Description
Festive orange cranberry shortbread cookies bring Mediterranean sunshine and winter cheer to holiday dessert tables. Buttery, crumbly, and kissed with zesty citrus and tart cranberry, these elegant cookies will delight guests and satisfy sweet cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Flavor Enhancers:
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
Instructions
- Whip butter, sugar, and orange zest in a large mixing bowl until the mixture becomes airy and pale, creating a smooth base for the shortbread.
- Incorporate orange juice into the creamed mixture, ensuring even distribution of liquid throughout the dough.
- Gradually integrate flour and salt, mixing carefully until a cohesive, soft dough emerges.
- Gently fold chopped dried cranberries into the dough, distributing them evenly for consistent flavor.
- Transfer the dough onto parchment paper, covering with another sheet to prevent sticking.
- Roll the dough into a precise rectangular shape, approximately 1/4-inch thick, using even pressure.
- Refrigerate the rolled dough for 30 minutes, allowing it to firm up and enhance flavor development.
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing for precise baking.
- Uncover the chilled dough and slice into 24 uniform sticks using a sharp knife.
- Arrange cookie sticks on a lined baking sheet, ensuring adequate spacing between each piece.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges as an indicator of doneness.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Prepare the glaze by whisking powdered sugar, orange juice, and zest until achieving a silky, smooth consistency.
- Drizzle or brush the glaze over cooled cookies, letting it set for approximately 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain the crisp, delicate shortbread texture during baking.
- Use room temperature butter for smoother creaming and better incorporation of ingredients, ensuring a light and fluffy cookie base.
- Swap dried cranberries with other mix-ins like chopped nuts or chocolate chips for variety, keeping the same delightful orange zest flavor profile.
- Adjust the glaze consistency by adding more powdered sugar for a thicker coating or more orange juice for a lighter drizzle, matching your preference.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 130 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg