Oatmeal Cranberry-Orange Cookies for the FB Cookie Swap

This is my 3rd year participating in the Great Annual Food Blogger Cookie Swap! I love that the organizers make it super simple for people all over the country send cookies to each other, plus it's a surprise what cookies you end up getting! That makes it even better. I always love tasting other food bloggers treats after just reading about them all the time!

I wanted to make oatmeal cookies, but add some ZING to them. I remember buying these orange flavored dried cranberries from Trader Joe's a while back, so I was pumped when they were still selling them. I think cranberry orange is a flavor that people either like or don't like, but I really like!

 

Every time I make cookies for this cookie swap, the first batch doesn't look as pretty, so I'm glad that I have to make like 3 batches so I can give my best looking cookies to my 3 matches :) 

I also experimented with weighing flour for one batch and measuring by scooping flour for another batch. I think the scooping flour batch turned out better, which is the opposite of what people normally say! I just need to figure out how to convert recipes that only list cups as measurements.

I received some delicious and cutely packaged cookies from Susannah, Cherie, and Anne. Thanks ladies!! They were mighty tasty.

I am just so glad to be able to participate again this year. It was the only cookie exchange I did this year, so it was extra special.

Oatmeal Cranberry-Orange Cookies

2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
8 ounces butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbls honey
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cup orange flavored cranberries, dried (I got mine at Trader Joes, or you could soak Craisins in orange juice as well)
1/2 cup pecans, chopped and toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast chopped pecans on a baking sheet for 5 minutes. Let cool.
In a medium bowl, mix dry ingredients together: oats, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time. Add honey and vanilla. Pour dry ingredients into wet and mix just until ingredients are incorporated. With a spatula, stir in dried cranberries and pecans. Use a cookie scoop to put onto lined baking sheet. Bake 9-11 minutes or until they no longer look wet. Let cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Almost Christmas!

Where does the time go?!?! I finished Christmas shopping today. I always wait until the last minute because then I'm under pressure to buy stuff. Otherwise, I'm so indecisive about what to get everyone! So last minute shopping is okay with me. 

When I was at Marshall's (my favorite store everrrrr) I saw this awesome parody cookbook. I didn't read 50 Shades of Gray, but this would probably be a much better read in my opinion! The pictures inside were pretty funny. 

The girls in my book club had a cookie exchange last weekend. I was so excited, I've never done one! I made simple Biscoff and Pretzel Rice Crispies. All the other cookies were so good, and it was fun to exchange them (and eat them all the next day).

I saw that there's something called the Great Cookie Swap, or something like that, and you mail your cookies to 3 other food bloggers anywhere in the U.S. How cool is that?? I think I want to do it next year. I'll have to start thinking of what to make!

We went to the Chicago Brauhaus in our neighborhood a few weeks ago, and this restaurant is SO awesome. Look at that huge boot of beer! There are so many legit older folks that love to polka dance, slow dance, and other dances I don't even know how to do. It was so much fun!

During lunch one day at work, I walked over to try the new waffle sandwich restaurant, Bel 50. It was pretty crazy in there, and I had to wait an hour for my food (to go!). Plus they were out of the sandwich I ordered! But the manager gave me a free sandwich coupon for next time, so I'll go back once they've gotten up to speed. This was a S'mores waffle, which was really good. Although, I could make this at home if I wanted. Still tasty though!

I get to see my family tomorrow! I'm so excited to take a break and just visit with family and friends all week.