Go Back
+ servings
Southern Style Oatmeal Cranberry Pecan Cookies for Christmas Baking on a holiday cutting board with milk
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Save

Southern Style Oatmeal Cranberry Pecan Cookies Recipe

These Southern-Style Oatmeal Cranberry Pecan Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with festive flavor. Loaded with hearty oats, tart cranberries, buttery pecans, and a hint of coconut, they’re the perfect Christmas cookie for gifting, sharing, or enjoying warm from the oven.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Servings: 60 cookies
Calories: 72kcal
Author: Julia Jordan

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks Butter softened
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 cup Light Brown Sugar packed
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 cups Self-Rising Flour scoop-and-level method for accuracy
  • ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly grated Nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground Cloves
  • 2 cups Old-Fashioned Oats
  • 1 cup dried Cranberries
  • ¼ cup sweetened Coconut Flakes optional but adds a lovely hint of coconut
  • cup Chopped Pecans

Instructions

Preheat the Oven

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Cream the Butter and Sugars

  • In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

Add the Eggs and Vanilla

  • Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  • Stir in the vanilla extract.

Combine the Dry Ingredients

  • In a separate bowl, add the self-rising flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Stir to combine.
  • Remember to measure the flour using the scoop-and-level method for best results.

Mix the Wet and Dry Ingredients

  • Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.

Fold in the Oats and Mix-Ins

  • Add the old-fashioned oats, dried cranberries, coconut flakes (if using), and chopped pecans. Gently fold until evenly incorporated.

Scoop the Dough

  • Using a 1 inch cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion the dough onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie. They do spread while baking.

Bake

  • Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden while the centers remain soft. They will continue to set as they cool.

Cool the Cookies

  • Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve & Enjoy

  • Enjoy these soft, chewy holiday cookies or package them up for gifting — they’re always a hit!

Notes

Please see the full post for more details, including substitutions, serving suggestions, variations to try, and helpful tips for making the best oatmeal cranberry pecan cookies.
Measuring Flour: Be sure to use the scoop-and-level method when measuring your self-rising flour to avoid dense cookies.
Optional Coconut: The sweetened coconut flakes are optional, but they add a lovely hint of flavor and extra chewiness.
Don’t Overbake: Remove cookies when the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft. They’ll finish setting as they cool.
Chilling the Dough: If your dough feels too soft or warm, chill for 20–30 minutes to help the cookies keep their shape.
Toasting Pecans: For deeper flavor, lightly toast the pecans before adding them to the dough.
Subbing Self-Rising Flour: If you don’t have self-rising flour, mix 2 cups all-purpose flour with 3 teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt.
Quality Control: The cook should always enjoy one cookie for quality control… wink!
Holiday Tip: These cookies freeze beautifully—bake a batch ahead and thaw as needed for Christmas gifting or cookie trays.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cookies | Calories: 72kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.3mg