Description
Festive, buttery, and bursting with citrus‑cranberry flavour, these Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies bring holiday charm to your cookie tin. A melt‑in‑your‑mouth shortbread base is scented with orange zest and speckled with tart cranberries, making each bite bright, elegant, and savoury‑sweet. Perfect for cookie swaps, festive platters, or adding colour to your holiday baking.
Ingredients
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1 cup (≈ 225 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
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½ cup (≈ 100 g) granulated sugar (plus extra for rolling slices, optional)
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Zest of 1 orange (or tangerine for extra citrus note)
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1 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract, optional)
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2 cups (≈ 250 g) all-purpose flour
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½ tsp fine salt
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~1 cup fresh cranberries (chopped) or ~½–¾ cup dried cranberries (finely chopped)
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(Optional) Coarse sugar for rolling slices before baking
Instructions
1. Prepare Dough
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Preheat oven to 325–350 °F (163–175 °C); line baking sheet with parchment.
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Cream butter, sugar, orange zest, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
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Mix in flour and salt on low speed until just combined.
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Fold in cranberries until evenly distributed.
2. Form & Chill
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Shape dough into a log (~2 inches / 5 cm diameter) and wrap tightly in plastic wrap (then foil if desired).
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Chill for at least 2 hours, or overnight, for firm dough that slices cleanly.
3. Slice & Bake
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Slice chilled log into ~¼‑inch (6 mm) rounds; optionally roll in coarse sugar.
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Place 1–2 inches apart on baking sheet.
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Bake 12–15 minutes until bottoms are lightly golden and tops set.
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Cool on sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
Notes
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Thickness matters: Thicker slices = softer, melt-in-your-mouth; thinner slices = crispier.
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Butter temperature: Room-temperature butter ensures smooth dough and better texture.
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Cranberry moisture: Fresh cranberries release moisture; dried are more stable for consistent slices.
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Chill dough: Essential for clean slice-and-bake results.
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Visual appeal: Orange zest + cranberries = festive colour perfect for gifting or dessert tables.
- Prep Time: 15–25 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 130kcal
- Sodium: 45mg
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg