Orange Cranberry Cookies – Experience the combination of citrus and sweetness, with these Orange Cranberry Cookies. A treat that is sure to be the star of any gathering! This recipe brings together orange zest, fresh cranberries, and a sweet glaze to create a symphony of flavors. Using all-purpose flour, sugars, butter and a touch of orange juice these heavenly cookies are simply divine.
I can still recall the first time I baked these cookies. It was a chilly evening when I wanted to fill our home with comforting aromas. With an abundance of cranberries and a lone orange on our kitchen counter, I decided to get creative. To my delight (and my husband and little ones joy) the cookies turned out delicious! Their faces lit up with every bite making this recipe a beloved favorite, in our household.
What makes this Orange Cranberry Cookies truly special?
What makes these Orange Cranberry Cookies truly special is their blend of tanginess and sweetness combined with a delightful texture. The cranberries add a burst of tartness while the orange zest infuses a citrus aroma into every bite. The delightful icing, on top gives it the finishing touch resulting in a cookie experience that is truly unmatched.
What You Need To Make This Orange Cranberry Cookies Recipe?
All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour is the ingredient, for our cookies. It gives them the structure allowing them to hold together while maintaining a tender texture. Choose a high-quality brand to ensure consistency in every batch.
Baking Soda: Here’s our weapon for fluffy cookies. Baking soda! It reacts with the elements in the recipe giving your cookies the right amount of rise and creating a delightful texture.
Salt: Don’t underestimate the impact of salt in recipes! It enhances all the flavors balancing out the sweetness and making sure that those orange and cranberry notes truly shine through.
Unsalted Butter: Opting for unsalted butter grants you control over the saltiness of your recipe. Making sure it’s at room temperature helps create that base we desire for our cookie dough.
Granulated Sugar: Granulated sugar effortlessly dissolves into the dough adding sweetness and contributing to that crispy edge we all adore in cookies.
Light Brown Sugar: The molasses present in sugar adds depth of flavor and extra moisture resulting in soft chewy cookies that are simply irresistible.
Orange Zest: Now comes the magical touch. Orange zest! The dough gets its citrusy flavor from the zest of an orange making each bite burst with vibrant notes.
Large Egg: We rely on the egg to bind everything together and give structure to the cookies while also adding a touch of richness, to the dough.
Pure Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract goes a long way, in bringing warmth and depth to the recipe enhancing all the other flavors in a delightful manner.
Orange Juice: To add a tanginess that complements the cranberries and balances out the sweetness of the dough we use a bit of orange juice.
Fresh Cranberries: The chopped whole fresh cranberries steal the spotlight as they provide pops of tartness and an exquisite burst of color ensuring that every bite is a sensory experience.
Orange Juice: In order to maintain our citrus theme until the last bite we incorporate more orange juice into our glaze giving it a zesty finish that leaves you wanting more.
Powdered Sugar: To add a layer of sweetness without overpowering it we use sugar to create a smooth and sweet glaze that perfectly balances each bite.
Steps To Make Orange Cranberry Cookies:
Step 1: For the Cookies, in a bowl combine the flour, baking soda and salt by sifting them together.
Step 2: Take a bowl. Use an electric mixer on a medium-high setting to whip up the butter until it becomes creamy. This should take around 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 3: In another bowl gently rub the orange zest into the sugars until they are well combined. Then beat this sugar mixture into the butter until it becomes fluffy. This process should take 2 to 3 minutes.
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Step 4: Next add in the egg, a dash of vanilla extract and the orange juice, to the mixture. Continue mixing until all ingredients are just combined.
Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture while stirring well after each addition.
Step 6: With a gentle touch fold in cranberries into the dough ensuring that they are evenly distributed throughout.
Step 7: Cover the bowl with cling film. Let the dough chill in the refrigerator for an hour.
Step 8: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 9: Using either a cookie scoop or tablespoon drop spoonfuls of dough onto your sheets while leaving some space, between each cookie.
Step 10: To achieve the golden color bake them in the preheated oven for around 12 to 14 minutes.
Step 11: After taking them out of the oven let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a moment before transferring them to a wire rack. This will ensure they cool down completely.
Step 12: Now let’s make the glaze. In a bowl whisk together some orange juice and powdered sugar until you have a silky glaze.
Step 13: Once the cookies have cooled down completely you can spread the glaze, over the top of each cookie.
Step 14: Give it some time to set and harden. Then they will be absolutely irresistible!
Tip:
To really enhance the citrus flavor in these Orange Cranberry Cookies take an extra time to gently massage the orange zest into the sugars before adding them to the butter. This technique helps to release the oils from the zest infusing the sugars with an orange essence. Use your fingertips to rub the zest into both the granulated and brown sugars until you can smell their aroma. They become slightly moist. This small but important step makes an impact ensuring that every bite of your cookies is filled with the goodness of orange perfectly complementing the tart cranberries.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use dried cranberries instead of fresh?
Of course! If fresh cranberries are not available you can certainly use dried cranberries instead. Just make sure to finely chop them so that they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
How long do these cookies last?
When stored in an airtight container at room temperature these cookies will stay fresh for a week. However they are, at their tastiest, within the first few days of baking.
Can I freeze the dough for later use?
Absolutely! This dough freezes beautifully. Simply shape it into balls. Freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring them to a freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake you can put them from the freezer into the oven. Remember to add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
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Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Orange Cranberry Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies:
- 2 ½ c all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 c unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 c granulated sugar
- ½ c packed light brown sugar
- Zest from one large orange
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp orange juice
- 1 ½ c chopped whole fresh cranberries
Glaze:
- 3 tbsp orange juice
- 1 ½ c powdered sugar
Instructions
Let's make some cookie dough:
- Start by combining 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon of baking soda and ½ teaspoon of salt in a bowl. Set this mixture aside for now.
- In a bowl take 1 cup of butter at room temperature and use an electric mixer on medium-high speed to beat it for about 2 to 3 minutes until it becomes creamy.
- In another bowl mix together 1 cup of granulated sugar, ½ cup of brown sugar and the zest, from a large orange until well combined.
- Add the sugar zest mixture to the butter. Continue to beat for another 2 to 3 minutes until it becomes light and fluffy. Then add in one egg, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of orange juice. Mix everything well.
- Gradually incorporate the ingredients (the flour mixture from Step 1) into the mixture while mixing thoroughly after each addition.
- Gently fold in around 1 ½ cups of chopped cranberries into the dough.
- Cover the dough with a lid or plastic wrap. Let it chill in the refrigerator for one hour.
Now let's move on to baking:
- Preheat your oven to a temperature of 375°F (190°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon drop portions of cookie dough onto the prepared sheets while leaving at least two inches between each portion for spreading during baking.
- Bake in the preheated oven, for around 12 to 14 minutes until they turn brown.
- Let the cookies cool on the pan for 3 minutes before moving them to a wire rack, for cooling.
For the glaze:
- Combine 3 tablespoons of orange juice and 1 ½ cups of sugar in a bowl whisking until it becomes smooth.
- Spread or drizzle the glaze onto the cooled cookies. Allow it to set before serving.
- Enjoy these delightful homemade Orange Cranberry Cookies!
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
