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Soft and Chewy Cranberry Orange Cookies with Optional Zesty Glaze

A stack of soft cranberry orange cookies drizzled with a white citrus glaze, sitting on a white plate.
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Make soft and chewy cranberry orange cookies that feature bright citrus flavor and tart dried cranberries. This easy recipe is perfect for holiday cookie exchanges and delivers bakery-style results.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Zest of 1 large orange
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries
  • For Glaze (Optional): 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
  3. Beat in the egg and the orange zest until just combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
  5. Gently fold in the dried cranberries using a spatula.
  6. Scoop the dough into tall mounds (about 1.5 tablespoons each) and place them onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between them.
  7. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes. The edges should be set, but the centers should still look soft. These cookies will firm up as they cool, giving you that soft texture.
  8. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. To make the optional glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar and orange juice until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies. Allow the glaze to set before serving.

Notes

  • For the best soft texture, slightly underbake the cookies. They continue to cook on the hot pan after removal from the oven.
  • Use fresh orange zest; bottled zest will not provide the bright flavor you want in these citrus cranberry dessert treats.
  • If you want a more intense cranberry flavor, soak the dried cranberries in a tablespoon of orange juice for 10 minutes before adding them to the dough.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cheffinity.com/cranberry-orange-cookies-recipe/