Cranberry Orange Christmas Cookies Recipe
Delightfully festive Cranberry Orange Christmas Cookies that combine tart dried cranberries with fresh orange zest for a bright, holiday-inspired flavor. These cookies are lightly golden and perfect for sharing during the holiday season.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 large orange
Add-ins
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until creamy and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and orange zest, mixing until combined. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just blended. Fold in the dried cranberries evenly throughout the dough.
- Shape the cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and place them onto the prepared sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake the cookies: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges but still soft in the middle.
- Cool and serve: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy these festive treats with a cup of tea or hot cocoa.
Notes
- For an extra burst of citrus flavor, add a teaspoon of fresh orange juice to the dough.
- Use fresh orange zest rather than dried for best aromatic results.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- These cookies can be frozen after baking; thaw at room temperature before serving.
Keywords: cranberry cookies, orange zest cookies, Christmas cookies, holiday baking, festive cookies, dried cranberries
