cranberry pistachio oatmeal cookies plated

Festive & Fit Cranberry Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies

In Desserts & Drinks, Snacks by sarawalkenbach4 Comments

Looking for a feel good cookie? One that won’t make you sugar crash shortly after eating it? There is no white sugar in these little gems. Soft, sweet, tart, and nutty. These Cranberry Pistachio Oatmeal cookies are the perfect healthy holiday treat.

This recipe is a spin off my husband’s grandmother’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Grandma Van always had these deliciously soft and full of flavor cookies on hand when we would stop by for a visit. Oats, raisins, and walnuts just taste like Maryville, Missouri.

Cookie Ingredients

Cranberry Pistachio Oatmeal Cookie Ingredients
Make these healthy cookies with less butter, coconut sugar, Greek yogurt, and almond flour.

Need a little more chocolate in your life, try these healthy Fudgy Brownie Bites.

Oats & Almond Flour

Oats are a whole grain and an excellent way to get in your fiber and carbs. A few other worthy notes about oats according to Hrefna Palsdottir’s article on Healthline.com, 9 Health Benefits of Eating Oats and Oatmeal:

  • Oats are rich with Magnesium
  • Contains powerful Antioxidants
  • High in soluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol

Almond flour is also high in magnesium, which helps control blood sugar levels. Although almond flour is higher in fat and calories, the health benefits out weigh it. According to WebMD:

Almond flour is rich in monounsaturated fat, which can help keep cholesterol under control. Reducing cholesterol significantly lowers the risk of heart disease.

Health Benefits of Almond Flour, WebMD

Almond flour is also full of Vitamin E, which is great for cognitive health and reducing the risk of Alzheimer Disease.

cranberry pistachio oatmeal cookies on a plate with fresh cranberries for garnish
Healthy, soft, and full of flavor, you’ll want to make these Cranberry Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies all year round.

If you like these festive cookies, you’ll love Creamy Pumpkin Pie Bars.

Coconut Sugar

What is coconut sugar, anyway? It is derived from the sap of the coconut palm flower. The flower is cut and the sap is collected. Sap is heated until the liquid has evaporated and all that’s left are the granules we called coconut sugar.

Coconut sugar is slightly better than white sugar, since it is less processed. However, it is still a form of sugar and should be consumed in moderation.

Eggs, Butter, Greek Yogurt

Eggs add a bit of protein and serve as the “glue” that holds cookies together. They add a level of richness, as well.

Most cookie recipes call for copious amounts of butter. Don’t get me wrong, I love butter. REAL BUTTER. But these are healthier cookies, so they have half the amount of butter than most cookies. I promise you, they are still just as tasty.

To keep that rich taste without sacrificing the healthiness of the cookies, we add in Greek yogurt.

Mix Ins

This is the fun part. Pick out your favorite morsels to create your cookie. I’ve tried this recipe several ways, and settled on the first option below as my favorite with dried Cranberries. No matter which bits you pick, always choose Orange Zest to go with. Cranberries and Orange go together like Doc and Marty.

Swap out any of these combinations in this Cranberry Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies recipe.

  • Pistachios, and Chia Seeds
  • Pecans and Mini Chocolate Chips
  • Almonds and Hemp Seeds
  • Walnuts and White Chocolate Chips
cranberry pistachio cookies with a bite taken out
The flavor in these cookies will warm your soul. Orange, ginger, and cinnamon are the perfect combo with cranberries and pistachios.

Spices

Anyone see that Everyone Loves Raymond episode where Raymond’s mom, Marie, gives Raymond’s wife, Debra, his favorite cookie recipe? Debra can’t seem to make the recipe as good as his mother. In the end, we find out that the recipe Marie gives Debra leaves out the secret ingredient: Ginger.

Ginger really does take this cookie to another level. The other 2 spices in these fit and festive cookies are Cinnamon and Vanilla. This is a beautiful combo mixed with orange zest.

How to Make

When baking with dried fruit, like raisins of cranberries, it’s best to soak them in water before to plump them up. This keeps your baked goods moist. I learned this while working in a bakery many moons ago. I was pleasantly surprised to see Grandma Van’s recipe suggest the same.

