december daily {3/4} & oatmeal cranberry cookies

We put the lights up on our tree the night after we brought our tree home. If I really want to, I can finish the tree decorating in one night, but I’ve really enjoyed taking my time and having Hawke be a part of it. I know he won’t remember any of these, but I like knowing we are making new traditions during Hawke’s first Christmas season.

So after work, after daycare pick-up and after dinner (and before baby’s bath & bedtime), we have fun with our tree. He was mesmerized by the lights and kept wanting to grab it. Hopefully we can finish more decoration this weekend. I’m also looking for an ornament for baby’s 1st Christmas, anyone knows of any cute ones?

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I’ve made these delicious cookies more times than I can count. I searched my own blog and can’t believed I haven’t shared these on here yet.

I make these cookies a lot during the holiday season, but I also make them throughout the year. These are one of Chris’s favorite cookies, so I’ve make them on his birthday, Father’s Day and whenever he request them really.

I like adding walnuts with the last half of the batter, those cookies are meant for me. They are great with walnuts if you like nuts and texture. Shredded coconut are great with these too.

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies

(recipe adapted from Oceanspray)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup of dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.

3. Using a mixer, beat the butter and sugars together until smooth. Mix in the egg and vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Stir in the oats, dried cranberries, and white chocolate chips.

4. Roll cookie dough into tablespoon size balls and place on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Don’t cook them too long, they are better when they are soft. Let cookies sit on the baking sheet for two minutes. Cool on wire tack.

Note: I have tried freezing a log of the cookie dough and although they still turn out, I noticed it’s a little drier. Possibly the oatmeal absorbing the moisture?