We love these oatmeal cranberry cookies with chocolate and nuts! Easy to make and delicious to eat, they will be a favorite holiday cookie at your home too!

“The weather outside is frightful. But the fire is so delightful. And since we’ve no place to go. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” I’m ready for snow!! After record breaking high temperatures last week with days in the 60s, it did finally turn back to winter out here in Eastern Iowa.

We have not had any snow yet…so this is my ploy for some! Come on frightful weather! I need a reason to enjoy lovely cookies and hot chocolate. And I have just the cookie recipe for frightful weather!

In past years, I have not been very good at baking for the holidays. My mother was not a baker {as a health conscious voice of reason} and I never got into baking cookies either – something about not wanting all those bad ingredients around my house and in my belly.

But then I had my own children and I found that baking with them is actually a lot of fun! So we’ve been busy Celebrating the Season the last few weeks by baking up a storm!

Mrs. Claus’ Favorite Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies with Chocolate Too!

The cookies we made a couple days ago rank right up there as one of our all-time-favorites. See, they have a special ingredient in them. A few special ingredients, actually. But the really special ingredient is candy – not just any candy, but Nestle Crunch Jingles #HolidayCandy. Oh YUM! I am a big fan of the Crunch Bar! But don’t tell anyone! 😉

I justify the candy with other healthier ingredients like oats, cranberries and walnuts. These little cookies pack quite a punch. And here’s how you can make your very own. {I found this recipe on Nestle’s Celebrate the Season website.}

First, grab yourself some Crunch Jingles. They also make Butterfinger variety, but I prefer plain ole Crunch. I found these at my local Walmart in their hugely massive seasonal candy aisle. I can’t believe how big that aisle is. 

Then, unwrap and chop 20 of them in fourths. That was the hardest part of this recipe. Luckily, my children were willing helpers.

Mix together in a small bowl:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream together in a large mixing bowl:

• 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Mix together in a medium sized bowl:

• 2 3/4 cups quick oats
• 20 NESTLÉ CRUNCH Jingles, unwrapped and cut in quarters
• 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
• 1 cup chopped nuts, optional, but why would you leave them out?

Mix everything together and bake for 10 minutes on an un-greased cookie sheet.

Here’s the printable Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies Recipe

If you liked this Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies recipe, you might like these too:

Double Chocolate Pomegranate Cookies

Refined Sugar-Free Holiday Cookies

Glazed Apple Fritter Cookie Bites

What’s your favorite cookie to bake for the holidays?