1.) To start, in a small sauce pan bring 1 cup of dried cranberries with 1 cup water to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, drain cranberry water, reserving 1/2 cup of the water for the recipe. Place hot reserved liquid in refrigerator to cool down.

2.) Measure out dry ingredients, whisk and set aside. Using a stand mixer (or handheld), cream together coconut sugar and butter until fluffy. Add in eggs, Greek yogurt, vanilla, orange zest, and cooled cranberry water. Mix until incorporated.

3.) Mix in dry ingredients until just incorporated, then add in mix ins. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. They will be lightly golden brown.

Substitute Options

Butter

You can sub coconut oil for the butter. Avocado oil will also work. If you would like that buttery taste, in a plant based option, go for Earth Balance.

Flour

Besides the oats and almond flour, there is 1 cup of flour in this recipe. Gluten free flour works amazing in these cookies. Go for the 1 to 1 baking flour. I like Bob’ Red Mill. Whole wheat flour can also be used.

Pistachios & Chia Seeds

As mentioned above, pick your favorite bits for these cookies. There are several options. Chocolate chips and pecans are my second favorite in these Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies. Here are a few other options:

  • White Chocolate Chips
  • Walnuts
  • Pecans
  • Mini Chocolate Chips
  • Almonds
  • Hemp Seeds
  • Flax Seeds
  • Macadamia Nuts
  • Pumpkin Seeds
cranberry pistachio oatmeal cookies plated
Full of flavor Cranberry Pistachio Oatmeal cookies are a healthier cookie option.

How to Store

Store these cookies in an air tight container on the counter for up to 4 days. Freeze in a zip top bag for up to 3 months. To thaw, leave on counter until room temperature, or defrost in microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

More Healthy Cookie Recipes

If you like these Cranberry Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies, you’ll love these…

Pumpkin Cookies

Apple Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies

Healthy & Hearty Banana Cookies

thyme branch

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cranberry pistachio oatmeal cookies plated

Fresh & Fit Cranberry Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies

These soft and delicious cookies will warm you up with their spices. Orange, ginger, and cinnamon are the perfect combination with cranberries, pistachios, and chia seeds.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 72 cookies
Calories 51 kcal

Equipment

  • Cookie Scoop optional

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups Old Fashion Oats
  • 1 cup Almond Flour
  • 1 cup Flour whole wheat or gluten free
  • 3/4 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
  • 2 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Ginger

Ingredients to Cream Together

  • 1/4 cup Butter room temp, or coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt room temp
  • 1-1/4 cup Coconut Sugar
  • 2 Eggs large
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract pure
  • Orange Zest from 2 naval Oranges

Mix-Ins

  • 1 cup Dried Cranberries simmered in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes, reserve water
  • 1/2 cup reserved Cranberry water
  • 1 cup Pistachios chopped
  • 1/4 cup Chia Seeds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. In a small sauce pan, bring 1 cup of water and the dried cranberries to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Drain cranberries, reserving 1/2 cup of cranberry water. Let cool.
  • Whisk together dry ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside.
  • With a mixer, cream together butter and coconut sugar. Once incorporated, add in eggs and Greek yogurt. Next, mix in vanilla, orange zest, and 1/2 cup reserved cranberry water.
  • Add in dry ingredients. Mix until just incorporated. Mix in cranberries, pistachios, and chia seeds.
  • Using a small cookie scoop or tablespoons, scoop out cookie dough onto sprayed baking sheet. These cookies don't spread much. Place them and inch or two apart. Bake for 8 minutes until lightly golden brown. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Store cookies in air tight container on counter top for up to 5 days.
Swap out the mix ins with your favorites.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 51kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 48mgPotassium: 34mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 34IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword cookies without white sugar, cranberry pistachio, healthy cookies, no refined sugar, soft cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Comments

  1. Wow!! Another amazing recipe, as always! Everyone here loved them. Any tips on freezing and reheating?

    1. Author

      Thanks Kennedy! So glad everyone loved them. These freeze great! I put them in a zip top bag. For reheating, I would put them on a glass plate, and defrost in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute.

5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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