Cranberry Crunch Cookies

I found this awesome recipe on the Oatmeal CookieBlog - see link below to check it out.
I made it exactly as described, but substituted white whole wheat for the all-purpose flour.
These cookies are SO good! Like I think this is the best cookie I have ever made good. I took them to work today and they were gone before afternoon break, and several people requested the recipe. The only reason I took them to work in the first place is so I wouldn't eat them all! So, needless to say, these cookies are an excellent combination of tart (cranberry and orange) and sweet (almonds, brown sugar, and graham cracker crumbs) and have a wonderful crunchy outside and a chewy inside. Mmmmmmmmmmm! Okay, now for the award-winning recipe...

Creamables:
1 stick butter
1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar

Wet Ingredients:
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp orange zest
1 1/2 tsp orange juice

Dry Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups dried cranberries (craisins)
1 cup finely ground graham crackers
1 cup toasted slivered almonds
1 cup oatmeal
3/4 cup (white whole wheat) flour
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Topping: turbinado sugar

Preheat oven to 350*F. In Kitchen Aid or large mixing bowl, cream together the creamables. In a small bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients and then add to the creamables. Mix together until smooth.
In another large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients. Using a spatula, fold together until evenly distributed. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the creamables and wet ingredients. Mix until evenly combined.
Shape dough into balls -- about 2 tbsp each. Roll each ball in turbinado or raw sugar. Place sugared balls about 2 inches apart on Silpat or parchment paper-lined cookie sheets. (I flattened mine a little with a wooden spoon.)
Bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let stand for 2 minutes. Then place cookies on wire racks to cool.

Makes 3 dozen.

Also, you can add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp almond extract to the wet ingredients if you have it on hand. (I will try that next time.)

I might try substituting something else for some of the butter next time too...I'll let you know how that goes!

Here's the link for the Oatmeal Cookie Blog (other great cookie recipes to try!):
(http://oatmealcookie.typepad.com/the_oatmeal_cookie_blog/)