Description
Festive cranberry orange shortbread cookies blend zesty citrus with tart berries in a buttery Scottish-style treat. Crisp edges and delicate crumb promise a delightful holiday indulgence you’ll savor with each elegant bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (226 g or 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (60 g) dried cranberries, finely chopped
- ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar (optional, for coating)
Instructions
- Creaming: Whip softened butter with powdered sugar until light and fluffy, integrating orange zest and vanilla extract seamlessly into a smooth, aromatic mixture.
- Dough Formation: Gently fold flour and salt into the butter mixture, carefully incorporating dried cranberries to create a uniform dough. Divide the mixture into two equal logs, wrapping each tightly in plastic film and refrigerating for at least 2 hours to solidify and enhance flavors.
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove chilled dough logs and slice into quarter-inch thick rounds, arranging them with adequate spacing on prepared baking surfaces.
- Baking: Slide cookies into the preheated oven, baking for 12-15 minutes until edges turn a delicate golden brown. Allow cookies to cool briefly on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Finishing Touch: Optionally, dust with granulated sugar or drizzle with a light orange glaze to elevate the cookies’ visual appeal and flavor profile.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is softened but not melted for the perfect light, airy texture that creates a melt-in-your-mouth shortbread experience.
- Gentle Mixing Technique: Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough cookies; mix just until ingredients combine to maintain the signature delicate shortbread crumb.
- Chill for Precision: Refrigerating the dough is crucial – it helps cookies hold their shape, intensifies flavors, and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
- Slice with Consistency: Use a sharp knife and cut cookies to uniform quarter-inch thickness to guarantee even baking and consistent texture across all cookies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 135
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg