Description

These Cranberry Orange Cookies combine the tangy brightness of fresh orange juice and zest with chewy dried cranberries for a deliciously festive and flavorful treat. Soft and buttery with a hint of sweetness, they are perfect for holiday gatherings or a special everyday snack, optionally enhanced with white chocolate chips or nuts for extra texture.

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 using an electric mixer until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. This aerates the dough to give the cookies a tender texture.
Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in one large egg until fully incorporated. Next, add the fresh orange juice and finely grated orange zest, mixing until evenly distributed throughout the batter to infuse fresh citrus flavor.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until the flour is incorporated. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
Fold In Cranberries: Gently stir in the chopped dried cranberries. If you’re using the optional white chocolate chips or chopped pecans or walnuts, fold them in at this stage to evenly distribute their sweetness and crunch.
Shape: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of the cookie dough and roll each into a ball. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to give them room to spread as they bake.
Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes. The edges should be lightly golden while the centers will remain soft to the touch, ensuring a chewy middle.
Cool & Finish: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. If desired, drizzle with a simple orange glaze made from powdered sugar and orange juice for an extra burst of citrus sweetness.

Notes

Use fresh orange juice and zest for the best bright citrus flavor.
Do not overmix the dough to keep cookies soft and tender.
Allow cookies to cool slightly before transferring to avoid breaking.
Optional add-ins like white chocolate chips or nuts can be adjusted or omitted based on preference.
Simple orange glaze is optional but adds a nice glaze and additional citrus punch to the cookies.

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

Keywords: cranberry orange cookies, holiday cookies, citrus cookies, dried cranberry cookies, orange zest cookies, festive cookies, soft cookies, homemade cookies