Cranberry orange shortbread in the style of Alison Roman with those crispy, sugary edges came outta my oven this week and I gotta tell ya, they are banging. I used Alison’s base shortbread recipe and I amped up the orange flavor with lots of zest and swapped the chocolate for tangy cranberries.
We got a real holiday cookie winner over here with these Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies!
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Perfect Holiday Cookie Exchange Cookies
The winter holidays are prime baking time in these parts and I'm taking full advantage. I participate in not one, but two cookie exchanges this time of year and I'm always on the lookout for new and delicious cookie recipes to share with my friends.
The trick to a great cookie exchange cookie is its portability!
It must transport easily, keep well, the cookies should preferably be stackable, and they need to pack well into containers (preferably cute ones!) - these Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies check all the boxes!
Experimenting with an iconic shortbread recipe
So if you haven't tried Alison Roman's Salted Butter Chocolate Shortbread Cookies yet, you're missing out. These cookies popped up all over the place this year and for very good reason - they're amazing with their slightly salty and buttery shortbread, crispy sweet edges, and just the right amount of chocolate.
I baked these about ten times already this year and I'm sure I've got at least a few more dozen coming before the year is out.
For this time of year, I figured I'd experiment with Alison's shortbread cookie, but change it up a bit with the holiday flavors of cranberry and orange. I am thrilled with the results and hope you will be, too.
Plan ahead for these cookies
I'm all about getting in the kitchen and cranking out some deliciousness in the form of cookies whenever the mood strikes me. And, believe you me, I do this pretty often!
These cookies, however, require some forethought and preparation, as the dough needs to be refrigerated for at least 2 hours before baking.
So, be sure you leave plenty of time or make the dough up to a week ahead of when you'll be baking them and you'll be ready to go.
The preparation of the dough is rather simple - cream the cold butter and sugars with the orange juice and zest, add in the flour and cranberries and voila, you've got some dough. Split the dough in half, roll into logs and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
After they've firmed up for at least a couple of hours, brush on the beaten egg - I like to do this with a silicone brush.
Then roll the dough in a mixture of demerara sugar (aka, sugar in the raw) and orange zest. This part is essential for those crispy edges brimming with orange flavor.
Now you're ready to slice up the dough - I like mine on the thicker side, about ½ inch thick. Place them on your parchment-lined trays and bake 'em up.
I tried these cookies with fresh cranberries, too, and while I loved the ultra-tangy flavor, they didn't look as pretty when I sliced the cookie dough and they won't keep as well as they do with the dried cranberries.
However, if you are looking for a little something different, give that a shot. Simply substitute the dried cranberries for fresh ones in the recipe below. And, be sure to let me know what you think!
Like this recipe? Follow me on Pinterest for lots more recipes just like this one! And don’t forget to pin this recipe for later by clicking on one of the images below the recipe. Or, click on any of the images in this post to save to Pinterest.
FOR ALL MY FAVORITE BAKING TOOLS INCLUDING THOSE USED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE, CHECK OUT MY BAKING RESOURCES PAGE!
Looking for more Holiday cookie recipes? Try these:
Ingredients
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons cold salted butter cut into ½-inch cubes
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons orange juice freshly squeezed
- 3 teaspoons orange zest divided, from approximately 3 large oranges
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 6 ounces sweetened dried cranberries
- 1 large egg beaten to blend
- ¼ cup demerara sugar or Sugar in the Raw for rolling
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, orange juice, and 2 teaspoons orange zest on medium-high speed until super light and fluffy, about 3–5 minutes. Using a spatula, scrape down sides of bowl.1 cup + 2 tablespoons cold salted butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup dark brown sugar, 2 teaspoons orange juice, 3 teaspoons orange zest
- With mixer off, add flour, and mix on low just until blended.2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- Add in dried cranberries and stir on low just to blend.6 ounces sweetened dried cranberries
- Divide dough in half, then place each half on a large piece of plastic wrap. Fold plastic over to cover dough and protect your hands from getting all sticky. Using your hands (just like you’re playing with clay), form dough into a log shape; rolling it on the counter will help you smooth it out, but don’t worry about getting it totally perfect. Each half should form logs that are 2–2¼ inches in diameter. Chill until firm, at least 2 hours or up to one week.
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two rimmed bakings sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Brush outside of logs with beaten egg using a silicone brush. Combine remaining 1 teaspoon orange zest with demerara sugar. Roll logs in demerara orange sugar mixture (this is for those really delicious crispy edges).1 large egg, ¼ cup demerara sugar or Sugar in the Raw
- Slice each log into ½ inch-thick rounds. Arrange on prepared baking sheet about 1 inch apart (they won’t spread much).
- Bake cookies until edges are just beginning to brown, 12–15 minutes, rotating trays halfway through baking. Let cool slightly before transferring to cooling racks and devouring them all.
Notes
- Cookie dough can be made 1 week ahead. Tightly wrap in plastic and chill, or freeze up to 1 month. Cookies can be baked 5 days ahead. Store in plastic wrap or an airtight container.
- Adapted from and inspired by Alison Roman's Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread.
Nutrition
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Comments
Kathy says
These sound great for a holiday brunch. Can I do the dough Monday to bake Wednesday or Thursday?
Kimberlee Ho says
Absolutely! The dough will keep really well in the fridge for at least a week, so this will work perfectly. Enjoy!
Kathy says
Thank you…do you roll in the sugar before refrigerating or right before baking?
Kimberlee Ho says
Roll them in sugar after refrigerating and right before baking!
Kathy says
Thank you. Excited to make them for those people who don’t eat chocolate(are there really any people like that?)
Kimberlee Ho says
Seriously! Who doesn't like chocolate?!
Deb says
I make a shortbread cookie every Christmas for gifts and tried this one for the first time. I have rolled shortbread logs in turbinado sugar before and love the crispy edges it provides and really loved the idea of adding orange zest to the rolling sugar for more flavor. WOW! What a pop! I like a thinner, somewhat crisper shortbread cookie so made the logs about 1-3/4" diameter and rolled them to 1/4" - 3/8" thick. And, I added a scant 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme leaves just for a twist. That was too much...some of them tasted a bit medicinal; I'll add less next time. But they were a HUGE hit with my family and friends and I just finished forwarding the recipe to several who requested it.
I will try Alison Roman's original recipe next! Thank you for sharing.
Kimberlee Ho says
Yay so glad you loved them!
Deb says
Oops....I meant to say I sliced the cookies 1/4 - 3/8 inch thick!