Cranberry and orange come together in this soft and chewy holiday drop cookie.
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.
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.
Ingredients
- Butter
- Sugar
- Brown sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Oranges
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Dried cranberries
- Powdered sugar
Cranberry Orange Cookies
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
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81 comments
Kathi
I made these as refreshments at a fundraising event. Everyone loved them and several asked me to forward the recipe. I’m adding this one to my list of go-to cookies.
Esli
Hi Danelle, I actually tweaked a few things bc my nephew is a vegan. So I used vegan butter, flaxseed “egg” and they came out delicious! Not flat at all and very flavorful. It’s nice to know I could still follow the recipe and only have to change a few things and they still came out great 🙂
Danelle
Wonderful! I’m so glad they worked out well for you.
Jennifer
I’m not sure why some people are advocating not to use the brown sugar. Because of the comments I tried it with and without the brown sugar. Without it the cookie did not spread, it stayed a ball, and it had more of a biscuit or scone texture and flavor. The four people who tried both (myself included) all preferred it with the brown sugar. I did add extra zest and extra cranberries. I took them to a party (about 100 of these and 70 of another type, 50 guests) and all the cookies were gone by the end of the night.