Perfect Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe for Christmas
Soft, chewy cookies with vibrant orange zest and tart cranberries, perfect for holiday baking and gifting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 29 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup white chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract and orange zest.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Gently stir in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips using a spatula.
- Scoop dough using a tablespoon or cookie scoop. Roll into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly underdone—this ensures a soft texture as they cool.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Notes
For best results, avoid grating the white pith when zesting the orange. Chilling the dough for 30 minutes can help prevent spreading during baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Protein: 2
Keywords: cranberry orange cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, easy cookie recipe, festive cookies