STEP 1: PREHEAT THE OVEN

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This ensures the cookies bake evenly and don’t stick to the pan.

STEP 2: MIX THE DRY INGREDIENTS

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside for now. The baking soda helps give the cookies their light, chewy texture, while the salt will balance out the sweetness of the dough.

STEP 3: CREAM THE BUTTER AND SUGARS

In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat the mixture on medium speed until it becomes light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. This step incorporates air into the dough, which will help the cookies bake up soft and chewy.

STEP 4: ADD THE EGG AND VANILLA

Add the egg to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, followed by the vanilla extract. Beat again until fully incorporated. The egg provides moisture and structure to the dough, while the vanilla enhances the overall flavor.

STEP 5: COMBINE THE DRY AND WET INGREDIENTS

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage, as this could result in tough cookies. The dough should come together and be slightly thick but still soft.

STEP 6: FOLD IN THE CRANBERRIES AND WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Once the dough is combined, gently fold in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips using a spatula. If you’re adding nuts, fold them in at this point as well. The cranberries will add a chewy texture and tart flavor, while the white chocolate chips will melt slightly into the dough, creating pockets of sweetness.

STEP 7: FORM THE COOKIES

Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. If you like larger cookies, you can scoop a bit more dough per cookie, but be sure to adjust the baking time slightly.

STEP 8: BAKE THE COOKIES

Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are golden brown, and the centers have set but are still soft. The exact baking time will depend on the size of your cookies, so keep an eye on them after the 10-minute mark.

STEP 9: COOL AND ENJOY

Once the cookies are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. This helps them set and makes them easier to transfer to a wire rack. After 5 minutes, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.