This is the time of year when kitchens all across the country will be the busiest with cookie baking. Whether for the family, cookie exchanges, bake sales or gift giving there’s plenty of treats to be baked.
There are holiday favorites, must haves, to be baked each year. Some recipes are handed down for generations, and we feel connected with those in our past. It’s amazing how food unites us… those presently with us, those across the miles and even those who have gone on before us.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to try something new and different. Last year I found this recipe for Cranberry Orange Cookies. Cranberry and orange flavors definitely complement each other. The dough is easy to put together, formed into a log and then it goes in the refrigerator to chill for a few hours… up to 5 days. That makes it perfect for a busy schedule. The final assembly of these cookies is easy too… you slice them, lay them on a parchment lined baking sheet and pop them in the oven.
Course sugar pressed into the cookie before baking makes these cookies sparkle… just as they should during this holiday season.
Cranberry Orange Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 tbsp orange zest or zest of one orange
- 1 tbsp coarse sugar or more as needed
Instructions
- Cream butter, sugars and orange zest together for 1-2 minutes. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla extract.
- Add in the flour and mix just until combined. Stir in dried cranberries.
- Divide dough in half and roll each portion into an 8" log. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours and up to 5 days.
- When ready to bake, heat oven to 325°F. Using a serrated knife slice the cookie dough into 1/4" thick slices. Lay flat side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press coarse sugar into the top of each cookie.
- Bake in preheated oven until the bottom edges are just turning golden, about 10-12minutes. Slide parchment paper with cookies onto a wire rack to cool.
