Old Fashioned Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe
These Old Fashioned Cranberry Orange Cookies are a delightful blend of tart cranberries and zesty orange, baked to soft, golden perfection. With a tender texture and optional sweet orange glaze, these cookies bring a classic yet refreshing twist to your cookie jar, perfect for holidays or any cozy occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 25-27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies:
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp orange zest (about 1 large orange)
- 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup dried cranberries (Craisins work great!)
Optional Glaze:
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp orange juice (add more as needed for desired consistency)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 2–3 minutes. This step is crucial for creating a soft, tender cookie texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, orange zest, and fresh orange juice until the mixture is uniformly combined and smooth.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing which could make the cookies dense.
- Add the Cranberries: Fold in the dried cranberries carefully to evenly distribute them throughout the cookie dough.
- Scoop and Bake: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
- Cool and Glaze: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. Once completely cooled, if desired, drizzle with the optional orange glaze made by mixing powdered sugar and orange juice until smooth and desired consistency is reached.
Notes
- Soft Butter is Key: Make sure your butter is at room temperature, not melted, to achieve the perfect cookie texture.
- Don’t Overmix: Stir the dough just until the flour disappears; overmixing can result in dense cookies.
- Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze them for up to 3 months for longer shelf life.
- Make Ahead: The cookie dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days before baking, which is great for preparing ahead for holidays or gatherings.
Keywords: cranberry orange cookies, old fashioned cookies, holiday cookies, soft cookies, dried cranberries, orange zest cookies