Triple Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

This is it.  The last cookie of my Christmas 2011 baking season.  And I thought I'd make it a doozy.  I mean look at that name.  Could you possibly get any more delightfulness into a single cookie?

I didn't think so.

The name alone is a mouthful.  The cookie happens to be quite a mouthful too.  Get ready for some deliciousness.  

Recipe:  (from Sweet Pea's Kitchen)
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped
2 ounces white chocolate, chopped (for drizzling)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and both sugars until smooth, about 3 minutes.

Beat in egg and vanilla until combined, about 30 seconds.

Add flour mixture and oats and stir until blended.  (Diva Note: I was able to use the mixer paddle for all of the flour mixture.  From the oats on, I stirred by hand.)

Stir in all chocolate chips, nuts, and cranberries.

Roll a heaping tablespoon of dough into a 1 1/2 inch ball and place on prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.   Bake cookies, one sheet at a time, until edges are lightly browned, about 14-16 minutes.  (Diva Note: I set the timer for my first tray for 14 minutes and the cookies were burned.  I set the timers for the rest of the trays for 12 minutes, and they were much better.  It could easily just be my idiot oven but start watching them around 12 minutes or so.)

Cool on sheets about 5 minutes; transfer to racks to cool completely.  While cookies are cooling, melt chopped white chocolate in 30 second bursts in microwave until almost melted.  Whisk until smooth.  Drizzle melted chocolate on cooled cookies.

Verdict:
First of all, oatmeal, nuts, and cranberries?  Could anything be healthier?

Except maybe an actual bowl of oatmeal with nuts and cranberries.  And minus the butter, sugar, and three kinds of chocolate.  But what fun would that be?

In all seriousness, these were an interesting and delicious twist on the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie of which I am a huge fan.  The combination of three kinds of chocolate satisfy just about any sweet tooth in existence.  The oatmeal and pecans add some heartiness so these actually feel satisfying for awhile.  And the cranberries add just a touch of zing to offset the incredible sweetness of three different kinds of chocolate.

What sick chocoholic dreamed up this recipe?

A genius chocoholic, that's who.

Merry Christmas to all!