Sweet Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe: Festive Joy in Every Bite
Sweet, buttery cookies bursting with cranberry orange zest create a delightful winter treat that tingles taste buds.
Tart cranberries dance perfectly with bright citrus notes in this irresistible recipe.
Soft, pillowy cookies promise pure comfort with every single bite.
Holiday baking reaches new heights when these delicate morsels emerge golden and fragrant from the oven.
Tangy orange hints complement the sweet, chewy texture of these crowd-pleasing cookies.
Each batch delivers warmth and joy, making them ideal for sharing with loved ones.
Bake a batch and watch smiles spread across happy faces.
Why Cranberry Orange Cookies Are a Must-Try
What’s in Cranberry Orange Cookie Recipe
Base Ingredients:Wet Ingredients:Flavor and Texture Enhancers:Mix-In Ingredients:How to Prepare Cranberry Orange Cookies
Step 1: Whip Butter and Sugar
Grab a spacious mixing bowl and toss in softened butter and sugar.
Unleash your electric mixer and whirl the ingredients together until they transform into a cloud-like, airy mixture.
The texture should look pale and puffy, which takes roughly 3-4 minutes of energetic mixing.
Step 2: Blend Zesty Wet Components
Introduce these vibrant ingredients to your butter-sugar base:Blend everything thoroughly, making sure to scrape down bowl sides so no delicious bits get left behind.
Step 3: Fold in Dry Elements
Gently sprinkle these dry ingredients into your developing dough:Mix delicately until ingredients just come together.
Stop mixing the moment the dough looks cohesive – overmixing leads to tough cookies.
Step 4: Form and Chill Cookie Dough
Split the dough into two equal portions.
Roll each section into smooth rounds.
Encase each round in plastic wrap and park them in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Chilling allows the dough to firm up, making future rolling much smoother.
Step 5: Prepare for Baking
Preheat your oven and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Roll out chilled dough and cut into desired shapes or drop by spoonfuls.
Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection
Slide cookies into preheated oven and bake until edges turn a delightful golden brown.
Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet briefly before transferring to a wire rack.
Smart Tips for Baking Cranberry Orange Cookies
Best Storage for Cranberry Orange Cookies
What Tastes Good with Cranberry Orange Cookies
Fun Flavors for Cranberry Orange Cookies
FAQs
Yes, dried cranberries work perfectly in this recipe. They’ll provide a concentrated burst of flavor and won’t add extra moisture to the cookie dough.
Look for light golden edges and a slightly soft center. The cookies will continue to set as they cool, so don’t overbake them. Remove from the oven when they’re just turning golden around the edges.
Fresh orange zest provides the most vibrant, natural citrus flavor. While orange extract can work, it won’t give the same bright, authentic taste that fresh zest delivers. The zest adds both flavor and aromatic notes to the cookies.
Use room temperature butter and eggs, and cream them thoroughly until light and fluffy. This helps create a smooth, well-incorporated dough that will result in tender, evenly textured cookies.
Print
Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Description
Delightful Cranberry Orange Cookies blend zesty citrus with tart berries in a perfect holiday treat. Festive flavors dance across each buttery, crumbly bite, inviting you to savor the warmth of seasonal baking.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 cup butter (at room temperature)
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
Sweeteners:
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
Flavor Enhancers and Seasonings:
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons (1 tablespoon + 1 tablespoon) orange peel (fresh, zested)
Instructions
- Using an electric mixer, whip butter and sugar together until the mixture transforms into a light, airy consistency with a creamy texture, approximately 3-4 minutes on medium speed.
- Introduce vanilla extract, eggs, and vibrant orange zest into the butter mixture, blending thoroughly while ensuring all ingredients are evenly incorporated and bowl sides are scraped clean.
- Gradually fold in flour, salt, and baking powder, gently mixing until a cohesive dough forms without overworking the mixture, maintaining a soft and pliable texture.
- Partition the dough into two symmetrical rounds, enveloping each in plastic wrap to create a secure seal, then refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes to enhance structural integrity and facilitate easier handling.
- After chilling, unwrap the dough and prepare a lightly floured surface for rolling out the cookie rounds with precision and care.
- Gently fold dried cranberries into the chilled dough, distributing them evenly throughout to ensure a balanced flavor profile in each cookie.
- Roll out the dough to approximately ¼-inch thickness, using cookie cutters or a knife to create uniform shapes that will bake consistently.
- Transfer shaped cookies onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them adequately to prevent merging during the baking process.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges develop a delicate golden-brown hue, indicating perfect doneness.
- Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling.
Notes
- Zesting Technique: Roll orange on counter before zesting to release more oils and intensify citrus flavor, creating deeper aromatic notes in cookies.
- Butter Temperature: Allow butter to soften at room temperature for 30 minutes before creaming, ensuring smoother integration and fluffier texture.
- Cranberry Preparation: Chop dried cranberries into smaller pieces to distribute evenly throughout cookie dough, preventing large clumps and ensuring consistent fruity bursts.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, maintaining similar texture and structure while making cookies accessible for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Olivia Bennett
Recipe Developer & Culinary Educator
Expertise
Education
Schoolcraft College
With an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from Schoolcraft College and a natural knack for teaching, Olivia Bennett’s all about making home cooking feel possible, even on your busiest day.
Her thing? Recipes that are budget-friendly, season-forward, and full of Southern warmth. Whether it’s a roasted veggie bowl or a five-ingredient skillet bake, Olivia makes sure it’s simple, satisfying, and something you’ll want to make again tomorrow.
When she’s not shooting step-by-step videos or testing spice blends, she’s out foraging, flipping through old cookbooks, or throwing laid-back dinner parties with a BYO-mason-jar theme.