Easy Christmas Cookies (Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry)

Hi, I’m Hannah! The holiday season arrives with a beautiful flurry of activity—parties, gift-wrapping, and the cozy tradition of baking. I absolutely love filling my home with the scent of fresh-baked cookies, but I don’t always have the time for recipes that require chilling, rolling, and intricate decorating. I needed a go-to, one-bowl wonder that I could whip up on a whim. These Easy Christmas Cookies are my delicious answer. They are hearty, chewy, packed with festive flavors, and prove that the best ‘good habit’ during the holidays is finding simple ways to share joy without adding stress.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Truly Easy: This is a one-bowl, no-chill, drop cookie recipe. You just mix, scoop, and bake. It’s practically foolproof!
• Festive & Delicious: The chewy oats, tart cranberries, sweet white chocolate, and warm cinnamon create a perfect holiday flavor combination.
• Wholesome Ingredients: Made with hearty rolled oats and whole wheat flour, and naturally sweetened with coconut sugar, this is a cookie you can feel good about.
• Perfectly Chewy Texture: If you love a cookie with a soft, chewy center and slightly crisp edges, this recipe is for you.

The Wholesome Ingredients You’ll Need These Easy Christmas Cookies

We’re using simple, pantry-friendly ingredients to create a cookie that’s both indulgent and nourishing.

• Oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats are the star here, providing a wonderful chewy texture and a boost of heart-healthy fiber.
• Flour: I love using white whole wheat flour for an extra dose of nutrients, but all-purpose flour works perfectly too.
• Coconut Sugar: We use coconut sugar for its rich, caramel-like flavor and because it’s a less-refined alternative to brown sugar.
• Butter or Coconut Oil: Use softened, good-quality butter for that classic cookie flavor, or softened coconut oil for a dairy-free option.
• Egg: This acts as the binder, holding everything together.
• Cinnamon: A teaspoon of this warm spice is essential for that cozy, holiday aroma.
• Dried Cranberries: These provide a tart, chewy, festive pop of red. Look for unsweetened or juice-sweetened cranberries if you can find them.
• White Chocolate Chips: The sweet, creamy white chocolate is the perfect counterpoint to the tart cranberries.

How to Make These Easy Christmas Cookies (Step-by-Step)

This is a classic drop cookie method—so simple and satisfying! The full, detailed recipe is in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

1. Cream the Fats and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter (or coconut oil) with the coconut sugar until it’s light and fluffy. This step incorporates air, which is key to a great cookie texture.
2. Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
3. Mix in the Dry: Add the flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low speed until the dough just comes together. Don’t overmix!
4. Fold in the Goodies: Gently fold in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips with a spatula.
5. Scoop and Bake: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto a prepared baking sheet. Bake until the edges are golden brown and the centers look just set. Let them cool on the pan for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack.

Tips for Success: The “Good Habit” Way

• The Room Temperature Habit: Using a room temperature egg and softened (not melted) butter is a small habit that makes a big difference. It helps the ingredients emulsify properly, leading to a more uniform dough and better texture.
• Don’t Overmix the Flour: Once you add the dry ingredients, mix only until you no longer see streaks of flour. Overmixing develops the gluten too much, which can lead to tough cookies. We’re aiming for tender and chewy!
• Use a Cookie Scoop: For perfectly uniform, evenly baked cookies every time, use a medium cookie scoop. This isn’t just for looks; it ensures every cookie bakes at the same rate.
• Trust the Golden Edges: The cookies are done when the edges are set and golden brown. The centers might look a little soft or underdone when you pull them from the oven, but they will continue to bake and set up on the hot pan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What makes these Easy Christmas Cookies healthy?
  While still a treat, this recipe is healthier because it uses whole grains from oats and whole wheat flour for more fiber, and unrefined coconut sugar. You have full control over the quality of your ingredients.
• Can I make these gluten-free?
  Yes! For a gluten-free version, use certified gluten-free rolled oats and substitute the whole wheat flour with a good quality 1-to-1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
• How do I store these cookies?
  Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For extra freshness, you can place a slice of bread in the container to help keep them soft.
• Can I freeze the cookie dough?
  Absolutely. This is a great time-saving tip for the holidays. Scoop the dough balls onto a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag. You can bake them straight from frozen; just add 2-3 minutes to the baking time.

More Healthy Holiday Recipes

• The Best Healthy Apple Crumble (Naturally Sweetened)
• Easy Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds with Herbs and Feta

Build Your Healthiest Habit

End the “what’s for dinner?” stress. Get my free guide with 5 Healthy Dinners in Under 30 Minutes, plus simple weekly recipes to help you feel good, consistently.

Get My Free Guide!

Easy Christmas Cookies (Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry) Recipe

These are the most delicious and Easy Christmas Cookies you'll make this year! These healthy oatmeal cranberry white chocolate chip cookies are perfectly chewy, festive, and made in just one bowl.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Equipment

• Large Baking Sheets
• Electric Mixer or Stand Mixer
• Large Mixing Bowl
• Cookie Scoop (optional, but recommended)

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened (or coconut oil for dairy-free)
• 3/4 cup coconut sugar or packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup white whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

 

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl using an electric mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the softened butter and coconut sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
• Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the flour, rolled oats, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt to the bowl. Mix on low speed until the dough just comes together and no flour streaks remain. Do not overmix.
• Fold in Add-Ins: Using a spatula, fold in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed.
• Scoop and Bake: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough (a medium cookie scoop works perfectly) about 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake: Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set.
• Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.