cookin' with mary)
    January 7, 2011 at 9:31 am

    Yes please !!

    My brother’s faaaaaavorite cookies are oatmeal. He’s lives up in SF and I think I’ll be making a batch of these to mail to him. Thanks Jenna!

  • Mary Catherine
    January 7, 2011 at 10:06 am

    These remind me of the Super Charge Me cookies… but butterfied!

  • Justeen @ Blissful Baking
    January 7, 2011 at 10:12 am

    I agree, cookies are definitely the best way to eat oatmeal! These cookies look delicious!

  • Traci(faithfulfoodiefashionista)
    January 7, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Wish I could reach my hand right into the screen of my computer and grab one 🙂 These look fab!

  • Gill (snaxandthecity)
    January 7, 2011 at 10:32 am

    YUM! My boyfriend also hates raisins so I will get major kudos if I re-create this….

  • Baking 'n' Books
    January 7, 2011 at 10:33 am

    I think that the dried cranberries *kind of* take the place of the raisins – both are dried fruit and add that sweet twang. But, you still gotta have the chocolate in there. Chocolate goes in everything.

    I just put chocolate-chips in corn-bread I made.

    😉

  • Mauimandy@The Grains of Paradise
    January 7, 2011 at 11:14 am

    Love the addition of cranberries. Makes for a festive treat. Yum Yum!

  • laura
    January 7, 2011 at 11:34 am

    i made (and blogged) these today and they’re wonderful! thanks for sharing!

    http://rathr.be/4r

  • Katie
    January 7, 2011 at 11:49 am

    These are so good! I just made them and they are so tasty 🙂 Thanks for sharing! 🙂

  • giordin
    January 7, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    I hate raisins in baked goods tooooo!! I thought I was the only one!

    I always bake cookies for my co-workers for their birthdays and one guy asked for oatmeal raisin cookies specifically. I almost said NO, but I sucked it up and made them. Never again. I’ve now trained my coworkers to appreciate chocolate and cranberries so I don’t have to deal with that again.

    Can’t wait to try your recipe!

  • Nicole
    January 7, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    This makes me crave Super Charge Me Cookies from Eat, Drink and Be Vegan! I haven’t had those in ages!!

  • salah (My Healthiest Lifestyle)
    January 7, 2011 at 12:26 pm

    these look amazing!!! LOve oatmeal cookies 🙂

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing
    January 7, 2011 at 12:28 pm

    mmmm those sound delicious!

  • Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run]
    January 7, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    You hate raisins period!? Oh no =/

    Happy Cookie Friday! These sound dee-lish!

  • Katie
    January 7, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    those look so good! i like chocolate better in oatmeal cookies too 😉

  • Heather
    January 7, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    In no way am I hot and bothered over a whole week of savory recipes. On the contrary, I am super excited! Bring on savory week!

    • Kristin
      January 7, 2011 at 1:56 pm

      I’m so excited for Savory Week too!!

  • The Healthy Apple
    January 7, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    Love this recipes and love love love savory recipes…sounds delicious Jenna…Have a great weekend…can’t wait to try these cookies, yummy!

  • Heidi - Apples Under My Bed
    January 7, 2011 at 8:35 pm

    mmm these look scrumptious! I love the addition of dark chocolate – more often than not, with oat and cranberry cookies you see white chocolate, and I’m not a huge fan. LOVE cranberries though. I will make these for sure! Thanks 🙂
    Heidi xo

  • Sara
    January 8, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    Um, yes please??? 😀

  • Dominique
    January 8, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    No raisins in your cookies? Everyone I know hates on raisins except for me. I’ll let it slide with you since your cookies have dark chocolate chips and I’m a sucker for anything with dark chocolate. Hopefully I can use a gluten-free flour mix with these and they’ll be just as tasty. I’m gonna keep my fingers crossed.

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  • Natalie
    January 8, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    These are really good but my first batch got too crispy on the bottom. I will now use some Christmas money to buy a silpat or 2. They feel kind of healthy because of the hearty texture. Yep, definitely a health food. 🙂

  • Kim
    January 8, 2011 at 10:43 pm

    Oooh, I just made cranberry and chocolate granola for the first time. Such a good combo!

