Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe

Introduction

These Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies offer a delightful blend of tart cranberries and bright citrus flavors, perfect for the holiday season. Soft, flavorful, and topped with a zesty orange glaze, they make an irresistible festive treat.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups dried cranberries
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons orange juice (for icing)
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest (for icing)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and well combined.
2. Step 2: Add the egg, orange juice, and orange zest to the creamed mixture. Mix well until fully incorporated.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a cookie dough forms.
4. Step 4: Fold in the dried cranberries by hand, making sure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
5. Step 5: Drop tablespoonfuls of dough onto prepared cookie sheets, spacing them to allow for spreading.
6. Step 6: Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden. Let the cookies rest on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to cooling racks.
7. Step 7: While the cookies cool, prepare the icing by mixing powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest until smooth.
8. Step 8: Drizzle the icing over the cooled cookies and allow it to harden. For quicker setting, chill the cookies briefly in the freezer.

Tips & Variations

• Chop the dried cranberries for smaller bursts of flavor or leave them whole for chewy texture.
• Substitute fresh cranberries lightly cooked in sugar if you prefer a less chewy, juicier bite.
• For extra sparkle, sprinkle a pinch of coarse sugar over the icing before it sets.
• Add a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dry ingredients for a warm holiday spice twist.

Storage

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness. If iced, keep them in a single layer with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. You can also freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature before icing. Reheat briefly if you enjoy them warm.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use fresh cranberries instead of dried?

Fresh cranberries can be used, but they are tart and contain more moisture, which may affect the cookie texture. Lightly cooking them with sugar before adding is recommended to reduce moisture and bitterness.

How do I make sure my cookies don’t spread too much?

Make sure your butter is softened but not melted and chill the dough briefly before baking. Also, avoid placing the cookies too close together on the sheet to allow room for spreading.

Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 79 reviews

These Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies combine the festive flavors of tart dried cranberries and bright orange zest to create a delightful holiday treat. Soft, buttery cookies are enhanced with a zesty orange glaze that adds a perfect sweet and citrusy finish—ideal for sharing at Christmas gatherings or gifting to loved ones.

• Author: Anna
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cookie Dough

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups dried cranberries

Orange Icing

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup of softened butter, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth base for your dough.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of orange juice, and 1 teaspoon of orange zest to the creamed mixture. Stir well until fully incorporated.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
5. Form Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing thoroughly until you form a consistent cookie dough without overmixing.
6. Add Cranberries: Chop the 2 cups of dried cranberries if desired and fold them into the dough evenly by hand to distribute fruit throughout the cookies.
7. Shape Cookies: Drop tablespoon-sized portions of the dough onto prepared cookie sheets, spacing them apart to allow room for spreading during baking.
8. Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges turn light golden brown.
9. Cool Cookies: Remove from oven and let cookies rest on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
10. Prepare Icing: While the cookies cool, mix 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons orange juice, and 1/2 teaspoon orange zest in a medium bowl until smooth and poured consistency is achieved.
11. Glaze Cookies: Once cookies are fully cooled, drizzle the orange icing over them evenly.
12. Set Icing: Allow the icing to harden completely; you can place the cookies in the freezer briefly to speed this process.
13. Store Cookies: After the icing sets, store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh and moist.

Notes

• For zesting oranges, avoid the white pith as it can impart bitterness.
• You can chop the dried cranberries for smaller pieces or leave them whole for bigger bursts of tartness.
• Use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper on the baking sheets for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
• Make sure cookies are fully cooled before icing to prevent melting the glaze.
• Store cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.

Keywords: Christmas cookies, cranberry orange cookies, holiday cookies, festive cookies, orange zest cookies, dried cranberry cookies, buttery cookies, baked cookies