If you are searching for a truly festive and flavorful treat, look no further than the Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe. These delightful cookies combine the tangy brightness of fresh orange with the tart sweetness of dried cranberries, creating a perfect balance that dances on your taste buds. Soft, chewy, and bursting with holiday cheer, they bring a splash of color and a burst of flavor to any cookie platter. Whether you’re gifting them to loved ones or enjoying them by the fireside, these cookies are sure to become a treasured seasonal favorite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering a handful of simple yet essential ingredients will bring this recipe to life. Each component plays a vital role in delivering the perfect texture, flavor, and festive appearance you’ll love.
- Butter: Using softened butter gives the cookies a tender texture and rich flavor.
- Sugar: A mix of granulated and brown sugar adds sweetness with a hint of caramel and creates a chewy bite.
- Egg: This binds the dough and helps with structure.
- Orange Juice: Fresh juice infuses each cookie with bright citrus notes.
- Orange Zest: Essential for a concentrated orange aroma and flavor boost.
- Flour: All-purpose flour provides the base, balancing chewiness and structure.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise slightly and gives a light texture.
- Dried Cranberries: These bring a wonderful tartness and festive red color, making each bite a holiday delight.
How to Make Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Preheat Your Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures a perfectly heated environment so your cookies bake evenly and develop those lovely golden edges.
Step 2: Cream the Butters and Sugars
In a mixing bowl, beat together softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This step is crucial for incorporating air, giving your cookies a tender yet satisfying bite.
Step 3: Add the Wet Ingredients
Next, mix in the egg, freshly squeezed orange juice, and fragrant orange zest. These ingredients add moisture, tang, and a burst of holiday flavor that sets this cookie apart.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually incorporate this dry mix into your wet mixture, careful not to overdo it. This will keep your cookies soft and chewy.
Step 5: Fold in the Dried Cranberries
Gently fold in the dried cranberries, ensuring they’re evenly scattered throughout the dough for bursts of tart sweetness in every bite.
Step 6: Form and Arrange the Dough
Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto a baking sheet, spacing each cookie so they have room to spread. This ensures they don’t merge and each cookie bakes perfectly.
Step 7: Bake to Perfection
Bake the cookies for about 8 minutes, or until their edges turn lightly golden. They’ll still feel soft in the middle but firm up as they cool—just the way a great holiday cookie should be.
Step 8: Drizzle with Orange Glaze
While the cookies cool, whisk together powdered sugar with a splash of orange juice and orange zest to make a refreshing glaze. Drizzle this over the top to add a sweet finishing touch that enhances the citrusy note and looks beautiful too.
How to Serve Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
Add a sprinkle of finely grated orange zest or a dusting of powdered sugar for a snowy effect that instantly ups the festive appeal. A few whole cranberries placed carefully on top before baking can also add a pretty visual contrast.
Side Dishes
These cookies shine alongside comforting hot drinks like spiced cider, rich hot chocolate, or your favorite holiday tea. The warmth from the beverages pairs beautifully with the bright, crisp citrus and sweet cranberries in the cookies.
Creative Ways to Present
For gift-giving or holiday parties, arrange the cookies in a pretty tin lined with festive tissue paper. You can stack them with layers of parchment or tie small stacks with colorful ribbon for a charming presentation that shows off the Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe in all its glory.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. To maintain their freshness and chewiness, place a slice of bread inside the container—it helps keep moisture balanced.
Freezing
If you want to enjoy these cookies later, freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a zip-top bag or airtight container. They’ll keep well for up to three months and thaw quickly when you want a snack.
Reheating
Warm frozen or leftover cookies gently in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5-7 minutes to revive their soft texture and enhance their delightful aroma, making them taste freshly baked again.
FAQs
Can I use fresh cranberries instead of dried in the Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe?
Fresh cranberries are much more tart and contain more moisture than dried ones, which can affect the texture and baking time. If you want to experiment, consider chopping them finely and reducing other wet ingredients slightly, but dried cranberries are recommended for the best results.
Is it necessary to include the orange zest, or can I skip it?
Orange zest is key for the vivid citrus aroma and flavor that elevates this cookie from ordinary to extraordinary. Skipping it will lessen the bright orange notes, so it’s definitely worth including if possible.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
You can substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend suitable for baking. Just make sure the blend contains xanthan gum or another binding agent to achieve a similar texture.
How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking?
Make sure your butter is softened but not melted before mixing. Also, chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help cookies hold their shape better.
Can I use this recipe to make bars instead of cookies?
Absolutely! Press the dough into a lined baking pan and adjust the baking time to about 20-25 minutes. The result is a chewy, cranberry-orange bar perfect for sharing.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly special about the Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe that makes it a must-have for your holiday baking lineup. The harmonious blend of tart cranberries and zesty orange delivers a festive treat everyone will adore. Don’t hesitate to dive in and make these cookies your own this season—they bring warmth, joy, and a little sparkle to every bite.
Print
Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These festive Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies combine a soft, buttery texture with tangy dried cranberries and bright orange flavors. Perfectly sweet with a subtle citrus glaze, these easy-to-make cookies bring holiday cheer to your cookie platter.
Ingredients
Cookies
- 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
Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking the cookies.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which adds airy texture to the cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, orange juice, and orange zest until everything is well combined, infusing the dough with citrus aroma.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and baking soda to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt before adding them gradually to the wet ingredients while mixing.
- Fold in Cranberries: Gently fold the dried cranberries into the dough to ensure even distribution without overmixing.
- Portion the Dough: Scoop tablespoon-sized amounts of dough onto a baking sheet, spacing each cookie apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for approximately 8 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden, indicating doneness.
- Prepare Glaze and Drizzle: While the cookies cool, whisk together powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest to make a zesty glaze. Drizzle it over the cooled cookies for a sweet, decorative finish.
Notes
- Make sure butter is at room temperature for easier creaming with sugars.
- Use fresh orange zest for the best citrus flavor.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before glazing to prevent melting the glaze.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
- You can substitute dried cranberries with dried cherries or raisins if preferred.
