Cookie Swap {Formerly known as Butter Bonanza}

Swapping cookies? Nope! Swapping ingredients? Yes!

In my previous life as a milk-aholic this would be the perfect season for fresh baked Christmas cookies, rich with butter, and washed down with a cold glass of milk. I'd cozy up to watch the snow fly, put on some Christmas tunes, grab a stack of snickerdoodles, cut-outs, peanut butter blossoms, chewy gingerbread, my tall glass of milk (or hot cocoa, or egg nog or... sigh, I really have a problem) and settle in for a long winter's nap.

I guess if it's currently pushing 50 degrees in Ohio in December, and no snow in sight, there's room for adaptation in other areas as well. At least I have my Christmas music!

So I found this recipe on Pinterest (Surprised! No, I'm sure you're not) and it sounded delicious! So I fired up the oven.

CRANBERRY ORANGE OATMEAL COOKIES
from http://trickschefs.com/showthread.php?tid=1056

Makes 4 Dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened (I used 1/2 cup coconut oil + 1/2 cup Earth Balance)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tbs grated orange zest (I used the zest of 1 whole orange)
• 1 tsp orange extract (I used orange juice)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• (1/2 tsp salt, I added because I always put salt in my cookies)
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup dried cranberries

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
In a large bowl, cream the butter (oil/Earth Balance), brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla, zest, and orange extract (juice). Combine the flour, baking soda and cinnamon; stir into the butter mixture. Stir in the oats and cranberries.
Drop by rounded tablespoon onto an un-greased cookie sheet.
Bake 10-12 minutes (13 worked well for me), or until golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool for 1 minute before moving to a cooling rack.

Wow, these were OUTSTANDING! Chewy and crispy, sweet with a hint of orange. I sent a batch in with Hubby to work and they were DEVOURED! Definitely on the Christmas Cookie Swap list for years to come! As an added bonus I recently picked up some SoDelicious brand Coconut "Nog" and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! So today I can settle in with a cold glass of "Nog" a stack of Christmas cookies, and hope for a White Christmas!

Happy Holidays to ALL!

Peace,
Laura