Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
These Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies are a delightful blend of zesty orange and tart cranberries baked into a buttery, crumbly shortbread. Perfectly golden and lightly sweetened, these cookies offer a refreshing twist on traditional shortbread, making them ideal for holiday treats or everyday indulgence.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter (cold, cut into cubes)
Add-ins
- ¼ cup fresh cranberries (finely chopped)
- ½ tablespoon orange zest
Glaze
- Powdered sugar (quantity as needed for drizzling)
- Orange juice (quantity to thin glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking your shortbread cookies evenly.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and salt until well combined to create a balanced dry mixture.
- Incorporate Butter: Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, ensuring the butter is evenly dispersed for a tender crumb.
- Add Flavorings: Gently fold in the finely chopped cranberries and orange zest until just combined to distribute flavor without overworking the dough.
- Shape Dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently roll it out to about ½-inch thickness. Cut the dough into desired shapes or sticks, depending on your preference.
- Bake: Place the shaped dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges, indicating they are cooked through.
- Cool and Glaze: Allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack. Prepare a glaze by mixing powdered sugar with orange juice until smooth, then drizzle it over the cooled cookies for added sweetness and citrus flavor.
Notes
- Use cold butter to achieve a crumbly shortbread texture.
- Finely chopping the cranberries helps distribute the tartness evenly.
- Orange zest adds fresh citrus aroma; ensure to only use the colored part of the peel.
- The glaze is optional but enhances both flavor and appearance.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to a week.
- For a less tart cookie, reduce cranberries or omit the glaze.
Keywords: Orange shortbread cookies, cranberry cookies, citrus cookies, holiday cookies, crumbly cookies
