Creating Chewy Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies is effortless if you follow these simple steps:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth.
3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Mix Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
6. Add Oats and Cranberries: Fold in the oats, dried cranberries, and nuts if using.
7. Scoop Dough: Using a tablespoon, scoop dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly underbaked, which is ideal for chewiness.
9. Cool: Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 10 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.

By following these steps, you’ll create a batch of cookies that are sure to be a hit!