Cranberry Orange Short Bread
Cranberry Orange Shortbread cookies are a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth treat with a perfect balance of tart dried cranberries and fresh, citrusy orange zest. The dough is simple to make, and the cookies bake to a delicate, crisp texture. Finished with a sweet drizzle of white chocolate, these festive shortbread cookies are perfect for holiday gifting, gatherings, or cozying up with a warm beverage.
Shortbread is known for its rich, buttery texture, and these cookies are no exception. With just the right balance of crispiness and melt-in-your-mouth goodness, they’re the perfect treat to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee.
Jump to Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Cold butter: Essential for achieving that perfect crumbly texture.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness while keeping the dough tender.
- Flour: The foundation for shortbread, giving it a delicate yet firm texture.
- Orange zest & juice: For that fresh citrus flavor that pairs perfectly with the cranberries.
- Dried cranberries: Tart and chewy, these provide a pop of flavor in every bite.
- White chocolate: For drizzling on top to add a creamy sweetness.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Start by whisking together your flour, sugar, salt, and orange zest.
- Cut in the Butter: Add the cold, cubed butter and work it into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. This is what gives shortbread its crumbly texture.
- Add the Liquid Ingredients: Stir in the vanilla and orange juice to bring the dough together. The citrusy juice adds a subtle, fresh flavor.
- Fold in Cranberries: Gently fold in the dried cranberries, making sure they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Chill the Dough: Shape the dough into a log, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Chilling helps the dough firm up and prevents the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
- Slice and Bake: Once chilled, slice the dough into rounds, place them on a baking sheet, and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Drizzle with White Chocolate: Once the cookies have cooled, drizzle melted white chocolate over them for a sweet finishing touch. Allow the chocolate to set before serving.
Feel free to add your own twist! You can incorporate chopped nuts like pistachios or almonds, or even substitute the orange zest for lemon or lime zest for a different citrusy flavor.
Why I love this recipe
- Perfect Holiday Flavors: The combination of dried cranberries and orange zest gives these shortbread cookies a festive and seasonal flavor that’s perfect for holiday gatherings, cookie exchanges, or cozy afternoons.
- Easy to Make: This shortbread recipe is straightforward and requires only a few ingredients. The dough comes together quickly, and the cookies bake in just 20 minutes, making it an easy addition to your holiday baking lineup.
- Buttery and Crisp: Shortbread is known for its rich, buttery texture, and these cookies are no exception. With just the right balance of crispiness and melt-in-your-mouth goodness, they’re the perfect treat to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee.
- Customizable: Feel free to add your own twist! You can incorporate chopped nuts like pistachios or almonds, or even substitute the orange zest for lemon or lime zest for a different citrusy flavor.
- Great for Gifting: These cookies are ideal for gifting! They look beautiful when drizzled with white chocolate and make a thoughtful, homemade gift that’s sure to impress friends and family. Simply package them in a cute tin or box for a charming gift.
Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
These Cranberry Orange Shortbread cookies are a perfect blend of buttery richness and zesty orange flavor, studded with chewy dried cranberries. Here’s how to make them:
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold butter cubed
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries chopped if large
- Zest of 1 orange
- orange juice Use as much as you need to form a dough.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and orange zest.
- Add the cubed cold butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or your hands, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Stir in the cranberries, vanilla extract and orange juice until the dough starts to come together.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently gently knead it to bring it together. Shape it into a log (about 2 inches in diameter), wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Once the dough is chilled, slice it into 1/4-inch thick rounds and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow the shortbread to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To add a delicious finishing touch to your Cranberry Orange Shortbread, drizzle with white chocolate for extra sweetness and a beautiful presentation.
Notes
Butter Temperature:
- Cold Butter: Be sure to use cold butter when cutting it into the dry ingredients. This will help achieve the desired crumbly texture in your shortbread.
Chilling the Dough:
- Chilling the dough is important for maintaining the shortbread’s structure and ensuring it doesn’t spread too much while baking. If you’re short on time, you can chill the dough for as little as 30 minutes, but for best results, chill it longer (up to 1 hour).
Storage:
- Store Cranberry Orange Shortbread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
- For longer storage, you can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let the cookies thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Customization:
- Nuts: You can add chopped nuts like pistachios or almonds to complement the cranberries and orange for extra texture and flavor.
- Citrus Variations: For a different twist, swap the orange zest and juice for lemon or lime for a citrusy variation.
