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Delicious homemade Cranberry Orange Cookies on a plate

Cranberry Orange Cookies

Deliciously moist cookies combining bright citrus and tart cranberries, finished with a light orange glaze.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookies
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened Use room temperature butter for best results.
  • 1/2 cup white sugar Granulated sugar.
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar Adds chewiness to the cookies.
  • 1 large egg Use a room temperature egg.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon grated orange zest Plus 1 teaspoon for glaze.
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice Plus 3 tablespoons for glaze.
  • 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 Use low-moisture dried cranberries.
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans Optional; can substitute with walnuts or omit for nut-free.
Glaze
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar Adjust for desired thickness.
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest For glaze.
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice For glaze.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter with white and brown sugars until light and slightly fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until combined.
  4. Stir in the orange zest and orange juice until evenly mixed.
  5. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  6. Fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
  7. Stir in dried cranberries and chopped pecans if using.
  8. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto prepared cookie sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Baking
  1. Bake the cookies for 8–10 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden and centers look set.
  2. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
Glazing
  1. Whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, orange juice, and zest until smooth, then drizzle the glaze over cooled cookies.
  2. Allow glaze to set before storing.

Notes

For a lighter cookie, reduce sugars to 1/2 cup each. For softness, add 1-2 teaspoons more orange juice. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 days.