Description
Sweet cranberry orange cookies bring festive cheer straight from holiday baking traditions. Zesty orange and tart cranberries create a perfect cookie companion for your afternoon tea or weekend gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (120g) dried cranberries, chopped
- ½ cup (85g) white chocolate chips
- ½ cup (60g) chopped pecans or walnuts
Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Grab your stand mixer or hand mixer and cream 1 cup (227g) softened unsalted butter with 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar until the mixture looks pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes at medium speed.
- Crack 1 large egg into the butter mixture and blend thoroughly. Pour 2 tablespoons (30ml) fresh orange juice and add 1 tablespoon grated orange zest, mixing until everything integrates smoothly.
- In a separate bowl, sift together 2½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into your wet mixture, using low mixer speed. Stop mixing as soon as the flour disappears to prevent tough cookies.
- Fold 1 cup (120g) chopped dried cranberries into the dough. If desired, mix in ½ cup (85g) white chocolate chips and ½ cup (60g) chopped pecans.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized dough portions and roll into smooth balls. Position them 2 inches apart on prepared sheets.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until cookie edges turn light golden and centers remain soft.
- Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Optional: Drizzle with simple orange glaze after cookies have cooled completely.
Notes
- Softened butter is key for creamy, smooth cookie dough that blends perfectly without lumps.
- Zest the orange before juicing to maximize fresh citrus flavor and ensure no waste.
- Chop dried cranberries roughly to distribute their tangy sweetness evenly throughout each cookie.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the cookies’ delicate texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 183
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 48 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg