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Cranberry Orange Cookies

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3.9 from 52 reviews

These Cranberry Orange Cookies are slightly soft and chewy with crisp edges, featuring a bright orange flavor that complements the tartness of dried cranberries. Simple to prepare, these festive cookies are perfect for holidays and everyday treats alike.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped
  • Juice of one orange
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg

Orange Sugared Zest

  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • Zest of one orange

Instructions

  1. Prepare Baking Sheets: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside to keep cookies from sticking and ensure even baking.
  2. Hydrate Cranberries: Pour the orange juice over the dried cranberries and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, then let them soak to absorb the liquid and soften.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; set aside for later.
  4. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream the room-temperature butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons orange zest until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix until just combined.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry: Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the cookies.
  6. Fold in Cranberries: Drain any excess liquid from the cranberries and fold ¾ cup of them into the cookie dough evenly.
  7. Scoop and Chill Dough: Using a 2-tablespoon cookie dough scoop, drop mounds of dough onto the prepared sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart. Refrigerate the dough on the baking sheets for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to firm up.
  8. Preheat Oven: Warm the oven to 400°F (or 375°F if using dark baking sheets to prevent burning).
  9. Bake Cookies: Bake for 7-8 minutes until the edges just start to turn golden brown, preserving softness inside.
  10. Prepare Sugared Zest: Mix the remaining orange zest with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar in a small bowl.
  11. Top Cookies and Cool: Right after removing from the oven, top each cookie with the remaining cranberries and the orange sugared zest. Let them rest on the baking sheets for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • When using a dark-colored baking sheet, reduce the oven temperature to 375°F to avoid over-browning.
  • Chilling the dough for longer than 2 hours, preferably overnight, enhances the texture and flavor.
  • Be careful not to overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added to keep cookies tender and chewy.
  • Use a cookie scoop to ensure uniform cookie size for even baking.

Find it online: https://yumfoodusa.com/cranberry-orange-cookies/