I received this an email from ATK. I substituted dried cranraisins for the dried cherries, semi-sweet chocolate chips for bittersweet chocolate and used my hand mixer. Dried cranberries may also be used instead of the cherries. Quick oats may be used instead but will yield a cookie with slightly less chewiness. These cookies will keep for 4 to 5 days stored in airtight container or zipper-lock bag, but they will lose their crisp exterior and become uniformly chewy after a day or so. I only baked one cookie tray at a time. These were very good. I froze them in individual bags for a sweet treat.