These Cranberry Orange Cookies are perfect for holiday baking or anytime baking. The flavor combo is perfection and thanks to a sugary coating they look so pretty on your cookie plate.
If you are looking for a pretty and delicious Christmas cookie, you’ve found it. These orange cookies are a favorite holiday cookie I make year after year along with these Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies and Raspberry White Chocolate Cookies. I have dozens of great cookie recipes that are perfect for the holidays.
Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone it is time to get serious about Christmas. One of my favorite holiday activities is our Annual Cookie Baking Day. I spend a lot of time coming up with just the right menu of cookies. Being sure flavors are balanced, can’t have all chocolate cookies. And there is always a list of our favorites like Lemon Drops and Snowballs.
Each year I always add a few new recipes to the list too. The experimenting is the best part. If you are looking for a new cookie to add to your holiday baking these cranberry orange cookies should be included!
Cranberry + Orange = Perfect Combination
I love the combination of orange and cranberry. Not only is it delicious in a cranberry sauce but it also makes a lovely cookie! These cookies are light and crunchy with a light, delicious sweet citrus flavor. And the orange sugar coating on the outside gives it that extra pop of orange and makes them sparkle. They look so pretty on a cookie plate!
How to Make Orange Cranberry Cookies
Cream your sugar, butter and egg together and then add in your dry ingredients. The trick to a tender cookie is to not overmix your batter. Only mix the dough enough to incorporate the ingredients. Always use your mixer on medium low so you don’t over mix. Add in your orange zest and craisinets when about half the flour is incorporated, this helps prevent overmixing. Form your dough into round balls, about the size of a golf ball.
Mix together your orange sugar and roll each ball of dough into the sugar, coating completely.
Place the balls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Take a drinking glass and gently push down the ball of dough. Bake for 7-10 minutes until edges are just slightly golden brown.
Can I Freeze Cookies?
Yes! Read all my tips for successfully freezing cookies here.
Other Favorite Holiday Cookies:
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Cranberry Orange Cookie Recipe
Cranberry Orange Cookies
Ingredients
Cookie:
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 1 egg
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries chopped
- 1 Tbsp freshly grated orange peel
Sugar Mixture:
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tsp freshly grated orange peel
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine all sugar mixture ingredients in small bowl.
- Stir until well mixed. Set aside
Cookies:
- Combine 1 cup sugar, butter and egg in a bowl. Beat until just combined and creamy.
- Reduce speed and add flour, baking powder and baking soda.
- Beat until half way combined and then add in orange peel and craisnets. Mix until just combined.
- Shape cookies into one inch balls and roll in sugar mixture.
- Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 7 - 11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
- Do not over bake.
- Cool 1 minute and remove from cookie sheet.
Video
Nutrition
Originally posted November 29, 2011
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Just made these today. I think they resemble a sugar cookie. I also used pecans in the cookie. I don’t think mine are as pretty as yours and I don’t know why. I am going to make cookie butter to go with them.
I made these cookies are they supposed to spread? My cookies came out flat
If you are at a higher altitude you may need to add a few more tablespoons of flour.
Can you refrigerate the dough?
Yes you can
I made these last Christmas and the were fabulous. Going to make again but am wondering if they freeze well? And if so for how long?
Thank you!
Thank you for such a great recipe! It’s become our new thanksgiving tradition to make these every year. So easy to make too.
Tried the orange cranberry cookies and they are okay but lacking any orange flavor and not enough cranberries. Plus they did not come out like your picture,too flat. Not sure what happened but taking the best looking ones to Thanksgiving dinner after church tomorrow.
Does the orange peel give enough orange flavor? What kind of dried cranberries?
I think so – it is not a strongly orange flavored cookie but a nice blend of the orange and cranberry. You can use whatever brand of dried cranberries you like.
The flavor of these cookies was amazing sadly my spread and were pancake thin.
Kelly, Are you at a high altitude? You may need to add in some extra flour if so.
These are the best cookies I ever had! Thank you so much for the idea and a recipe!
These are delicious…I added nuts to my batch…Yummy….
I just made a double batch of these for a church fundraiser. I got just over 9 dozen using my smallest cookie scoop. Lucky for me there were two over 9 dozen, so I got to sample them. Super yummy!!
