Description
Delight in these Orange Cranberry Meltaway Cookies, a perfect balance of tart cranberries and zesty orange flavor wrapped in a soft, buttery cookie. Finished with a sweet orange glaze, these cookies are an easy and festive treat ideal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 1/2 cups flour
Orange Glaze
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons orange juice
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Soak Cranberries: Place the dried cranberries in a small bowl, cover them with water, and let them soak for 5 to 10 minutes to soften.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the room temperature butter and granulated sugar on medium speed for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add Flavorings and Egg: Mix in the orange zest, egg, vanilla extract, and baking soda. Continue mixing for about 1 minute until everything is well combined, scraping down the bowl sides as needed.
- Incorporate Flour: Lower the mixer speed to low, then gradually add the flour and mix just until the dough comes together, being careful not to overmix.
- Add Cranberries: Drain the soaked cranberries, pat them dry with a towel, and gently fold them into the dough until evenly distributed.
- Scoop Cookies: Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion out dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges turn slightly golden. Avoid overbaking to keep the cookies soft.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and 2 to 3 tablespoons of orange juice until smooth.
- Glaze Cookies: Drizzle about 1 teaspoon of the orange glaze over each cookie. Allow the glaze to set before serving.
Notes
- Soaking the cranberries softens them and prevents them from drawing moisture out of the dough during baking.
- Be careful not to overbake the cookies; they should be just set when removed from the oven for the best meltaway texture.
- Adjust the orange juice in the glaze to get your desired consistency—less juice for thicker glaze, more for thinner.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- These cookies can also be frozen before baking for up to 1 month; add an extra minute to the baking time if baking frozen dough.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
