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Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies for Your Holiday Cheer

These Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies are delightful treats that embody holiday cheer.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chilling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Calories: 100
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Dough
  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour For a gluten-free option, substitute with a 1-to-1 gluten-free blend.
  • 3/4 cups Granulated Sugar No substitutions suggested since sugar is essential.
  • 1 cup Butter (cold) Use unsalted butter for better control over salt levels.
  • 1 cup Dried Cranberries You can use fresh cranberries, but blot excess juice to prevent a wet dough.
  • 1 teaspoon Almond Extract Feel free to swap with vanilla extract for a different twist.
  • 1 tablespoon Orange Zest Always use fresh zest for the best flavor impact.
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh Orange Juice Optional; omit if you prefer a less intense taste.

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment Paper
  • Food Processor
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Pastry cutter
  • plastic wrap
  • Knife

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a food processor, pulse the dried cranberries with 1/4 cup of granulated sugar until they are finely chopped.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour and the remaining sugar. Gradually cut in the cold, unsalted butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
  4. Fold in the almond extract, chopped cranberries, fresh orange zest, and optional orange juice until a crumbly dough forms.
  5. Shape the dough into a log about 2 inches in diameter and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  6. Slice the dough into 1/4-inch rounds and roll each slice in granulated sugar before arranging on the baking sheet.
  7. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes until they are set and barely pale in color. Cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 100kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 50mgPotassium: 30mgSugar: 6gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 3mg

Notes

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.

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