White Chocolate Dipped Oatmeal Cookies (with Cranberries, Pecans and Chocolate Chips!)

(my aunt brings these to Christmas as my parents' house every year and they are sooooo addictive!)

Ingredients

1 cup butter - softened

1 cup brown sugar - packed

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups craisins - or dried cherries

1 1/4 cups oatmeal – uncooked

1 cup pecan pieces, toasted

6 ounces chocolate chips

6 ounces white chocolate chips

12 ounces white baking chocolate squares (3 bars)

3 tablespoons shortening

Directions

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until cream.

Gradually add sugars, beating well.

Add egg and vanilla and beat until blended.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Gradually add this to the butter mixture, beating untl blended.

Stir in craisins, pecans, chocolate chips and oatmeal. The batter will be stiff.

Drop dough by heaping tablespoons, two inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375°F for 9-11 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cool on the baking sheet for one minute and then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Microwave (or heat in a double boiler until melted) the white chocolate and shortening in a medium mixing bowl on high for one minute.

Stir once and then microwave for another 30 seconds or until the chocolate is melted.

Dip half of each cookie into the melted chocolate, letting the excess drip back into the bowl.

Place dipped cookies on waxed paper and allow to sit until firm.