Best Christmas Cranberry Orange Cookies (Ready-to-Print Version)

Soft cookies balanced with juicy cranberries and citrus, finished with a sparkling orange glaze for festive snacking.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 2 tablespoons orange juice
06 - 1 teaspoon orange zest
07 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
10 - 2 cups dried cranberries, chopped if desired

→ Citrus Icing

11 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
12 - 3 tablespoons orange juice
13 - 1/2 teaspoon orange zest

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Using a large bowl and a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
02 - Add egg, orange juice, and orange zest to the creamed mixture. Mix thoroughly until fully combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda.
04 - Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a smooth cookie dough forms.
05 - Gently fold dried cranberries into the dough by hand, ensuring even distribution.
06 - Drop tablespoon-sized portions of cookie dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment, spacing them 2 inches apart.
07 - Bake cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
08 - Mix powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest in a medium bowl until the icing is smooth and pourable.
09 - Drizzle icing over cooled cookies. Allow icing to set fully before storing.
10 - Once the icing is hardened, store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, with parchment paper between layers.

# Handy Tips:

01 - For optimal results, use room-temperature butter and avoid overmixing the dough after adding the flour.
02 - Chill dough for at least 30 minutes if cookies spread too much during baking.
03 - Grate only the orange zest's colored surface to prevent bitterness from the white pith.
04 - Cookies may be frozen for up to 3 months; glaze after they have thawed for best texture.

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