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Cranberry Orange Cookies

Deliciously festive cookies that are easy to make and perfect for the holidays, these Cranberry Orange Cookies combine zesty orange flavor with tart dried cranberries, providing a treat that's both simple and delightful.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 100
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 2 cups All-purpose flour Give your dough good structure.
  • 1 tsp Baking powder Helps things puff up just right.
  • 1 pinch Salt Makes all the magic pop.
Wet Ingredients
  • 1 cup Salted butter Room temperature makes a difference.
  • 1 cup Granulated sugar Basic, reliable, essential.
  • 1 large Egg Just one, nothing fussy.
  • 1 tbsp Fresh orange zest Don't skip for zippy flavor.
  • 2 tbsp Orange juice Fresh juice preferred.
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract Optional, but recommended.
Mix-Ins
  • 1 cup Dried cranberries Tart and chewy, can be chopped.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the egg, orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla extract if using. Beat until smooth.
  4. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and pinch of salt until no flour streaks remain. Avoid overmixing.
  5. Gently fold in the dried cranberries.
  6. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet.
Baking
  1. Bake for 10 minutes until the edges are golden.
  2. Let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

For best results, use room temperature butter and eggs. Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it's sticky, and line your baking sheets for easy cleanup. Variations include using chopped dried cherries, white chocolate chips, or sprinkles of coarse sugar before baking.