Mix butter, eggs, vanilla extract, granulated white sugar and light brown sugar in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to mix these ingredients together. Mix until creamy.
Then stir in the flour, baking soda and salt. Use an electric mixer to mix all of the ingredients together. Mix until ingredients are completely blended and cookie dough looks creamy. FYI - Read the tips section below to find out why using an electric mixer results in a much better cookie than mixing by hand (when using vegetable oil). However, don't overmix. Only mix the dough for 1-2 minutes with an electric mixer. Also read the tips section on how to avoid "spreading"/overly thin cookies.
Stir the remaining ingredients (sunflower seed kernels, M&Ms and dried cranberries) into the cookie dough. Use a large spoon (not an electric mixer) to stir in these ingredients. Stir until evenly mixed throughout the dough. Optional - Save 1/4-1/3 of the sunflower seeds, etc. to place on top of the cookie dough "patties" before baking. See the steps below.
Optional (but recommended) – Chill the dough in a covered bowl in your refrigerator for 30-60 minutes. This helps to prevent the cookie dough from spreading in the oven and reduces the potential for overly thin/flat cookies.
Scoop the dough with a tablespoon or cookie dough scoop and place this dough "ball" onto a non-stick baking sheet. You will need at least 2 baking sheets in order to bake all of the cookies at the same time (if they can fit in your oven) or you will need to bake each batch separately (one after the other).
Leave space of roughly 2-3 inches between each dough ball because the cookies will spread as they bake.
Optional - Gently press some of the sunflowers, M&Ms and dried cranberries into the tops of each cookie dough patty (in order to create a more attractive cookie top).
Place baking trays into the oven. Wear oven mitts.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove baking sheet/tray from the oven. Wear oven mitts. Leave cookies on baking sheet to cool for 2-3 minutes. Otherwise, cookies might break when removed from the baking sheet.
Use a spatula to remove the cookies from the baking tray and place the cookies on wire cooling racks in order to cool completely.
Please read the tips section below for extra information on how to make this recipe successfully & to avoid common cookie problems.
Notes
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