White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies

Back in 1936, Dale Carnegie wrote a book that helped spark the Self Improvement genre of books. Over 80 years later, How to Win Friends and Influence People is still in print, still gracing the shelves of bookstores everywhere. While Carnegie has some of valid points in his 300 page book, I think he’s missing the most important point of all. Sure eye contact, remembering people’s names, and words on encouragement work great, but you really want to make friends? Then you only need to remember 2 words. Just two simple words will get you in with just about anyone. Two tiny words that can persuade most people into seeing things your way. Those two words? Baked Goods. That, my friends, is how it’s really done.


Most of what I bake ends up coming to work with me to share with my coworkers. And to me, it seems like they appreciate it. They descend on the break room like a pack of wild dogs whenever I bring something in. They follow me upstairs like a parade if they see me carrying anything. Word travels through the store like fire and suddenly it’s a feeding frenzy. They just can’t get enough! By the end of the night (and likely even by my lunch break) the container’s empty and everyone stops me to tell me they enjoyed them. *Warm fuzzy feeling*

These White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies? No exception. In fact, these were probably the biggest hit of all! After baking up some yummy Peanut Butter Cookies, I realized there was one classic cookie I hadn’t tried making yet. Oatmeal Raisin! The only problem--I despise raisins. Hmm. How about chocolate chips instead? Ooh I know! White chocolate chips! Yeah! With cherries! Ooh that sounds perfect! I’m a genius!! *pats herself on the back* But the more I thought about it, the more familiar it sounded... And then I realized why. I’m not the genius. Joy the Baker is. I’d seen them on her site about a year ago, and filed the idea away, letting it roll around in my tiny little brain, waiting for the right moment to escape. So I can’t take the credit for these. Joy deserves it all. She turned me into a rockstar for a day with these. Thanks Joy!


If you like Oatmeal Raisin cookies, you've got to try these. I got so many compliments, and even a hug! One of the girls even said those cookies were better than the last four kisses she’d gotten, and wanted to date me for my baked goods! Sorry, Lisa. I’m already taken, and if I’m not completely mistaken, I think both you and I are more partial to boys anyway... But I’ll still bake you cookies!

The moral of the story? You can be as nice and engaging as you possibly can to win over people, or you could just bake them some cookies and go on being a meanie. They’ll like you either way.

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White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
Adapted from Joy the Baker and Quaker Oats
Makes 3 dozen



1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups old fashioned oats
½ cup to 1 cup dried cherries
1 cup white chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or baking mats; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
3. In bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
4. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in two additions, beating until just combined. Add in oats, cherries, and chocolate chips, mixing until just moistened.
5. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons on prepared cookie sheets. Bake, rotating halfway through, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.