Maple Glazed Oatmeal Walnut Cranberry Cookies
Classic chewy oat cookies packed with toasted walnuts and tart cranberries, finished with a sweet maple glaze. The combination of brown sugar and maple syrup creates rich, caramel notes while old-fashioned oats provide hearty texture. Perfect for fall gatherings, lunchboxes, or afternoon coffee breaks. The maple glaze sets this version apart from standard oatmeal cookies, adding an elegant finish that complements the nuts and dried fruit beautifully.
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups dried cranberries
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 pinch salt
- maple flavoring(optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper
- 2
Beat butter, maple syrup, and both sugars with electric mixer
- 3
Add eggs and beat on medium until just combined
- 4
Stir in baking soda and salt, scraping bowl sides well
- 5
Stir flour in by hand
- 6
Stir in oats, cranberries, and nuts
- 7
Shape dough into balls slightly larger than golf balls
- 8
Arrange on parchment lined sheets spacing 2 1/2 inches apart
- 9
Bake on center rack for 10-15 minutes until brown around edges
- 10
Cool on wire rack
- 11
Whisk glaze ingredients together and drizzle over cooled cookies
Tips
Chill dough before baking for thicker cookies that hold their shape better
Toast nuts yourself for maximum flavor - spread on baking sheet and bake at 350F for 5-8 minutes
Let glaze set completely before storing to prevent sticking
Good to Know
Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week
Dough can be chilled up to 2 days or frozen up to 3 months
Serve at room temperature with coffee, tea, or milk
Common Mistakes
Don't overbake to avoid hard cookies
Scrape bowl sides well to ensure even mixing
Let cookies cool completely before glazing to prevent melting
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
Vegan Options
Nut-Free Alternatives
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I make these without the glaze?
Yes, these cookies are delicious plain. The maple syrup in the dough provides plenty of sweetness and flavor on its own.
What if I don't have old fashioned oats?
Quick oats work but will create a different texture - less chewy and more tender. Avoid instant oats as they'll break down too much.
How long do these keep?
Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to one week, or freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months.