Can I make the dough and portion it out and then freeze it? I have all the stuff now but I want the cookies for the holidays. Also if I did it that way should I roll them in sugar before freezing or right before I cook them?
I have made these once already and everyone loved them! Thanks for the great recipes!
Caty, I have never frozen the dough before but it should work fine. I would roll in sugar right before baking them though. They are so yummy!
Can i substitute clementine peel for the orange peel?
Thanks!
Katie, I haven’t ever done it but it should work fine.
This cookie recipe is amazing. Have made it multiple times. My family loves them. Sometimes I add more dried cranberries though hehe
I make around 50 dozen cookies at Christmas time.. I made these today…so very good…I’m making another batch now!
Wow! That’s a lot of cookies. Glad you liked these.
Amazing!!!!! Oh so yummy!!
I made these and they are SOOOO good! Like a sugar cookie punched up with orange and cranberry flavors. I’m definitely making these to give as christmas gifts this year. Thanks for a great recipe!
LOVE these cookies thank you for sharing. I posted a link to your blog on The Buzz at Allrecipes, a lot of thanks from there too 🙂 I’m making another batch today. Merry Christmas!
I love that you love the cookie! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!!
I’m always looking for new Christmas Cookie recipies, and couldn’t wait to make these. They turned out exactly as pictured! The only thing different was added more orange peel. What a fantastic tasting recipe! Next time I make these Im going to drizzle a confectionary mixture mixed with Orange Juice. Thanks for the recipe.
I am so glad you loved them too! Love the idea of drizzling them!
How many cookies does this recipe make?
It will depend on the size but 2 dozen or so.
I was just wondering how many cookies one batch makes. I’m going to make this for a cookie exchange party. Thanks!
Hi, I am going to use this recipe for my Christmas cookie party this weekend…..but do u use salted or unsalted butter?
Thanks
Jen
Salted. I will always specify if unsalted is needed
Thanks!!! 🙂
I will try these, but I am looking for receipe I lost. Orange-Cranberry slices, This is my grandsons favorite. Can anyone help? PLEASE
Is this similar? http://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/cookies/holiday-cranberry-orange-slices/
I have been searching for a good Cranberry Cookie Recipe. These look so good!
We loved it – hope you do too!
Made these today. Delicious! My children stated they taste similar to fruit loops. Highly recommended, thanks for sharing!
So glad they were a hit at your house!
I just made these cookies and they are so delicious. Will definitely make them again and again.
One of my favorite cookies during the holidays So glad you enjoyed them too!
My kitchen smelled so good when baking these yummy cookies.
These are so yummy! I know I can always count on you for something new and delicious! Thanks so much!
I just finished baking these, I now have a new favorite. Thanks! : )
So glad you enjoyed them. They are a new favorite around here too!
You take such great pictures that make your mouth water! What kind of camera and lighting do you use? I’m going to have to share and try some of these recipes.
I use a Nikon D90x and I alway try to shoot in natural light – no flash. I also shoot in manual mode which I think makes a big difference.
They look great!!!
Like Brooke I have not gotten your posts for over a week. Glad I looked you up! Just wanted to let you know.
Thank you so much for all the work you put into your blog! I have missed you!!!
I’ve made these for several years now, and they are one of our favorite Christmas Cookie Swap cookies. My brother also requests these each year for our family get together. Delicious cookie!
Thanks for the recipe Leigh Anne. How many cookies does this recipe make?
Carmen
It made about 4 dozen cookies if you use a teaspoon scoop.
Hi Leigh Anne,
These cookies look so good. I will be making them. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
I wanted to let you know that I haven’t been receiving your posts since
about Nov. 19th like Brooke stated. Should we sign-up again?
These look fantastic!
Side note- I am a huge fan of your blog and have your blog on my Google reader. For some reason, none of your posts past Nov 19 are showing up on the reader. Just wanted to let you know in case there was an error on your blog.
I am not sure what’s going on with the blog – I have a request into my tech person to see what’s going on. Why don’t you try resubscribing and see if it will let you – it may not. Hopefully the problem will be solved soon!
I tried to resubscribe but that didn’t work either.
It should be fixed now and updates coming tomorrow let me know if you don’t get it
These look delicious. I also get lots of cookies, besides your blog, from Land O Lakes. Will have to try soon.