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An extreme close up of a single golden brown orange cranberry cookie on a dark rustic board, highlighting its soft chewy texture and glistening orange zest. (Orange Cranberry Cookies Recipe)

The Perfect Chewy Orange Cranberry Cookies Recipe

This Orange Cranberry Cookies Recipe delivers perfectly soft and chewy cookies every time. Bursting with vibrant dried cranberries and fresh orange zest, this easy-to-follow recipe is destined to become a new favorite for holiday baking and beyond.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 110
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Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (113g)
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar (150g)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (50g)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 large orange, zested
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (180g)
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup dried cranberries (120g)

Equipment

  • 2 Baking sheets
  • 2 Mixing bowls
  • 1 Cookie Scoop 1.5 Tablespoon size recommended

Method
 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and fresh orange zest. Use your fingertips to rub the zest into the sugars until the mixture is fragrant and resembles damp sand.
  2. Pour the melted butter into the orange-sugar mixture and whisk until fully combined. Add the large egg and vanilla extract, whisking again until the mixture is smooth and glossy.
  3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Using a silicone spatula, fold the mixture together until just a few streaks of flour remain.
  5. Add the dried cranberries and continue to fold gently until they are evenly distributed and no flour streaks remain. Do not overmix.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 1.5-tablespoon sized dough balls onto the sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are golden brown but the centers are still soft.
  7. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Don't Overbake: The key to chewy cookies is pulling them from the oven when the centers still look soft. They will set up as they cool.
Cool on the Pan: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This helps them set properly.
Measure Flour Correctly: Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off to avoid dense, dry cookies.
For a bakery look, gently press a few extra cranberries onto the tops of the dough balls before baking.