Cranberry Orange Christmas Cookies Recipe
These Cranberry Orange Christmas Cookies are a festive and flavorful treat combining tart cranberries with zesty orange for a perfect holiday cookie. Soft yet slightly chewy, these cookies are ideal for sharing during the Christmas season, delivering a bright, fruity twist to traditional cookie flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon orange zest (from about 1 large orange)
Add-ins
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Then beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and orange zest until well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and salt throughout the flour.
- Form the Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to form a soft dough. Gently fold in the dried cranberries ensuring they are evenly distributed in the dough.
- Shape Cookies: Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers have set.
- Cool: Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For a softer cookie, slightly reduce baking time by 1-2 minutes.
- Substitute dried cranberries with fresh if desired, but slightly increase baking time and watch for moisture adjustments.
- Orange zest can be substituted with lemon zest for a different citrus flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Adding a sprinkle of coarse sugar on top before baking adds extra crunch and sparkle.
Keywords: Cranberry, Orange, Christmas, Holiday Cookies, Festive Treats
