This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
It’s April Fools Day! Do any of you “celebrate” it? Have you gotten tricked already?
Let’s share some funny stories about April Fools Day – I’ll start and you can share with me some of yours in the comments below, how about that? :)
- In 2011, I went into my old (meaning previous) manager’s office while he stepped out to get lunch and taped the bottom of his mouse with a mini post-it. It’s one of those laser type mice so if the laser doesn’t have a surface to beam on, it doesn’t work. Anyway, he comes back to his office and I was in one of my coworker’s office, 3 doors down, and you could hear him slamming the mouse on the table, I’m pretty sure trying to get the mouse to move or react to his motions. I couldn’t help it so I went into his office with a big smirk and was like, “hey! whatcha doing?” and he goes “I don’t know why my mouse doesn’t work.” I was like, what do you mean? Was it working earlier? And he said, “yeah, I went to grab lunch and now it won’t work. I tried unplugging it and blowing into the USB cord like those Nintendo games (omg you guys – please tell me you did that with those Nintendo game cartridges when they didn’t work). It barely moves! I might have to call the HelpDesk to get another one or something” Hahahaha at this point I couldn’t hold it in any longer and I was like “flip it over” and he flipped it over and on the bottom where the post-it was covering his laser, it said, “April Fools :) from Julie” – yeah, I pretty much rule. Good thing he has a good sense of humor. Also, I don’t recommend doing this to your boss unless you know he/she would be cool with it, lol – I’m NOT responsible for any job firings. You could do it to your coworkers though ;)
- In 2008, I totally fell for one of Google’s April Fools hoaxes. I fell for the one that was like you could timestamp any email to whatever time you wanted so it would seem that you’d never be late in responding again. LOL
Now I’m excited to read some of yours!! Please share below!
Anyway, what isn’t a joke are these cookies. They’re originally supposed to be oatmeal raisin cookies but I’m really not a fan of raisins. I don’t know why, I LOVE grapes but I just can’t do raisins so I swapped out the raisins for cranberries. This isn’t an ordinary oatmeal raisin cookie though – this one is actually one to remember. Not all oatmeal raisin cookies are memorable. Most are pretty forgettable and taste “ok,” or “yeah, this isn’t bad.” I haven’t ever had a oatmeal raisin cookie that I seriously raved about and wanted more day after day. This oatmeal raisin/cranberry cookie is one of those cookies I want to make over and over again and it’s quite special. There’s something about it that’s addicting. The texture: crunchy edges but SUPER chewy center. I LOVE a good chewy cookie and this one is exceptional. I believe you should toss out your other oatmeal raisin cookie recipes and give this one a try :) I guarantee it’s a keeper! No joke ;)
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (125 g) plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 11 tablespoons (154 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup (165 g) dark brown sugar
- 5 ½ tablespoons (66 g) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla bean paste
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups (162 g) old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup (121 g) dried cranberries
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.1 cup (125 g) plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla bean paste and vanilla extract and blend until incorporated. Gently add each egg and beat until well blended.11 tablespoons (154 g) unsalted butter, 3/4 cup (165 g) dark brown sugar, 5 1/2 tablespoons (66 g) granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla bean paste, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Slowly add in the flour mixture and mix until all combined and well-incorporated.
- With the mixer on low speed, stir in the oats and dried cranberries and mix until evenly distributed. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.2 cups (162 g) old-fashioned oats, 1 cup (121 g) dried cranberries
- Preheat oven to 325 °F (163 °C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. Then using a large cookie dough scoop, drop the dough in rounds on to the baking sheet, about 2-3 inches apart.
- Bake for 17-18 minutes, or until cookies look just set and the edges are starting to brown. Try not to overbake them – they continue baking a little after you’ve removed them from the oven. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Ha! I am sucker for a good ol’ oatmeal cookie! When I was little I would switch out the sugar for the salt. My father did like it one bit when he was trying to enjoy his hot cup of joe!
I found your recipe on Pinterest!! It sounds delicious! I’ve made oatmeal cookies with raisins and cranberries before, but never thought to use just cranberries. (DOH) Oh…and I always add chocolate chips to the oatmeal cookies. Every time I ask hubby if he wants oatmeal raisin or oatmeal chocolate chips he just responds with “yes please”! I have one question. I have never seen (nor looked for) vanilla bean paste. Is is necessary? Would doubling the amount of vanilla extract have the same effect? (Also making sure that that part wasn’t an April Fool’s joke!)
You can just omit the vanilla bean paste if you don’t want to buy it or look for it. You can get it at Williams-Sonoma if you want to get it. I wouldn’t double vanilla extract – they’re two different things. It’s ok to leave the paste out though! And no, it’s not an April Fools joke, lol, I’d never do that for a recipe!
You know I love a good chewy oatmeal cookie. These are perrrfect!
I haven’t played many April Fool’s jokes other than telling someone there was a bug on them. I always wanted to think of something good, but I never could. I haven’t made oatmeal cookies in awhile, but these look great. Plus – I love cranberries!
A large mug of coffee and a plate of these cookies would make waking up at 5 in the morning a lot easier :)
Good thing your boss had a good sense of humor! I fall for everything, I hate April Fool’s Day!
Yum, these look esquisite! I’m not a big fan of raisins and like to swap out cranberries in oatmeal cookies as well but I am always looking for that “wow” oatmeal cookie recipe too so will definitely give these a try soon!
I may not have been tricked (yet), but I’ve done a fair amount of tricking already! Hehe. These cookies look so scrumptious, Julie! Love that you’re being virtually showered with blogger love today, too. So sweet!
What a great joke! Personally, I am awful pulling off pranks because I can never hold in the laughter long enough. These cookies look super crispy and buttery!
I cought myself smelling a screen ofm y laptop because google tricked me. And it was still Sunday in my place. Now I’m more careful :)