Oatmeal Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Long enough recipe title for you? haha...

Not only is this recipe delicious, but it is also so healthy - pretty much the healthiest way you can eat cookies and still have them taste yummy.  I received this recipe from a friend, customized it to my preferences and LOVE it, so I had to share!  I have already shared this on allrecipes.com and maybe even on my old blog - but it is a favorite, so here it is again...

*This recipe contains no butter or eggs.  Bakes into the consistency of a soft, chewy cookie or granola bar. You can interchange the ingredients to leave out what you don't like and put in what you do. Other combination options of this cookie could be "oatmeal raisin dark chocolate" with walnuts - or add some coconut...use whatever fruit and/or chocolate and/or chopped nut you like!*

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cooke Time: 10 Minutes

Ingredients:
-1c wheat flower
-3/4c old-fashioned rolled oats
-1/2tsp baking powder
-1/3tsp baking soda
-1/2tsp salt
-1/2c raw sugar
-1 tbsp ground flaxseed
-1/3c soy milk
-1/3c vegetable oil (see considerations below for suggestions)
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-1/4c chopped pecans
-1/3c milk chocolate chips
-1/3c cranberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to bake at 350. Use middle rack for baking.
2. Mix first 7 dry ingredients(flower, oats, baking powder/soda, salt, sugar, and ground flax) in mixing bowl. Wisk oil, soy, vanilla in separate bowl. Add the wet to the dry, then fold in the last three ingredients (chocolates, dried fruit, and nuts).
3. Line baking sheet w/parchment paper or foil. The dough will be a bit sticky. Scoop dough with ice cream scoop, spoon, or simply roll into balls with your hands (I recommend this even though your hands will get a bit covered in cookie mixture - it helps with keeping the dough mixture together and forming them into the shape you want). Bake for 10min (you can do more or less based on your oven and cookie softness preference). Let cool before eating. Yummmm!

Considerations:
Consider switching out the fruit, chocolate, and nuts for different flavors and variety - can also be formed into granola bar shapes for healthy snacks for kids or adults (just bake a bit longer so they stay together better)! I choose to use extra virgin olive oil as my baking oil of choice because its light (you cannot taste any olive flavor) and its a super heart healthy oil - give it a try!  And no, your cookies will not taste like olives. ;)

 Enjoy!