Cranberry Orange Cookies – sugar cookes filled with dried cranberries and orange zest, and rolled in sugar and orange zest before baking. They make great Christmas cookies!
These cookies are a must make for me during the holidays! Some of my other must makes are Crockpot Candy, Holly Crackles, and White Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Crackers!
Today I’m sharing my most favorite Christmas cookie ever!
Okay, so it’s not really the kind of cookie you’d think about for Christmas.
Normally it’s Snickerdoodles or decorated cut out sugar cookies or Italian Sugar Cookies dipped in a glaze and covered in sprinkles.
But I have been making these Cranberry Orange Cookies every Christmas for years now. And the holidays are the only time I make so I look forward to them all year long.
What You Need
Scroll down for exact measurements!
- Salted butter – let it sit at room temperature until soft
- Sugar – sugar is going both in the cookies and on the cookies!
- Egg
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Dried cranberries
- Orange zest – use a microplane to remove the zest of a fresh orange
How To Make Cranberry Orange Cookies
- Prepare. Preheat oven to 350F.
- Combine wet ingredients. Using an electric mixer, mix butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg.
- Combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Add to butter mixture and mix until just combined.
- Add cranberries and orange zest. Fold in cranberries and 1 tablespoon orange zest.
- Refrigerate. Chill dough while you make orange sugar.
- Make sugar mixture. Combine ½ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon orange zest. Use your fingers to rub the 2 together until everything is combined and mixture is fragrant.
- Shape and roll. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in orange sugar. Place on baking sheet and flatten slightly.
- Bake and cool. Bake 10 – 13 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool on wire racks.
How Long Are They Good For?
Cranberry Orange Cookies will be fine at room temperature for about a week. Make sure to store them in an airtight container. I store all my cookies in this cute large glass jar because not only does it look cute on the counter, but it’s super airtight.
You can extend the life of these cookies by an extra couple days if you store them in the fridge – make sure to use an airtight container!
Can You Freeze Cookie Dough?
You can make the dough ahead of time and freeze it (like in preparation of the holidays). Either freeze it in a large disc or after you roll it into balls. If freezing single balls of dough, freeze on a baking sheet with an inch between each dough ball and once frozen, transfer to a freezer ziploc bag, making sure to squeeze all the air out of the bag.
Cranberry Orange Cookies dough will be good for up to 3 months in the freezer. You can bake them from frozen by adding a few extra minutes to the baking time or let them defrost for several hours in the refrigerator before baking.
Can You Freeze Cranberry Orange Cookies?
To freeze already baked cookies, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then transfer to a freezer ziploc bag.
They will be fine in the freezer for up to up to 3 months. To defrost, let the cookies sit at room temperature until thawed.
More Holiday Cookies
- Snickerdoodles
- Italian Sugar Cookies
- Christmas Confetti Cookies
- Candy Cane Blossoms
- Coconut Macaroons
- Pistachio Thumbprint Cookies
- Butterscotch Pudding Cookies
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Cranberry Orange Cookies
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- ¾ cup salted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
For the rolling sugar:
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Using an electric mixer, mix butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Add to butter mixture and mix until just combined. Fold in cranberries and 1 tablespoon orange zest. Chill dough while you make orange sugar.
- Combine ½ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon orange zest. Use your fingers to rub the 2 together until everything is combined and mixture is fragrant.
- Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in orange sugar. Place on baking sheet and flatten slightly.
- Bake 10 - 13 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool on wire racks.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 101Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 62mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 0gSugar: 10gProtein: 1g
Paula McColgan says
Would leaving out the egg be okay? I prefer thin and crispy cookies.
Karen says
Really enjoying these. Can you make it so I can save in Pi retest? Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Karen says
Made these for the first time today. I felt like I kept missing some ingredient for my batter was crumbly, although when rolled in a ball they were fine. They tasted good. I will make these again.
Pam says
I made these today and they are delicious!
Kathy says
Hi! Do you use Craisins in this recipe, or plain dried cranberries? I was thinking that with Craisins they might be too sweet. I’m itching to make these!
Mariana Urias says
My sister made these, she said they were great except that they were too sweet. Next time (and there will be a next time) we will add a little less sugar. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Shannon says
This recipe needs salt to offset the sweetness and give another layer of flavor!
Mmmy says
I made this recipe and the cookies spread like crazy. I even put it in the refrigerator 30 minutes before rolling them out into balls. Did not turn out at all like a picture indicated.
Amanda Livesay says
I’m sorry to hear that. Did you change anything in the recipe? I make them every Christmas season and have never had that happen.
Sherry says
Hi I am wanting to try this but is it real butter or can I use margarine thank u
Amanda Livesay says
I used real butter in this recipe but I’m sure margarine would work.
Patricia Kopinetz says
Can you use fresh cranberries?
Lori B says
I only have fresh cranberries and. I’m going to give this recipe a shot using them, really, how bad can it be
Cindy says
What a delightful cookie. I made a double batch today I had leftover orange sugar and the house still smells heavenly because I left it out. The cookies at one inch size took only 10 minutes to get lightly golden brown. They are delicious and chewy. The sugar crisped nicely for just a little crisp on the outside. I have them in a sealed container until tomorrow. I imagine the orange will intensify a little after resting. Fabulous!!
Anetta says
Hello,
I would like to give them a try, they look easy to make and I’m not advanced baker…;) O wonder however if I could substitute an egg with something to make them vegan… Have you tried? Typically I would add a bit of flaxseeds, apple sauce or ripped banana to replace an egg on recipe, I wonder which one would taste the best.
Thank you
Anetta
Noelle Kirsch says
I have a question are these study cookies or crispy/crunchy?
Noelle Kirsch says
I meant soft or crispy/crunchy
Sandy says
Can I use craisins instead of dried cranberries?
Amanda Livesay says
Definitely! :)
Rahul says
Does this recipe only make half dozen? Sorry if this is a dumb question….this will be my first time baking cookies
from scratch.
rahul says
Made the coonkies, found that my batter sticky, The cookies were very thin. I added a little four, made a big difference. Delicious, the family loves them.
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Concetta Chambers says
Hi can you freeze the cookies after you make them ? Thank You Merry Christmas 🎄
Connie
Bonnie says
I made these December 9, 2019. I added extra orange peel in the cookie and also pistachio nuts. This is a very good cookie recipe and I will definitely make it again. 😊
Gail says
Mine flattened out like a crape. I add about a tbsp more flour, chilled the dough, and turn the heat up to 360. Same results. Any suggestions? They are so tasty I would love to perfect mine.
Rita DeFelice says
I just made these for the first time and they are wonderful. Adding to my Christmas cookies this year. My husband loves them.
For me, They are just a little sweet though. Could I cut the sugar to 3/4 cup. I really like rolling them in sugar and don’t want to cut that out.
Your thoughts would be appreciated. If it would change consistency then I won’t change it.
Thanks so much.