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Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe

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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.

Ingredients

Scale

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

Find it online: https://annakocht.com/best-christmas-cranberry-orange-cookies-recipe/