Description

Indulge in the delightful taste of homemade Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies. Bursting with the zesty flavor of fresh orange zest and the sweetness of dried cranberries, these buttery cookies are perfect for any occasion—whether you’re celebrating a festive gathering or simply enjoying a cozy afternoon snack. Topped with a vibrant orange glaze, they not only taste fantastic but also look stunning on any dessert table. Easy to prepare, this recipe is ideal for bakers of all skill levels and makes for a thoughtful gift when packaged beautifully. Experience the joy of baking and treat yourself and your loved ones to these irresistible cookies!

Ingredients

Scale

60 g caster sugar
Zest from 1 orange
125 g unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 tsp vanilla extract
180 g plain flour (all-purpose)
75 g dried cranberries (finely chopped)
For the Glaze: 120 g powdered icing sugar
30 ml orange juice
1 tsp unsalted butter (melted)

Instructions

In a bowl, rub together caster sugar and orange zest until fragrant.
Cream the butter with the orange-sugar mixture and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
Gradually mix in flour and chopped cranberries until just combined.
Shape the dough into a disc, roll out to ½ cm thickness, chill if too soft.
Cut shapes using cookie cutters; refrigerate cutouts for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 170°C (335°F) and bake cookies for 12-15 minutes until golden around the edges.
Allow to cool before glazing by dipping each cookie into a mixture of icing sugar, orange juice, and melted butter.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie (approximately 25g)
Calories: 120
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 20mg
Fat: 6g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 14g
Fiber: <1g
Protein: <1g
Cholesterol: 15mg

Keywords: For added flavor, consider incorporating spices like cinnamon or nutmeg into the dough. Experiment with different citrus juices for unique variations.