Description
Soft and chewy, with pops of dried cranberries and fresh orange zest, these orange cranberry cookies are absolutely delicious! Whether you’re baking for the holidays or just enjoying a cozy weekend at home, this easy recipe walks you through each step to achieve bakery-style results right in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 cup softened butter ((2 sticks))
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp orange zest
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a medium bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until combined.
- Beat in the egg, orange zest, and vanilla extract until light (about 1 minute).
- Begin adding in the dry ingredients, mixing until thoroughly combined. Add in the chopped dried cranberries to the dough, keeping the mixer on low speed to mix until just combined.
- Chill the Dough: Optional but highly recommended! Place the dough in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour and for up to 2 days.
- Once ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or a silpat baking mat. Set aside.
- Using a medium sized cookie scoop, scoop out 12 equal balls of cookie dough onto each prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake in preheated oven for approximately 10-11 minutes. Take them out when they are just barely starting to turn golden brown.
- For best results, let them sit on the baking pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.
- Baked cookies will store well in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Chilling the Dough: I know, chilling the dough can sometimes be an annoyance. However, I pretty much always recommend for all of my cookie recipes. Chilling the dough creates the perfect thick and chewy cookie.
- Baking: I always like to slightly underbake my cookies to obtain a chewier texture. I take them out of the oven when they are just barely starting to turn golden brown.
- Variations: White chocolate chips would be a delicious addition to this recipe!
- Storage: These cookies store well at room temperature on the counter for up to 3 days, or an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezing Instructions: Make cookie dough per recipe instructions, then scoop out balls of cookie dough and add them to a gallon sized freezer safe bag, making sure to store the bag laying flat in the freezer. Once you are ready to bake, you can pop the cookies straight from the freezer into the oven, or set out on the counter to thaw beforehand. If you are putting them straight in the oven from the freezer, you may need to adjust your baking time to allow the frozen dough extra time to bake.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert Recipes
- Cuisine: American
