Cranberry Orange Bliss Bites: Soft & Chewy Holiday Cookies

Recipe Introduction

Quick Hook

Remember those cranberry orange christmas cookies granny used to make? the smell filled the whole house. well, get ready for a major throwback with my recipe for cranberry orange cookies , but even better! honestly, these have the perfect balance of tangy and sweet.

Brief Overview

Cranberry orange cookies recipes have been around for ages. the combination of citrus and cranberries is always a winner. this version is easy.

Prep time is 20 minutes and baking takes only 10-12. one batch makes about 24 cookies.

Main Benefits

These homemade holiday cookies aren't just tasty. the cranberries are packed with antioxidants . serve these at your next cookie exchange.

They are guaranteed to be a hit. what makes this easy cranberry orange cookie recipe special? the perfect soft and chewy texture.

Cranberry Orange Bliss Bites: Soft & Chewy Holiday Cookies Recipe Card

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Preparation time:50 Mins

Cooking time:12 Mins

Servings:24 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks/226g) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
• ¾ cup (165g) packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon (5ml) orange extract
• Zest of 1 large orange (about 1 tablespoon)
• 2 ¼ cups (281g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon (5g) baking soda
• ½ teaspoon (2.5g) salt
• 1 cup (120g) dried cranberries, roughly chopped
• 1 cup (120g) confectioners' sugar (for glaze, optional)
• 2-3 tablespoons (30-45ml) fresh orange juice (for glaze, optional)

Instructions:

• Cream the butter and sugars: Beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add wet ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract, orange extract, and orange zest.
• Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
• Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix!
• Fold in cranberries: Gently fold in the chopped dried cranberries.
• Chill the dough: Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much.
• Preheat and prepare: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Scoop and bake: Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.
• Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
• Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the glaze (optional): In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar and orange juice until smooth. Add more orange juice, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
• Glaze (optional): Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies.
• Enjoy these cranberry orange cookies!

Nutrition Facts

Calories:150 calories

Fat:8g

Fiber:0.5g

Recipe Info

Category:Cookie

Cuisine:American

What You’ll Need to Bake the Best Cranberry Orange Cookies

Let's gather our goodies. get ready to make these amazing soft cranberry orange cookies . you will need butter, sugar (both white and brown), eggs, vanilla, orange extract, and orange zest.

Then there's flour, baking soda, salt and dried cranberries. don't forget the ingredients for the orange glaze. confectioners' sugar and fresh orange juice are essential.

My Secret to Chewy Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe

Honestly, the key to a chewy cranberry orange cookies recipe is not overbaking them. seriously . pull them out of the oven just before you think they're done.

They’ll firm up as they cool. you want that delightful, slightly underbaked center. that’s where the magic happens.

Cranberry Orange Cookies: The Perfect Holiday Treat

Baking these cranberry orange christmas cookies will transport you straight to the holidays. i usually bake them with a christmas movie in the background! my family adores these.

They never last long at a christmas cookie exchange recipes .

Level Up Your Cranberry Orange Recipes

Want to amp up your orange cranberry recipes ? try adding a handful of white chocolate chips. seriously, trust me on this.

It's a total game changer. also, don't skimp on the orange zest. it adds that perfect zing. the right orange cookies should always be zesty.

Ingredients & Equipment: Cranberry Orange Cookies Ready

Alright, let's get down to brass tacks with what you'll need for these amazing cranberry orange cookies . honestly, it's all stuff you probably already have, but let's make sure, shall we? i think you'll find this the easiest cranberry orange cookie recipe ever!.

Main Ingredients Breakdown

Here’s the shopping list, all laid out. pay extra attention to the butter – it needs to be soft, not melted! these are great ideas for cranberry cookie recipes and orange cranberry recipes .

• Unsalted Butter: 1 cup (2 sticks/226g) . Good butter = good cookies, right?.
• Granulated Sugar: ¾ cup (150g) .
• Light Brown Sugar: ¾ cup (165g) , packed. This keeps them soft.
• Large Eggs: 2 . Free-range if you can!
• Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon (5ml) .
• Orange Extract: 1 teaspoon (5ml) . Trust me, it boosts the orange flavour.
• Orange Zest: From 1 large orange (about 1 tablespoon). The zest is key for that orange cookies flavour.
• All-Purpose Flour: 2 ¼ cups (281g) .
• Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon (5g) .
• Salt: ½ teaspoon (2.5g) .
• Dried Cranberries: 1 cup (120g) , roughly chopped. They add the tartness to these cranberry orange Christmas cookies .
• Confectioners' Sugar (for glaze): 1 cup (120g) . Only if you are glazing it up!
• Fresh Orange Juice (for glaze): 2-3 tablespoons (30-45ml) .

For the cranberries, look for ones that are plump and not too dry. and hey, the orange is important – make sure it smells amazing before you zest it.

Soft butter is the key here to make the soft cranberry orange cookies.

Seasoning Superpowers

The magic is in the details, innit? I also think that it makes the best Homemade holiday cookies.

