Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies Recipe
User Reviews
4.1
Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Description
This recipe combines flour, salt, and softened butter beaten with sugar to create a fluffy base. Incorporating egg yolk and vanilla results in a rich dough. Dried cranberries and grated orange peel add flavor and texture, while chopped walnuts can coat the exterior, adding crunch.
The chilled dough logs firm up for easier slicing into rounds between 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick. Thinner slices bake quicker and yield crisper cookies, while thicker slices offer a chewier bite with slight adjustments to baking time. Baking at 350 degrees F ensures even cooking and golden edges.
These cookies balance crispness and tenderness with citrus brightness and fruity notes, making them suitable for serving with tea or gifting. The dough and finished cookies freeze well, allowing for preparation ahead of time and convenient storage.
Storing sliced dough logs wrapped tightly in the freezer preserves freshness for up to three months. Upon thawing in the refrigerator, the dough slices and bakes as usual. After baking, shortbread cookies can be frozen in airtight containers layered with parchment to maintain texture and flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter room temperature, 2 sticks
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup dried cranberries chopped
- ¼ cup orange peel grated, aka orange zest, from 1 orange
- walnuts optional, chopped
Optional Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk or cream
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
- In another large bowl, use a mixer to beat the butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
- Gradually add flour mixture to the mixing bowl and beat until well mixed.
- Fold in dried cranberries and orange peel. It will be a very stiff dough. Stir with a spatula, not the mixer.
- Divide dough in half and roll each half into a log shape.
- If you want to coat the outside in nuts finely chop the walnuts. Set up two sheets of parchment paper on a counter and spread the walnuts evenly on the paper.
- Add a dough log on top of walnuts and roll it to coat the edges. Repeat with the other log.
- Cover each dough log with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm enough to cut.
- When you are ready to bake preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Slice into rounds about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick and place on the prepared baking sheet. If you aren't planning to glaze them you can sprinkle the unbaked cookies with sparkling sugar for a decorative sparkly finish.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown on the bottom.
- Remove them from the oven and put on wire racks to cool.
- If you want to add glaze mix the powdered sugar and milk. Drizzle it over cooled cookies.
- Store in airtight container for 4-5 days. Unbaked cookie dough logs will keep in the refrigerator for 4 days.
Notes
- Slicing cookies thinner (1/8 inch) yields crispier texture; thicker slices (1/4 inch) give softer, chewier cookies requiring slightly longer bake.
- Freeze dough logs wrapped tightly for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in refrigerator before slicing and baking.
- Freeze baked cookies in airtight containers separated by parchment paper; thaw at room temperature overnight before serving.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 40Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 112 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 112kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 17g | 6% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 17mg | 6% |
| Sodium | 66mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 14mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 0.4g | 2% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
| Vitamin A | 151IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 5mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.4mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.1
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