  • uniper
    January 9, 2011 at 6:19 am

    Jenna,
    I have a question for you cause I really admire you a lot. I’m thinking of starting a blog….I keep waiting for a perfect “time” and a perfect title….but , maybe there is no such thing. A lot of bloggers told me to think a lot about the title before jumping into a blog, and I agree… I guess I haven’t really sat down to think about it seriously…but I don’t want to overthink it either.
    I would LOVE your opinion on some of these names (I was going to email u, but I thought you’d reply quicker if I just put it in your comments section).
    My current random thoughts:
    – life actually
    – a cozy place
    – a mug of cozy
    – stories over tea (or with tea or something)
    – tales over tea
    – books and tea
    – imagine
    – word by word
    – i’m human
    – a new world

    – ideas that really strike me are “The Tipping Point” (but I can’t really spin that one right….cause I don’t want it like HTP…but its just that that phrase means a lot to me)
    or i love the title ” I’m (not) superhuman” which another girl has,,,cause this would totally apply to me…but I don’t know an alternative catchy phrase for that…

    I am dealing with a lot of physical issues now. And I need to touch on them openly for some sanity….but, I don’t want to focus on it or make it negative or a “big” thing…so a blog will be an opportunity to explore other passions (reading and writing)…kind of a “cozy” place (my dream is a cozy place in life) to have some serene sane time for myself…practice my writing skills and find my true voice.

    That list above is not exhaustive…there are more on my mind but I can’t seem to spin them right….should I just jump in and pick any old title (I want the URL to match the title)…or should i give it some more careful deliberation as many bloggers have advised.

    Thanks for any thoughts.

  • Jessica
    January 9, 2011 at 1:30 pm

    Try adding a bit of cardamom to the cookies…heavenly!

  • Jenny
    January 11, 2011 at 8:04 am

    I made these Friday night, but with a few slight tweaks. Instead of walnuts, choc chips and cranberries, I used 1/2c dried cherries and chopped up 4 ounces of a dark choc bar. Then sprinkled fleur de sel on top of each cookie before baking. Salty, tart, sweet and bitter all in one!

    Oh! I spent NYE in Charleston too, and I think I saw you and Adam in a shop on NYE day. I did a bit of a double take!

  • bobbi
    January 13, 2011 at 4:11 pm

    So making these tonight 🙂

  • Carly Pfeiffer
    January 19, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    I just made these cookies and they are delicious! The cinnamon and oats stand out a lot in a great way. They NEED to be pushed down like the recipe says or else they wont cook all the way through the top but they will get too brown on the bottom. Thank you for yet another amazing recipe to make my day!

  • Hannah @ PalmBeachRunner
    February 26, 2011 at 7:22 am

    THis looks delicious! And the photography is perfect 🙂

  • Sarah
    April 28, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    Hi there,
    First of all, I wanted to let you know that I think your blog is great and the pictures are always beautiful. My boyfriend and I just whipped up a batch of these cookies and they are delicious, but we are both partial to a chewier cookie any suggestions on how to make these a little less crunchy?
    Thanks for the recipe!

  • Carole S
    June 28, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    Jenna-

    I LOVE THESE COOKIES!! I haven’t made them with the cranberries (haven’t gotten any) or the walnuts (husband doesn’t like nuts) yet, so I just put more chocolate chips in there instead. They are SOOOO GOOD!!! This is my new ultimate, easy and delicious “go to” cookie recipe! My 19 month old son loves them too! 🙂 Thanks!

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  • Kathleen
    August 29, 2011 at 5:00 pm

    I made something similar on the weekend minus the oats! And was thinking next time I’d try make it a little more healthy/balance out the choc chunks. Perfect! Yum!! Thanks

  • Kaitlin
    August 29, 2011 at 6:50 pm

    Made these, but subbed in dried cherries for the cranberries. Absurdly good!!

  • collette
    August 30, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    My kind of cookie! I love oatmeal cookies and add cranberries and chocolate to mine also! Everyone thinks I’m crazy, till they try them! 🙂

  • kim a
    September 11, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    oh i just made these…used ghiradelli chocolate chips and pecans instead of walnuts. seriously? YUM! reposting on my blog if that is OK…these need to be shared 🙂

  • Linzay @brokerunner
    November 30, 2011 at 11:51 am

    I’m having friends over for dinner next week and want to make these. They look so good! Do you think if I made the dough the night before, refrigerated the dough overnight so I could pop them in the oven during dinner so they’re warm they would come out OK? Or should I just cook them they night before?

    • jenna
      November 30, 2011 at 12:32 pm

      I definitely think so!

  • Erin
    May 20, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    This recipe looks amazing. What would recommend I substitute for the walnuts? I’m not a huge walnut person, and it’s your recipe so I thought you’d know best. Thanks 🙂

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  • Emma
    August 16, 2012 at 11:04 am

    I made these for my friend who just found out she doesn’t have to go through chemo! GREAT news plus delicious cookies!!

  • Caitlin
    August 17, 2013 at 2:49 am

    When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each
    time a comment is added I get four e-mails with the same comment.

    Is there any way you can remove me from that service?
    Appreciate it!

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