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These tender, buttery cranberry orange shortbread cookies are so much fun to make! Just bursting with wintry holiday flavor!

Stack of cranberry orange shortbread cookies on a wooden coaster, with a jar of dried cranberries and a whole orange in the background.

It’s November people! Can you believe it??

This morning I saw a Christmas commercial on tv and I got all warm and fuzzy. I think I’m really ready for the holiday season!

And I’ve got a great way to kick it off for us: Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies!

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies: I couldn't get over all the amazing, wintry flavor these had! Perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas. #food #desserts #cookies

A) They’re cookies, which, duh. I don’t think there is any better way to celebrate the holidays than with cookies. Pretty sure Santa would agree.

And B) Cranberry orange! So perfectly wintry! When I taste these flavors it takes me straight to chilly days, raking leaves, Thanksgiving, and holiday shopping.

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies: I couldn't get over all the amazing, wintry flavor these had! Perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas. #food #desserts #cookies

And the cranberry orange flavor really comes through in these sweet little shortbread cookies. At the first bite, it’s like, whoa. No doubt about it. It’s a cranberry orange party in your mouth.

I think you’ll love the tender-crisp texture and buttery flavor too. Just be sure to chop your dried cranberries very finely, otherwise you might have a little trouble cutting out your shapes.

I’m including links to some of my most-favoritest cutout cookie tools just below the recipe card, so be sure to keep scrolling! These tools make cookie baking foolproof and so much fun!

Happy November!

Platter of cranberry orange shortbread cookies, in front of a maroon background with whole orange and dried cranberries in the background.

More great cookie recipes on my “Cookie Recipes Galore” Pinterest board!


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5 from 1 vote
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Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
57 mins
 

These tender, buttery cranberry orange shortbread cookies are so much fun to make! Just bursting with wintry holiday flavor!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cranberry orange shortbread cookies
Servings: 50 cookies, approximately
Calories: 85 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (you may need as much as 3 1/2 cups)
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2/3 cup dried sweetened cranberries very finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest (from about 1 orange)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F, and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric stand mixer, and beat on medium-low speed until smooth.
  3. Add the egg and vanilla, and continue to beat until incorporated.
  4. Add 3 cups of the flour, the cornstarch, and salt, and stir on low speed until a stiff dough has formed.
  5. If the dough still feels sticky, add more flour (1/4 cup at a time) until it pulls away cleanly from the sides of the bowl.
  6. Stir in the dried cranberries and orange zest.
  7. Between 2 sheets of parchment paper, roll the dough to a thickness of 1/8-inch.
  8. Use a 2 1/2-inch fluted round cookie cutter to cut shapes.
  9. Place the unbaked cookies on the prepared baking sheets, and bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until just beginning to turn golden around the edges.
Nutrition Facts
Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 85 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 5%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Sodium 36mg 2%
Potassium 10mg 0%
Total Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Sugars 5g
Vitamin A 2.4%
Vitamin C 0.4%
Calcium 0.3%
Iron 2.1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.