CRANBERRY-ORANGE CRISPY OATMEAL COOKIES

Cranberry-Orange Crispy Oatmeal Cookies image

Provided by Diane Atherton

Categories Cookies

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 17

1/2 c butter, room temperature
1/2 c shortening, butter flavor
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large eggs
2 c all purpose flour
1 c oats, regular (uncooked)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp orange juice, fresh
1 c toasted rice cereal, i used rice krispies
1 c coconut, flaked sweetened
1 c dried cranberries, i used craisins (you can use raisins or dried cherries)
1 c walnuts, chopped
1/2 c chocolate chips, i used mini chips
zest of one orange (about 1/2 tbsp)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. At a medium speed, mix butter and shortening until fluffy; add both sugars and mix well. Add eggs beating well after each.
3. Combine flour, oats, salt, baking powder and baking soda; gradually flour mixture add to sugar mixture. Scrap down bowl as needed. Add orange juice; mix well.
4. Combine rice cereal, coconut, cranberries, walnuts, chocolate chips and orange zest; gently mix to combine. Hand stir into batter.
5. Drop by tablespoon onto baking sheet; bake for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly golden. Remove to wire racks to cool.
6. NOTE: when zesting the orange peel be sure to only zest the orange part, not any of the white.