1/4 cup hot water
1 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup canola oil
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups regular oatmeal (not quick-cook)
1 cup dried apricots, chopped
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, pour hot water over cranberries and soak for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, mix canola oil, sugars, and egg together gently. Add cranberries with their water and mix well. Add vanilla. Mix in flour and salt. Add oatmeal and mix well. Finally, stir in apricots, coconut, and pecans.
Use an ice cream scoop (approx. 2″ diameter) or a tablespoon to make balls and drop onto an ungreased metal cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 13-15 minutes, or until edges turn light brown.
Once out of the oven, remove from cookie sheet to a cooling rack.
Note: Honestly, these cookies are best if you let them cool before digging in – this is coming from a girl who is usually willing to burn her tongue to enjoy the ooey goodness of cookies straight out of the oven! These are the only homemade cookies that I completely prefer at room temperature.
Yield: about 3 dozen delicious cookies
Time to make: ~30 minutes
Source: Julie Stimmel (submitted by Angela Hoffman)