Buttery Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
These buttery shortbread cookies combine zesty orange and tart fresh cranberries for a festive, melt-in-your-mouth treat perfect for cozy December baking and holiday gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (320 g)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed (225 g)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (150 g)
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped roughly (120 g)
- Zest of 1 large orange
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- Coarse sugar or sanding sugar for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, salt, and orange zest until evenly combined.
- Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, blend the cold, cubed butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter bits. Avoid overworking.
- Gently fold in the chopped fresh cranberries and vanilla extract.
- Turn the mixture onto a lightly floured surface and press together gently until it forms a rough dough. Pat into a flat rectangle about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick.
- Using a sharp knife, slice the dough into rectangles or squares, or roll into a log and slice into rounds.
- Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about an inch apart. Sprinkle the tops with coarse sugar.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are just turning golden. Watch carefully to avoid overbaking.
- Remove from oven and transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
Keep the butter cold to ensure a crumbly texture. Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent toughness. If dough is too soft, chill for 15 minutes before cutting. Pat cranberries dry if too juicy to avoid soggy cookies. Sprinkle coarse sugar on top for added crunch. Dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 1
Keywords: shortbread cookies, cranberry cookies, orange zest cookies, holiday baking, Christmas cookies, buttery cookies, festive cookies