Description
These Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies combine the tartness of dried cranberries with fresh orange zest and juice, creating a festive and flavorful holiday treat. Soft, buttery, and lightly sweetened, these cookies are perfect for sharing at Christmas gatherings or enjoying with a cup of tea.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Add-ins
- 2 cups dried cranberries
Icing
- Powdered sugar, quantity not specified (approximately 1 cup)
- Orange juice (to mix with powdered sugar for icing, amount to consistency)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which incorporates air and improves texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, orange juice, and orange zest into the creamed mixture until everything is well combined, infusing the dough with citrus flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda to ensure even distribution of leavening and seasoning agents, then gradually add this to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking.
- Fold in Cranberries: Gently fold the dried cranberries into the dough to evenly distribute them without crushing.
- Scoop the Dough: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them apart to allow room for spreading while baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for about 8 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden, indicating they are done, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Icing: Whisk powdered sugar with orange juice until smooth to create a glaze that complements the cookies with a sweet and citrusy finish.
- Decorate: Once cookies have cooled, drizzle or spread the orange glaze on top and allow it to set before serving.
Notes
- For best results, use freshly grated orange zest for optimal flavor.
- If desired, nuts such as chopped walnuts or pecans can be added for texture.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.
- Make the dough a day ahead and refrigerate to enhance flavor and texture.
- The icing quantity can be adjusted to your preferred consistency, thicker for spreading or thinner for drizzling.
