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Easy Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe

Golden brown cranberry orange cookies drizzled with orange glaze and scattered with sugared cranberries on baking tray
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Soft, chewy holiday cookies combining tart cranberries with bright orange flavors and a sweet glaze. Perfect for cookie swaps and gift giving.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 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 (for glaze)
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice (for glaze)
  • 1/2 teaspoon orange zest (for glaze)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Cream together softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add egg, orange juice, and orange zest to creamed mixture. Mix until fully incorporated.
  4. In separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
  5. Fold in dried cranberries by hand until evenly distributed.
  6. Drop tablespoonfuls of dough onto prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
  7. Let cool on baking sheet 2 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks.
  8. Whisk together powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest until smooth.
  9. Drizzle glaze over completely cooled cookies and let set 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Use room temperature butter for best texture, not melted or too cold. Chill dough 30 minutes before baking for best results.
  • Fresh orange zest is crucial for flavor – avoid grating into white pith which adds bitterness.
  • Store in airtight container up to 5 days or freeze unglazed cookies up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.benefitiany.com/christmas-cranberry-orange-cookies/