Description
These Cranberry Nut Cookies are a delightful holiday treat with a chewy texture and a burst of tart cranberries and crunchy nuts in every bite. The optional orange glaze adds a touch of citrusy sweetness.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
- 1 large egg
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 2 1/2 cups chopped cranberries
Glaze:
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
Instructions
- Prepare Dough: Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in orange juice, zest, and egg. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Stir in nuts and cranberries.
- Shape and Freeze (Optional): Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets. For later baking, flash-freeze the unbaked cookies on the cookie sheet, then transfer to freezer bags.
- Bake: Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Cool: Let cookies cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- Make Glaze (Optional): Whisk together glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies.
Notes
- Freezing: These cookies freeze beautifully! Flash freeze unbaked cookies for easy baking later.
- Nuts: Walnuts are traditional, but pecans or macadamia nuts are also delicious.
- Glaze: The orange glaze is optional but adds a lovely flavor.
- Cranberries: Don’t chop cranberries too finely, or you’ll lose their texture.
- Dough Consistency: If the dough is too soft, add ¼ – ½ cup more flour.
- Shipping: For overseas shipping, use dried cranberries for longer shelf life.
- Trivia: Cranberries bounce! This is due to air pockets inside, which also make them float.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 16g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
