Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe
These Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies combine the tangy zest of fresh orange with sweet dried cranberries for a festive and flavorful holiday treat. Soft, chewy, and bursting with citrus and berry goodness, they’re perfect for sharing at holiday gatherings or gifting.
- Prep Time: 15-25 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Total Time: 25-35 minutes
- Yield: 36-48 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (King Arthur recommended)
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 2 tbsp orange juice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 tsp orange zest (from about 1 large orange)
- 2 cups dried cranberries (chopped if large)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
For the Icing:
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1/2 tsp orange zest (fine, avoid white pith)
Instructions
- Prepare the Wet and Dry Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup softened butter, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup packed brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 large room temperature egg, 2 tablespoons orange juice, and 1 teaspoon orange zest. Mix thoroughly until combined.
- Combine the Mixtures: In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until a uniform cookie dough forms.
- Add the Cranberries and Shape Cookies: Chop 2 cups dried cranberries if large and fold them into the dough evenly by hand. Drop tablespoon-sized portions onto prepared cookie sheets, spacing them adequately to allow spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Remove from oven and let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
- Prepare and Drizzle the Icing: While cookies cool, mix 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice, and 1/2 teaspoon orange zest in a bowl until smooth. Drizzle the icing evenly over fully cooled cookies.
- Harden the Icing and Store the Cookies: Allow the icing to harden completely at room temperature, or speed up the process by chilling cookies briefly in the freezer. Once set, store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for best mixing results.
- Chopping the cranberries helps distribute them evenly without overwhelming any single cookie.
- To prevent cookie spreading, chill the dough briefly before baking if desired.
- The icing can be adjusted for consistency by varying the orange juice amount.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week, or freeze for longer storage.
Keywords: Christmas cookies, cranberry cookies, orange zest cookies, holiday baking, festive cookies, citrus cookies, dried cranberry cookies