Description
Festive cranberry orange shortbread cookies blend zesty citrus with sweet-tart berries in a melt-in-your-mouth delight. Holiday bakers will find pure joy in this simple yet elegant Scottish-inspired treat that connects warmth and tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
Flavoring Ingredients:
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange
Finishing Ingredients:
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (optional, for coating the cookies)
Instructions
- Cream butter and powdered sugar in a spacious mixing vessel, whipping vigorously until the mixture transforms into a pale, airy texture with soft peaks forming.
- Incorporate fragrant vanilla extract and vibrant orange zest, gently folding to evenly distribute the citrusy and aromatic components throughout the creamy base.
- Sift together flour and salt in a separate bowl, creating a fine, even powder that will ensure a delicate cookie texture.
- Gradually introduce the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Fold chopped cranberries into the dough, distributing them evenly to create bursts of tangy flavor throughout each cookie.
- Shape the dough into a compact log on a sheet of parchment paper, carefully rolling and smoothing to create a uniform cylindrical shape.
- Wrap the dough log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld and dough to firm up.
- Preheat the oven and line baking sheets with parchment paper, preparing a clean workspace for cookie preparation.
- Remove chilled dough from refrigerator and slice into uniform rounds, approximately quarter-inch thick, ensuring consistent baking.
- Arrange cookie slices on prepared baking sheets, leaving modest space between each to allow for slight spreading during baking.
- Bake until edges turn a delicate golden brown, signaling the perfect crisp and tender shortbread texture.
- Allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack, enabling them to set and develop their signature crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
Notes
- Zest oranges right before mixing to capture the brightest, most vibrant citrus flavor and maximize aromatic oils.
- Chop dried cranberries finely to distribute evenly throughout the cookie dough, preventing large chunky clusters.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling and cutting to help cookies maintain their shape and prevent spreading during baking.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum for better texture and structure.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg