Dec 23, 2009

Cranberry Orange Cookies

Name: Cranberry Orange Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 28 min
Yield: 36
Ingredients: 3/4 cup salted butter, softened; 1 cup sugar; 1 egg; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped; 1 tablespoon orange zest; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 tablespoon orange zest

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!

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.

Ingredients

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
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.

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 Them?

Yes! You can freeze Cranberry Orange Cookies! Either the dough or the already baked cookies.

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.

The 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.

To freeze already baked cookies, freeze them in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Once frozen, you can transfer to a freezer ziploc bag. Make sure to squeeze as much air out as possible.

Baked Cranberry Orange Cookies are fine in the freezer for up to up to 3 months. To defrost, let the cookies sit at room temperature until thawed.

More Cranberry Cookie Recipes

More Orange Cookie Recipes