Chocolate-Pecan Oatmeal Cookies with Cherries

Chocolate Pecan Oatmeal Cookies with Dried Cherries

These chocolate-pecan-oatmeal cookies with cherries are AWESOME! It’s fair to say they are my hubby’s favorites, although my Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies are pretty high on his list, too. So what makes these cookies so amazing?

First, they are crispy on the outside while remaining chewy on the inside.  And second, they are stuffed full of crunchy pecans, tart dried cherries and rich, creamy milk chocolate.  Swoon!  Truly, these cookies have the perfect combo of flavors and textures, and they are worth every calorie!  Additionally, they freeze beautifully so you can savor them for weeks to come.

It’s hard to say which is more delicious – spoonfuls of the sweet, chunky dough or the baked cookies.  Of course, I would never tell you to eat cookie dough.  Wink wink.  Depending on how much dough you do or don’t eat, this recipe yields around 3 dozen cookies.

Seriously, though, this is some delicious-looking cookie dough, right?

dough for chocolate-pecan oatmeal cookies with dried cherries

You def want to Pin these fabulous Chocolate-Pecan Oatmeal Cookies with Cherries!

Chocolate Pecan Oatmeal Cookies with Cherries | Oatmeal Cookies | Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here’s What You Need to Make Chocolate-Pecan Oatmeal Cookies:

  • ¼ cup shortening
  • ¼ cup butter, room temp
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 ¾ cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 cups rolled oats (Old Fashioned, NOT Quick Cook)
  • 1 cup dried cherries, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped
  • 1 cup Ghiradelli or Guittard Milk Chocolate chips

Here’s What to Do:

Preheat oven to 400.  Cream shortening, butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Then beat in eggs and vanilla.  In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, soda, and salt, and add flour mixture to creamed mixture until just combined.  When flour and butter mixtures are just barely combined, add oats, cherries, nuts and chocolate chips and stir to combine (don’t overbeat).  Using a #50 (1.25 Tbsp.) or #60 (a generous Tbsp.) disher (or two spoons), portion dough onto silpat or parchment lined cookie sheets.

chocolate-pecan oatmeal cookies with dried cherries, dough portioned onto baking sheet

This is a slightly stiff dough, and the large amount of add-ins prevent the dough from properly spreading while baking.  To help the cookies spread enough, gently flatten each dough ball to a disk about 1/2″ high (see picture below).

flattened balls of dough for chocolate-pecan oatmeal cookies with cherries

Bake for 8 minutes, rotating sheet front to back halfway through, or until cookies are lightly browned.  Cool on sheets a minute or two and remove to wire racks to cool completely.  Makes about 3 dozen, depending on how much dough you eat. : )

Enjoy!

Looking for other simple drop cookies your family will love? Try these:

Chocolate-Pecan Oatmeal Cookies with Cherries

Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and chock full of crunchy pecans, tart dried cherries and rich milk chocolate.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Chocolate Chip Cookies, Drop Cookies, Oatmeal Cookies
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Servings 3 dozen
Author Elizabeth at thewildolive.org

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup shortening
  • ¼ cup butter, room temp
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 ¾ cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 cups rolled Old Fashioned oats, not Quick
  • 1 cup dried cherries, coarsly chopped
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped
  • 1 cup Ghiradelli or Guittard Milk Chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400.  Cream shortening, butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Whisk together flour, soda, and salt and add to creamed mixture until just combined.  Add oats, cherries, nuts and chocolate chips and stir to combine (don’t overbeat). 
  • Using a #40 disher (or two spoons) portion dough onto silpat or parchment lined cookie sheets. Flatten dough balls into 3/4″ thick disks.
  • Bake for 8 minutes, rotating sheet front to back halfway through, or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool on sheets a minute or two and remove to wire racks to cool completely.

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