• The Orange-Vanilla Dream Team: Orange zest, orange extract, and vanilla extract. It's a flavour explosion, honestly.
• Spice It Up (Optional): A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg can add a cozy, festive vibe to your chewy cranberry orange cookie recipe .
• Extract SOS: No orange extract? Use more zest, or even a splash of orange liqueur if you're feeling fancy!

Essential Kit

Nothing too fancy here, promise. Most of it you'll find in a standard kitchen.

• Mixer: An electric mixer is ideal, but a good old-fashioned bowl and wooden spoon works too.
• Measuring Cups & Spoons: Accuracy is key in baking!
• Baking Sheets: Line them with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
• Parchment Paper/Silicone Mats: Prevents sticking – trust me on this one!
• Cookie Scoop (Optional): For uniform cookies, but a spoon works just fine.
• Wire Rack: For cooling the cookies.

Don’t have a mixer? Don’t sweat it! Just be prepared for a bit of an arm workout. A rolling pin isn't needed to make this Easy cranberry orange cookie recipe.

So there you have it, all you need to whip up a batch of these festive treats. Ready to bake the best Christmas cookie exchange recipes?

Right, let's get cracking on these cranberry orange bliss bites: soft & chewy holiday cookies . honestly, who doesn't love a good cookie? especially around the holidays.

These babies are far from your average dry biscuit; they’re packed with flavour, zesty and oh-so-moreish!

Prep Like a Pro: Mise en Place for Orange Cranberry Cookies

First things first, let's get organised. it's all about the mise en place . get all your ingredients out. measure them beforehand.

Soften your 1 cup (2 sticks/226g) butter. trust me, it makes life so much easier! having everything ready is a total time-saver.

It also stops you from discovering halfway through that you're missing that crucial ingredient like orange zest. i've been there, it's not fun.

Baking Time: The Easy Cranberry Orange Cookie Recipe

Okay, here’s how we turn simple ingredients into amazing Cranberry Orange Christmas Cookies :

1. Cream together the softened butter, ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar , and ¾ cup (165g) packed light brown sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3- 5 minutes with an electric mixer.
2. Beat in 2 large eggs , one at a time. Then, stir in 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract , 1 teaspoon (5ml) orange extract , and the zest of 1 large orange . Oh my gosh, the smell alone is enough to put you in a festive mood!
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 ¼ cups (281g) all-purpose flour , 1 teaspoon (5g) baking soda , and ½ teaspoon (2.5g) salt .
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Remember, don't overmix !
5. Gently fold in 1 cup (120g) dried cranberries .
6. Cover the dough and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes . This is crucial! Chilling helps prevent spreading.
7. Preheat your oven to 375° F ( 190° C) . Line those baking sheets.
8. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the sheets. Bake for 10- 12 minutes , until the edges are lightly golden brown.

Top Tips for Chewy Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe

Want to make these cookies extra special? Here's what I've learnt after baking loads of homemade holiday cookies :

• Pro Tip 1 : Slightly underbaking these makes them super soft cranberry orange cookies . Just take them out when the edges are set but the center still looks a little soft.
• Pro Tip 2 : Don't skip the chilling step! It's tempting, I know, but it's essential for preventing flat, sad cookies.
• Avoid This : Overbaking! It dries them out, and nobody wants a dry cookie.

So there you have it! this orange cranberry recipes for absolute bliss. perfect for a christmas cookie exchange recipes , a rainy afternoon, or just because you fancy a treat.

Happy baking, love!

Recipe Notes for Perfect Cranberry Orange Cookies

Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of these cranberry orange cookies . honestly, baking these is pretty simple, but a few tweaks can make all the difference.

This recipe has been meticulously designed for best results, providing soft cranberry orange cookies every time. i've baked batches upon batches of homemade holiday cookies to get this just right.

It's the chewy cranberry orange cookies recipe your family will rave about.

Serving Your Cranberry Orange Bliss Bites

Presentation matters, you know? a dusting of powdered sugar makes these cranberry orange christmas cookies look extra festive. plus, arrange them nicely on a platter.

I love serving these with a glass of cold milk, perfect. or alongside a mug of hot tea to really bring out that orangey flavour!.

Storage Secrets for Orange Cranberry Recipes

These orange cookies are best enjoyed fresh. pop any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days .

They’ll still taste great. wanna make them last longer? freeze the unbaked dough for up to 2 months . then, bake straight from frozen, adding a couple more minutes to the baking time.

Just make sure you form them into cookie dough balls before freezing.

Cranberry Cookie Recipes : Playing Around

Want to mix things up? swap the orange zest for lemon zest. you will get lemon-cranberry cookies. dietary adaptations? try using a gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free cookies.

Remember to use a blend that already contains xanthan gum.

Nutrition Deets: A Little Info on Easy Cranberry Orange Cookie Recipe

Each cookie has roughly 150 calories. they also have a bit of fiber and a decent amount of vitamin c thanks to the cranberries.

Just a rough guide mind you. you can make these easy cranberry orange cookie recipe for your christmas cookie exchange recipes .

Well there you have it, the secrets to the perfect batch of cranberry orange cookies ! i hope these tips help you create some delicious moments.

Now get baking and enjoy every single bite!. you'll be a star baker in no time! and hey, don't be afraid to experiment.

It's all about having fun in the kitchen.