Indulge in Wholesome Goodness: The Best Dark Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Are you searching for a cookie that doesn’t just satisfy your sweet tooth but also leaves you feeling genuinely nourished and content? Look no further! We’ve crafted the perfect recipe for a truly exceptional treat: our Dark Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies. These aren’t just any cookies; they’re a delightful symphony of textures and flavors, thoughtfully designed to be both utterly scrumptious and surprisingly filling. Every single bite is a little piece of heaven, packed with a wonderful combination of hearty oats, rich dark chocolate, tangy cranberries, and crunchy pecans. Plus, for those tracking, each cookie comes in at just 3 Smart Points (or 2PP), a truly well-spent indulgence, we promise!
Dark chocolate cranberry pecan oatmeal cookies
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp melted butter
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg
- 1 egg white
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2/3 cup flour
- 1 1/3 cup oats, I use Quaker oats similar to quick oats
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 3 Tbsp chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, I cut mine up into smaller pieces
- 2 squares, 20g Lindt 70% dark chocolate, broken into pieces
Instructions
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Spray a cookie sheet and preheat oven to 350F.
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Using an electric mixer, in a bowl beat together your brown sugar, melted butter and applesauce for 1 minute, add in your egg, egg white and vanilla and continue beating 2 minutes.
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Stir in your flour, oats, baking powder, soda and cinnamon.
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Fold in your pecan pieces, cranberries and chopped dark chocolate (I broke mine up in a small bag using a heavy glass)
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Drop by heaping Tbsp onto cookie sheet, you can press down slightly on cookies if you want, I choose not to.
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Bake in oven for approx 12 minutes, let cool 5 minutes.
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Best stored in sealed container in fridge,
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Makes 20 cookies at 3 smart points each (2PP)
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Nutritional info, per cookie.. Calories 76…Fat 2.3g..Sat fat 0.9g… Carbs 12.2g…Fiber 1g..Sugars 4.8g…Protein 1.8g
Additional Info
Why You’ll Love These Wholesome Oatmeal Cookies
These aren’t your average cookies. They are crafted with a blend of ingredients that not only taste incredible but also contribute to a more satisfying and wholesome treat. The combination of hearty oats, dark chocolate, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans creates a textural wonderland that will keep you coming back for more. Oats provide valuable fiber, keeping you feeling fuller for longer. Dark chocolate offers antioxidants, while pecans deliver healthy fats. The touch of unsweetened applesauce helps reduce the overall fat content without compromising on moisture or flavor, making these cookies a smarter choice for any occasion.
Whether you need a quick breakfast on the go, a satisfying mid-day snack, or a guilt-free dessert after dinner, these cookies fit the bill perfectly. Their robust flavor profile and hearty texture make them a standout, demonstrating that healthy choices can indeed be incredibly delicious.
The Power of Each Ingredient: Flavor & Texture
- Hearty Oats: The foundation of these cookies, oats provide a chewy texture and a boost of fiber, contributing to their satisfying nature. We recommend using quick-cooking Quaker oats or similar for the best results, as they integrate seamlessly into the dough.
- Rich Dark Chocolate: We’ve opted for 70% dark chocolate for its intense flavor and antioxidant benefits. Breaking it into pieces ensures pockets of gooey, melted chocolate in every bite, adding a luxurious depth.
- Tart Dried Cranberries: These vibrant gems add a burst of tangy sweetness and a delightful chewiness that complements the other ingredients beautifully. Cutting them into smaller pieces distributes their flavor more evenly throughout the cookie.
- Crunchy Pecans: Toasted pecans introduce a wonderful nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch, rounding out the complex texture profile of the cookies. They also provide healthy fats, making the cookies even more fulfilling.
- Unsweetened Applesauce: A clever ingredient choice, applesauce replaces a portion of the butter, adding moisture and natural sweetness while keeping the calorie and fat content lower.
Expert Baking Tips for Perfect Oatmeal Cookies
Achieving the perfect oatmeal cookie is all about technique and a little bit of love. Here are some tips to ensure your Dark Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies turn out perfectly every single time:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your egg and egg white are at room temperature. This helps them incorporate more smoothly into the batter, leading to a more consistent dough and a better final texture.
- Don’t Overmix: After adding the dry ingredients (flour, oats, baking powder, soda, cinnamon), mix until just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, resulting in tougher cookies. Gentle stirring is key!
- Chop Your Add-ins: The recipe suggests cutting cranberries into smaller pieces and breaking up the dark chocolate. This ensures that these delicious elements are distributed evenly throughout the dough, guaranteeing a delightful flavor in every bite. Using a heavy glass to crush chocolate squares in a small bag is a smart, mess-free trick.
- Portioning for Consistency: Using a heaping tablespoon to drop the dough onto the cookie sheet will help ensure your cookies are uniform in size. Uniform cookies bake more evenly, preventing some from being overdone while others are undercooked.
- Optional Flattening: While the recipe notes you can slightly press down on the cookies, it’s a matter of preference. Pressing them gently will result in flatter, crispier edges, whereas leaving them rounded will yield thicker, chewier cookies. Experiment to find your favorite!
- Monitor Baking Time: Ovens can vary, so keep a close eye on your cookies around the 12-minute mark. You want the edges to be set and lightly golden, while the centers might still look slightly soft. They will continue to set as they cool.
- Cooling is Crucial: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them firm up and prevents them from breaking apart.
Common Substitutions and Variations
Feel free to get creative with your cookies! This recipe is quite versatile:
- Nuts: Swap pecans for walnuts, almonds, or a mix of your favorite nuts.
- Dried Fruit: Raisins, dried cherries, or even chopped dried apricots can be used in place of cranberries for a different fruity twist.
- Chocolate: While dark chocolate is recommended for its deeper flavor and health benefits, semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips can also be used if preferred. White chocolate chips would also be a delicious addition!
- Spices: A pinch of nutmeg or allspice can add another layer of warmth to these comforting cookies.
Storage & Serving Suggestions
For optimal freshness and to maintain their delightful texture, these cookies are best stored in a sealed container in the fridge. They’ll stay fresh and delicious for several days. When you’re ready to enjoy one, simply pull it out and let it come to room temperature, or warm it slightly in the microwave for a few seconds to bring back that freshly baked feel and melted chocolate goodness. These cookies are fantastic on their own, paired with a cup of coffee or tea, or even as a wholesome addition to a breakfast plate.
Final Thoughts on These Irresistible Cookies
Our Dark Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies truly embody the best of both worlds: a delightful indulgence that also offers wholesome goodness. Their rich flavors, satisfying textures, and thoughtful nutritional profile make them a perfect choice for anyone looking for a smarter, more fulfilling treat. We encourage you to try this recipe and experience the joy of baking and savoring these wonderful cookies yourself. They’re bound to become a new favorite in your home!