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Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe

Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 5 reviews

These Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies combine the bright, tangy flavors of fresh orange zest and juice with the sweet tartness of dried cranberries, all wrapped up in a buttery, soft cookie. Perfectly festive for holiday gatherings, these cookies feature a delicate orange glaze that adds a beautiful finish and a burst of citrus flavor. Easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious, they’re a wonderful treat to share throughout the Christmas season.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 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

Orange Icing

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon orange zest

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Wet and Dry Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the ideal baking temperature. In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup of softened butter, 1 cup of sugar, and 1/2 cup of brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Next, add 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of orange juice, and 1 teaspoon of orange zest to the creamed mixture, mixing thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
  2. Combine the Mixtures: In a separate bowl, mix together 2 1/2 cups of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring steadily until a smooth and cohesive cookie dough forms.
  3. Add the Cranberries and Shape Cookies: Chop 2 cups of dried cranberries if you prefer smaller cranberry pieces, then fold them by hand into the cookie dough to distribute them evenly. Drop tablespoonfuls of the dough onto prepared cookie sheets, spacing each dollop adequately to allow for expansion during baking.
  4. Bake the Cookies: Place the cookie sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies turn a light golden color. After baking, allow the cookies to rest on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
  5. Prepare and Drizzle the Icing: While the cookies cool, prepare the glaze by whisking together 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons of orange juice, and 1/2 teaspoon of orange zest until smooth. Drizzle this icing generously over the cooled cookies using a spoon or a piping bag for decorative effect.
  6. Harden the Icing and Store the Cookies: Let the icing set completely on the cookies for a firm finish; to speed this up, place the cookies in the freezer for a short time. Once the icing has hardened, store the cookies in an airtight container to maintain their freshness and texture.

Notes

  • For uniformly sized cookies, use a cookie scoop for portioning the dough.
  • Chopping the dried cranberries can help distribute their flavor more evenly.
  • Make sure butter is softened, but not melted, for best creaming results.
  • Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week, or frozen for longer storage.
  • Placing cookies briefly in the freezer helps the icing harden faster.
  • Adjust baking time slightly if you prefer softer or crisper cookies.

Nutrition

Keywords: Christmas cookies, cranberry orange cookies, holiday baking, citrus cookies, festive dessert, cranberry cookies, orange zest, holiday treats

Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/best-christmas-cranberry-orange-cookies-recipe/