These cookies blend the hearty chew of oatmeal (thanks to a mix of steel-cut and old-fashioned oats) with sweet, shredded coconut, tart cranberries, and rich dark chocolate. Coconut oil gives the dough a light, tropical depth without overpowering the other flavors. They bake up with slightly crisp edges and soft, chewy centers. They are easy to scoop and taste great warm or cooled! These cookies have simple ingredients, but with maximum flavor. Perfect for hiding in your pantry with a Dirty Diet Coke to help you get through a Monday.
I love a good oatmeal raisin cookie, but when push comes to shove, when all the cookies in all the world are on the table, I’m going for the chocolate chips first.
Ingredients Needed
- butter
- dark brown sugar
- white sugar
- egg
- egg yolk
- vanilla extract
- almond extract – If you want a stronger coconut flavor, you can substitute the almond extract with coconut extract
- all-purpose flour
- quick-cooking oats
- baking soda
- baking powder
- kosher salt
- dark chocolate chips
- coconut
- dried cranberries
- baking sheet
How to Make Oatmeal Cookies with Dark Chocolate, Cranberries, & Coconut
This is a simple overview of the recipe, you’ll find a full printable recipe below!
- Preheat oven to 325°F; line baking sheets if desired.
- Beat butter and sugars until fluffy; mix in egg, yolk, and extracts.
- Stir together dry ingredients, then add to wet mixture.
- Fold in chocolate, coconut, and cranberries.
- Scoop dough onto baking sheets (about 6 per sheet).
- Bake 12 – 15 minutes until edges are lightly browned.
- Cool briefly on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack.
Storage & Other Tips
- These are best stored at room temperature, to preserve that soft chew. Once the cookies are fully cooled, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 – 5 days.
- To Freeze: flash-freeze the cookies on a sheet, then layer them with parchment paper in a freezer-safe container or bag. They’ll taste great for up to 3 months.
- Freeze and Scoop Ahead: you can make and scoop the dough ahead of time, leaving the cookies unbaked. (So yes, you can have freshly baked cookies at a moments notice!) Scoop the dough onto a baking sheet and freeze on a tray until firm. Then store in a container or bag for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, although you may need to add a few minutes to the baking time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can replace the almond extract with vanilla or coconut extract ot shift the flavor profile to your liking.
Steel-cut oats add a hearty, chewy texture thanks to their rustic cut, while old-fashioned oats provide structure and shape. You can use all of one type, but combining both gives the best balance.
It’s not required in this recipe, but I do fine that allowing the dough to rest (especially with oatmeal cookies), results in a chewier texture. Giving some time to allow the oatmeal to hydrate makes a big difference, but they are still delicious either way!
You can gently mix in a teaspoon or two or additional coconut oil until it’s easier to shape and scoops cleanly.
Oatmeal Cookies with Dark Chocolate, Cranberries, & Coconut
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter 2 sticks
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 egg large
- 1 egg yolk large
- 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract If you want a stronger coconut flavor, you can substitute the ½ teaspoon of almond extract with ½ teaspoon of coconut flavor
- 2 cups all-purpose flour lightly spooned into measuring cups and leveled with a knife (very high altitudes may want to try adding 2 additional tablespoons of flour)
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or ¾ teaspoon table salt
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
- ¾ cups coconut
- ¾ cups cranberries dried
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325℉. If desired, line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Beat the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and almond extracts and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients (except the raisins). Add to the butter/sugar/egg mixture and mix until combined. Add the chocolate chips, coconut, and cranberries
- Using a ¼ cup ice cream scoop, drop the dough by the scoopful onto the prepared baking sheets. You should be able to get about 6 cookies per sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until they begin to turn light brown around the edges. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire cooling rack and cool completely.
Nutrition
Questions & Reviews
I have made a similar cookie, but this recipe varies. With cookies small changes can make a considerable difference. In actuality I don’t think I have paired the dried cranberries with coconut. So that is most interesting. I bake a lot of cookies. I think I need to try this combo out.
Could I bake these as bar cookies? Do you think it would work ok?
Amazingly tempting, on my week-end list of todos & eats 😉 I too use coconut oil or other non dairy since we’ve been testing our toddlers for milk intolerance. But my question is more about the addition of white sugar in addition to brown. I tend to use more/only brown and/or maple syrup. Why do you need white sugar in this recipe? Thanks for the insights and for all the great recipes, ideas and articles.
Your giant oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are incredible! Because of that post, I had to stop at the Old Grist Mill when I happened to be in Logan a few months ago. I don’t always have dark brown sugar on hand but bought some last week so I could make those cookies again, and now you post these… could not have been better timing. Thanks for keeping the goods coming.
You mentioned my kryptonite – dark chocolate. These look like heaven in cookie form. Pinning!
Yum! Must have. I love your posts…too funny :).
Those look great! I actually love your favorite chocolate chip oatmeal cookie recipe also! So does my family! I have started making them with coconut oil, in an attempt to be healthier, and have found that people rave about them! They feel like they are indulging, yet getting their healthy on as well! It’s a win! Thanks for the recipe!!! 🙂
These look so good.
Can I use regular oatmeal inlieu of quick cooking?
I will be adding dried tart cherries from MI.,instead of dried cranberries.
Can’t wait to try, so please let me know about the oatmeal. I use Trader Joe’s Oven Toasted Organic Old Fashioned oatmeal.
Thanks.
Sunny
I always use good old fashioned oats because I like the texture better. Instead of the chocolate chip looking cookie, your cookie will look more textured. I don’t know if that makes sense. But this cookie baker says go ahead, swap your oats, they just will be more textured than Kate’s cookies. 🙂
These look divine. For a more pronounced coconut flavor I would sub some of the butter for coconut oil, which works really well in baked goods and flavors them beautifully. My kids get pretty ticked off when I make cookies that don’t have chocolate chips in them. You’d think I work for them or something! Oh wait, I do… 😉
So I make trail mix with craisins coconut chocolate chips and almonds and I love it. These cookies sound amazing!