Sweet Cranberry Orange Cookies, a holiday treat in a sugary soft and chewy cookie. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside makes these sugar cookies a perfect recipe. I love the taste of cranberries, and in this recipe they are complimented by orange zest, it's a match made in heaven.
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We have a holiday tradition of baking cookies and lots of them. Cooke exchanges with the neighbors is always something we look forward to.
These cranberry cookies may not look like anything special but trust me when I say you will go back for more. The balance of tart to sweet is spot on. A delightful cook that isn't too sweet.
I prefer these over the traditional Shortbread Cranberry Orange Cookie because the cookie is softer. I find you can pop these small bite cookies in your mouth and enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea.
Shopping List for Cranberry Cookie Recipe
Fats: Both butter and Vegetable Oil are used in this recipe. This helps give a delightful texture of crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside
Sugars: A combination of white sugar and powdered sugar give a great balance of sweetness and keep the cookie soft
Flour: All purpose flour is used the trick is in how to measure the flour. A Kitchen scale is ideal but if you do not have a scale then make sure to stir and lift the flour before gently scooping into measuring cup. To not tap or shake the measuring cup to settle the flour. That will result in adding too much flour and cookies will be dry.
Additional Ingredients: Egg, Baking Soda, Baking Powder and Almond Extract. All pretty standard ingredients in the home and pantry.
Special Ingredients: Zest of an Orange and dried cranberries or Craisins.
How to make Cranberry Orange Cookie Recipe
I love my Bosch Universal Mixer and prefer to use it when baking. You can also use a hand mixer and a large bowl if you prefer.
Preheat oven to 350 F Degrees
Cream room temperature Butter and granulated sugar until combined and add egg. Cream until light and fluffy. Slowly drizzle vegetable oil into creamed butter mixture and allow ingredients to whip together.
Once whipped add powdered sugar and Almond Extract and cream.
Slowly add dry ingredients of flour, baking soda and baking powder.
Using a food process chop dried cranberries or Craisins and 2 Tablespoons sugar and set aside. Zest an entire orange and set aside
Once cookie dough has mixed together stir in chopped Craisins and Orange Zest until mixed through.
Using a small cookie scoop, scoop cookie dough and roll in sugar (optional) before placing on ungreased cookie sheet. Rolling in sugar is option but does give a nice pop of sweetness with every bite.
Bake for 7-9 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Remove baking sheet from oven and allow cookies to cool for a couple minutes before moving hot cookies to cooling rack. I use a wire rack to cool cookies before storing in a zip-loc bag or sealed container.
My Holiday baking is never completely without a few other favorite cookie recipes. Make sure to check out my Snowman Cookies, or these fun Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies. Both are favorites. Hands down the secret winner is my Eggnog Cookies with Eggnog Buttercream Frosting.
What is a Bosch Mixer
This is a great question as I have been asked it many times. Bosch is a brand name that makes a stand mixer to make and mix all kinds of things. I've been using a Bosch since I was very little, which means I've been using one for decades. Take a look at this post and tells you why I love my Bosch Mixer!
How to Store Cookies
Store cooled cookies in a sealed container or Zip-loc bag for up to 1 week. Cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Mix ins or Substitutions
It's always fun to change things up. So why not try and add White Chocolate Chips to the recipe. Yum! Or try substituting Orange Extract for the Almond Extract. It's fantastic.
Can I use Fresh Cranberries in this recipe?
I do not recommend using fresh cranberries for this recipe. Using dried cranberries is a better choice.
These cookies would be excellent served with Coffee or Tea for a Brunch or Lunch menu. You could even dip the cookies for a fun treat as well.
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Make sure to join me and my fellow bloggers with these other fantastic Christmas Cookie Recipes
Thursday Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Chewy Oatmeal Ginger Cookies from Family Around the Table
- Chocolate Chip Cocoa Powder Cookies from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies from Daily Dish Recipes
- Coconut Cookies from Magical Ingredients
- Cranberry Orange Cookies from Devour Dinner
- Old Fashioned Iced Molasses Cookies from An Affair from the Heart
- Gingerbread Biscotti from Kate's Recipe Box
- Hot Chocolate Macarons from Jen around the world
- Meltaway Cookies from Palatable Pastime
- Nastar Cookies from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Polish Cream Cheese Cookies from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Turtle Chocolate Chip Cookies from Blogghetti
Cranberry Orange Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Butter - Softened
- ½ Cup Sugar
- ¼ Cup Vegetable Oil
- ½ Cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 Egg
- ½ teaspoon Cream of Tartar
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
- 2 Cup Flour
- ½ Cup Craisins
- 2 tablespoons Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Orange Zest
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees
- Cream softened Butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. About 2 minutes
- Add Vegetable Oil and powdered sugar and creaming the butter mixture together. This will take a minute or two to come together, scraping sides of bowl as needed
- Mix in Cream of Tartar and Baking Soda as well as Almond Extract and add the egg. Mix all ingredients to combine.
- Gradually add flour to mixture and mix well. Add flour 1 cup at a time.
- Using a food process chop dried cranberries or Craisins and 2 Tablespoons sugar and set aside. Zest an entire orange and set aside
- Once cookie dough has mixed together stir in chopped Craisins and Orange Zest until mixed through.
- Using a small cookie scoop, scoop cookie dough and roll in sugar (optional) before placing on ungreased cookie sheet. Rolling in sugar is option but does give a nice pop of sweetness with every bite.
- Bake cookies for 7-9 minutes. Cookies are done when edges barely turn golden. Do not over bake
- Allow cookies to completely cool before serving
Notes
Makes 55 Cookies using small cookie scoop
Mix ins or Substitutions
It’s always fun to change things up. So why not try and add White Chocolate Chips to the recipe. Yum! Or try substituting Orange Extract for the Almond Extract. It’s fantastic.Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Michele Hitch
I just made these again! They were a big hit with my Mah Jongg group!
Devour Dinner
I love hearing this Michele! Such a great combination of flavors
Brittney C
I made these and followed the recipe exactly. I choose not to roll them in sugar to have a little less sweet cookie to balance the other desserts. They are delicious and I will be making these again.
Janet
Would you have to grind the craisins in a food processor (I don't have one of those).
Devour Dinner
I just chop the craisins with a knife into smaller pieces.
Christie
Cranberry and orange are the epitome of the holidays in my book. These cookies look and sound perfectly delicious.
Radha
These are my kind of cookie! The flavor profile is amazing andLove them!
Emily
I think these are a perfect Christmas cookies! The flavors of orange and raspberry together just scream festive!
Jennifer
Cranberry and orange are two of my favorite flavors together. These are going to be on my to make list.
Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck
These look like sweet, pillowy, dreamy bites of heaven! They would make a lovely addition to any cookie platter!
Lisa Kerhin
I'm already printing this to make this year for our cookie trays! YUM
Hezzi-D
Yum! you can't go wrong with cranberries and oranges at the holidays.