The Darling Apron

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Sweets
  • Resources
  • About Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Free Resources
  • Work With Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About Me
    • Free Resources
    • Work With Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Desserts

    Orange Cranberry Cookies

    Published: Jan 25, 2021 · Modified: Sep 2, 2021 by Ashley · As an Amazon affiliate, this post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    ↓ Jump to Recipe
    Pin the Recipe

    These Orange Cranberry Cookies are a soft and sweet cookie made with dried cranberries & topped with an irresistible orange icing. They are sure to become a new family favorite!

    Stack of Iced Orange Cranberry Cookies on wooden tray with glass of milk

    This recipe is yet another family favorite from my mom's recipe box. It is quite similar in softness to these cookies. There is something special about taking a handwritten recipe out of my mom's recipe box that connects me to her. Her recipes are foolproof, but how I wish I'd be able to ask her how she came up with these cookies and tell her how good they are.

    Orange & Cranberry: A Perfect Match

    Orange and cranberry together are a popular flavor combination that is a perfect match. The sweetness & tartness of both the oranges & cranberries combine to create a combination that is seen in everything from breads, salads, to these Orange Cranberry Cookies.

    Iced Orange Cranberry Cookies

    How to Make Cranberry Cookies

    To start the cookies combine butter, sugars, sour cream, vanilla & eggs. The sour cream makes the cookies perfectly soft & moist. Using a hand or stand mixer, beat this mixture for 2 minutes until well combined. 

    In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and baking powder. I have a confession here: I hate sifting dry ingredients. I don't know what it is about it, but I avoid it at all costs and honestly, I feel I can get away with it in most recipes. Instead, I throw the dry ingredients in a bowl and use a wire whisk to mix it all up. Us non-sifters must stick together!

    Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter. Then, gently add in chopped cranberries. This cookie dough will be quite soft, but don't worry, this is how it's supposed to be!

    Scoops of cranberry cookie dough layed out on parchment covered baking sheet

    Drop cookie dough by the tablespoon-full onto a baking sheet lined with parchment. With this cookie dough being so soft, using parchment paper ensures the cookies won't stick. You want the cookies to be at least 2 inches apart on the baking sheet so they don't touch while baking. Bake 11-13 minutes until the edges are golden brown. 

    Remove the cookies from the oven and allow to rest on the cookie sheet for about 2 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. Repeat with the rest of the cookie dough. Then it's time for the icing!

    Wire rack of baked cookies alongside a sheet pan of cookies

    Easy Orange Icing

    This orange icing is so quick to throw together and is loaded with orange flavor! In a small bowl combine the powdered sugar, melted butter, orange zest and orange juice. Orange zest has so much more flavor than the juice, so using both zest and juice really adds a ton of flavor to this icing. I like to start with 2 tablespoons of orange juice and add more if needed to reach the perfect consistency. You want the icing to be thick enough to spread on the cookie with a knife. Frost each cookie with the orange icing. 

    Orange Iced Cranberry Cookies on wire rack

    Store these Orange Cranberry Cookies in an airtight container for 3-4 days, although they never make it that long in our house! I would not recommend freezing these cookies with the icing. These cookies are perfect with a cup of coffee or hot tea. 

    Iced Orange Cranberry Cookies

    Sharing these family recipes with all of you is such a joy. Thank you for allowing me into your homes and I hope I can inspire you to cherish your own family traditions or create some new ones. Down the road, you never know who just might cherish them the most.

     

    Orange Cranberry Cookies stacked on a wooden tray
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Orange Cranberry Cookies

    A soft and sweet cookie made with dried cranberries & topped with an irresistible orange icing!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time13 minutes mins
    Total Time23 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Keyword: cookie, cranberry, iced, orange
    Servings: 3 dozen
    Author: Ashley Leonard

    Ingredients

    Cranberry Cookies

    • ½ cup butter, salted softened
    • ½ cup brown sugar firmly packed
    • ¾ cup white sugar
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 ¼ cup flour
    • ½ tsp. baking soda
    • ½ tsp. baking powder
    • 1 cup dried cranberries chopped

    Orange Icing

    • 2 cups powdered sugar
    • 2 tbsp. butter melted
    • ½ tbsp. orange zest
    • 2-3 tbsp. orange juice

    Instructions

    Cranberry Cookies

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • In a mixing bowl combine sugars, butter, sour cream, vanilla & eggs. Beat well for 2 minutes.
    • In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda & baking powder. Gradually add to the wet ingredients. Gently fold in chopped cranberries.
    • Drop by tablespoon-full scoops onto a parchment lined baking sheet at least 2 inches apart. Bake 11-13 minutes until golden brown around the edges.
    • Remove cookies for the oven and allow to sit for 2 minutes before moving to a wire rack to finish cooling. Cool completely before icing.

    Orange Icing

    • In a small mixing bowl, combine all icing ingredients. Start with 2 Tbsp. orange juice and gradually add more until icing reaches desired consistency.
    • Spread a little icing on top of each cookie. Store cookies in an airtight container.

    Helpful Equipment & Ingredient Links

    Cookie Sheet
    Wire Rack
    Cookie Scoop
    Whisk

    More Desserts

    • Shortcake parfait in a mason jar on marble countertop. A white bowl of strawberries in the background on top of a blue striped kitchen towel. A vintage teaspoon sits in front of the jar.
      Strawberry Shortcake Parfaits
    • Small white bowl of dipped berries with one on top cut in half, exposing the center.
      Frozen Chocolate Covered Strawberries
    • 3 Bars stacked on marble countertop with other bars surrounding it.
      Lucky Charms Rice Krispie Treats
    • Pistachio muffins stacked on wire rack with a glass of milk and a bowl of pistachios in background
      Pistachio Nut Muffins

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Lynda says

      January 30, 2021 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      Must try! The cookies are absolutely delicious (can’t eat just one)!

      Reply

    Welcome to The Darling Apron! I'm a wife, mom, & chai tea latte lover who uses food as her love language. I believe some of life's best moments happen when gathered around the kitchen table. Whether making time-honored family recipes or developing new favorites, I love creating memories through delicious food. I hope this space inspires you to do the same!

    More about me →

    Latest Recipes

    • Square image of grilled potatoes in opened foil packet on a white platter.
      Grilled Potatoes in Foil

    • Half of bagel but on a wooden board with other half of sandwich and extra leaf lettuce in background.
      Bagel BLT with Avocado

    • Tuna potato salad in a light green ceramic bowl on a wicker placemat with a jar of fresh herbs alongside.
      Tuna Potato Salad

    • Corn dog with a bite taken out of end sitting on top of other corn dogs on a plate with a white bowl of maple syrup next to them.
      Breakfast Corn Dogs (With Pancake Mix)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Foodie Pro on the Foodie Pro Theme

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.