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Cranberry Orange Cookies

4.4 from 608 votes
Cranberry and orange come together in this soft and chewy holiday drop cookie.
photo of Danelle, author of Let's Dish
Published on , Updated February 7, 2025
4.4 from 608 votes

Cranberry and orange come together in this soft and chewy holiday drop cookie.

Cranberry Orange Cookies

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Every holiday season I try several new cookie recipes. Most of them are tasty, but only a select few go into the permanent recipe file with favorites like Four Spice Crackles and Rolo Cookies. These Cranberry Orange Cookies are a definite keeper!

Honestly, these cookies are just about perfect. They are soft and chewy, just like a good cookie should be. And orange and cranberry is such a wonderful holiday flavor combination.

My family couldn’t stop raving about these cookies, and neither could the friends we shared them with. And I love that they’re so easy to make.

Who says a simple drop cookie can’t be the star of your holiday cookie tray? These cookies also freeze well, which is a big plus if you like to get a head start on your holiday baking.

Cranberry Orange Cookies

I also love that these cookies don’t require any special extracts or flavorings–just regular orange juice and zest. Sometimes, the simplest recipes are the best.

And everyone I’ve ever shared these cookies with loves them and asks for the recipe. In fact, every year when the holiday season rolls around, people start asking if I’ll be making my Cranberry Orange cookies.

Don’t skip the glaze! It only takes a minute to whip up and adds so much to the overall flavor and presentation.

I know I’ll be making these soft, sweet Cranberry Orange Cookies for years to come.

Be sure to save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.

Cranberry Orange Cookies

Ingredients

  • Butter
  • Sugar
  • Brown sugar
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla
  • Oranges
  • Flour
  • Baking soda
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Dried cranberries
  • Powdered sugar
Cranberry Orange Cookies

Cranberry Orange Cookies

Cranberry and orange come together in this soft and chewy holiday drop cookie.
4.43 from 608 votes
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Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2 -3 dozen
Calories: 282kcal
Author: Danelle

Ingredients 

For the cookies:

  • 3/4 cup butter softened
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans optional

For the glaze:

  • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • With an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugars until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until well blended.
  • Stir in 1 tablespoon of orange zest and 2 tablespoons orange juice.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture. Stir in cranberries and pecans, if using.
  • Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are just golden. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
  • In a small bowl, stir together ingredients for glaze until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies. Let stand until set.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 169mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g
Keep scrolling for tips, ingredient substitutions, answers to frequently asked questions and more!

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81 comments

  • Great flavour. I recommend chilling the dough before cooking. My cookies went flat. But im sure it was just because the butter was to warm.

  • I have made these twice now and each time they turn out so flat. I weighed all of my ingredients in hopes that it would make a difference but it didn’t. Each time I’ve had to add more flour to save the second half of the batch. Has anyone else has this problem?

    • Please try this the next time you make!!!
      I accidentally forgot to add the brown sugar the first time I made them and they turned out fluffy and delicious, determined to make them the way the recipe said, I made them the next day with the brown sugar and mine came out flat too and were too sugary so from then on I am making them without the brown sugar and I get tons of compliments about these amazing cookies! Also, use the large Pampered Chef cookie scoop!!! A definite must!!!!

    • Natalie

      Mine turned out flat even after trying a different baking sheet, so my husband looked up the ratios for baking. We used only 1 1/2 C of butter and they turned out amazing. Keep everything else the same.

      • Natalie

        I was wrong. We made sure to use 1 1/2 sticks of butter

  • Can I ask how long these will keep, providing of course they last that long.

    Many thanks

    • A
      Danelle

      About 3-4 days and still be soft. They freeze well too.

4.43 from 608 votes (603 ratings without comment)

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photo of Danelle, author of Let's Dish

Hello! I’m Danelle. Thanks for visiting.

At Let's Dish, I'm bringing a taste of uptown foodie to real-life, everyday meals! Here, I share simple, reliable recipes that make mealtime easy.
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