Description

These Cranberry Orange Cookies are soft, flavorful treats combining tangy dried cranberries with bright orange zest and juice, baked to golden perfection. Optionally enhanced with white chocolate chips or nuts and finished with a simple orange glaze, these cookies are perfect for holiday gatherings or any cozy snack time.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cookies

1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons (30ml) fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (about 1 large orange)
2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup (120g) dried cranberries, chopped

Optional Add-Ins

½ cup (85g) white chocolate chips (extra sweetness)
½ cup (60g) chopped pecans or walnuts (crunch)
Simple orange glaze for drizzling after baking

Instructions

Preheat & Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the large egg until fully incorporated, then mix in the fresh orange juice and finely grated orange zest evenly throughout the batter to infuse the cookies with bright citrus flavor.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture on low speed, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
Fold In Cranberries: Gently stir in the chopped dried cranberries. If desired, fold in the optional white chocolate chips or chopped nuts for additional sweetness and texture.
Shape: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls with your hands. Place each cookie ball about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow room for spreading.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges turn lightly golden while the centers remain soft, signaling the perfect chewy texture.
Cool & Finish: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Drizzle with a simple orange glaze if desired to add a sweet, tangy finish.

Notes

Use room-temperature butter for better aeration when creaming, resulting in lighter cookies.
Chop dried cranberries finely to distribute flavor evenly throughout each cookie.
Optional white chocolate chips add extra sweetness; nuts provide a pleasant crunch.
Allow cookies to cool slightly on the baking sheet to set before moving to prevent breakage.
Simple orange glaze can be made by mixing powdered sugar with fresh orange juice to desired consistency.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: cranberry orange cookies, holiday cookies, dried cranberries, orange zest, soft cookies, white chocolate chip cookies, nut cookies