You’ll keep your hand into the cookie jar for this one. These Amish Friendship Bread Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies, submitted by Kitchen Friend Wai Chan, are an edible delight for kids and adults alike. The secret ingredient? Molasses.
Molasses contributes to the soft chewiness of this cookie, and most people would never guess there’s 2 cups of oatmeal in this recipe, too! There result is a mellow, pleasing flavor that highlights the slightly tart cranberries with the sweetness of the chocolate chips.
Making cookies is one of the best ways to use up your starter, and the best part if you usually end up with a lot (in this case, 40), which make them perfect for sharing and gift giving. The chocolate chips are the hidden gem here, and pair perfectly with the slightly tart dried cranberries.
Amish Friendship Bread Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup Amish Friendship Bread starter
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups oatmeal
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 3 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup chopped walnuts optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F (190° C).
- In a medium mixing bowl, use a wooden spoon to mix together the starter, eggs, molasses and vanilla.
- In a large mixing bowl, use a hand-held mixer to cream the butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Add in the ingredients of the medium mixing bowl and mix well.
- Combine the flour, salt, oatmeal, nutmeg and cinnamon and add to the cookie batter. Mix thoroughly.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the batter and mix until just combined.
- Drop generous tablespoons of the cookie dough onto a lined cookie sheet. Press the tops of the dough to flatten slightly.
- Bake in the middle rack at for 10-13 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
>> Have you tried this? Share your best pic with us or leave a comment below and let us know how it worked for you!
Is there something you can substitute for the molasses?
Hi Nancy! We haven’t tried a substitute for molasses in this recipe, but here’s a post that has some options for you: https://food52.com/blog/24815-best-molasses-substitutes
Happy baking!
Do you know the carb count?
do you use instant, quick, or regular oatmeal ?
OMG these are almost too good, I accidently started the Herman sour dough and did not realize it is the same as Amish friendship dough. I wanted the slightly sweet sour dough I had growing up –potato flake. Any way I did not know what to do with this sour dough did not want to throw it out. I have made my first batch with craisins. Plan in trying with white chocolate (I have yogurt morsels) and craisins next. Thank You so much!!!
I’m excited to try these with raisins and craisins. I love a cakey cookie!
This one is definitely on my Friendship Bread Recipe bucket list-hopefully sooner rather than later!! My work peeps will be thrilled.
I’ve been wanting to make some oatmeal craisin cookies and these sound good. I appreciate the feedback from those who’ve made them.
Do you happen to have the starter recipe? Thanks in advance, Linda
Hi Linda,
We have several, in fact! Just click on the “Recipe Box” tab and you’ll be directed to a list of all breads and starters. Have fun!
Just made these and they are GREAT!! More of a cake like cookie (which is nice) which is sweet but not so sweet that you can’t taste the spices and flavor of the cookie. A+ in my book!! I WILL make these again!
Spokane WA
I can not remember what the ingredients were, but I do remember my older sisters and their starter bags. They would leave them on tee counter for days to forment and I always thought how awful that smell was, but soon learned the delight in the end result.. Greatest bread ever and greatest memories. If by chance I win I promise to share 🙂