Description
Festive orange cranberry shortbread cookies blend zesty citrus with tart cranberries for a delightful holiday treat. Sweet, crumbly cookies offer a perfect balance of flavors that will charm guests and satisfy winter dessert cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¼ cups (155 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup + 1 tbsp (75 g) granulated sugar
- 1 stick (113 g / 4 oz) unsalted butter, cold and cut into ½-inch cubes
- ¼ cup (40 g) fresh cranberries, finely chopped
- ⅔ cup (80 g) powdered sugar
- ½ tbsp orange zest
- 1 tbsp (8 g) cornstarch
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 tsp (15 g / 0.5 fl oz) orange juice
Instructions
- Blend Dry Components: Thoroughly mix flour, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a spacious mixing bowl to create a uniform dry base.
- Incorporate Butter: Add cold butter cubes and mix on low speed until the mixture transforms into a coarse, sandy texture that holds together when pressed.
- Enhance Dough: Gently fold chopped cranberries and orange zest into the crumbly mixture, ensuring even distribution of flavor elements.
- Form Dough: Transfer the delicate mixture onto parchment paper, carefully kneading to create a cohesive dough ball. Place a second parchment sheet on top and roll into a precise 4×12-inch rectangular shape.
- Chill Preparation: Refrigerate the dough for 20 minutes to firm up and develop optimal consistency.
- Preheat and Prepare: Set oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat, creating the perfect baking environment.
- Shape and Arrange: Cut the chilled dough into 24 uniform sticks, positioning them with precise spacing on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 20 minutes, watching for delicate golden-brown edges that indicate ideal doneness. While warm, gently reshape cookies if necessary to maintain their elegant form.
- Cool and Glaze: Allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack. Meanwhile, whisk powdered sugar and fresh orange juice to create a silky glaze.
- Final Touch: Drizzle the citrusy glaze over cooled cookies using a pastry bag or squeeze bottle, adding a professional and visually appealing finish.
Notes
- Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigeration helps prevent spreading and maintains the cookie’s crisp, defined shape during baking.
- Handle with Care: Use a light touch when kneading and rolling to keep shortbread tender and prevent tough texture.
- Precision Matters: Uniform cutting ensures even baking and professional-looking cookies that cook consistently.
- Glaze Game Strong: Apply orange glaze while cookies are completely cool to prevent melting and achieve a clean, elegant finish.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 22
- Calories: 112
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg