Crispy White Chocolate Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
These festive shortbread cookies combine buttery crispness with tart dried cranberries, creamy white chocolate, and bright orange zest. Perfect for holiday gatherings, gifting, or a cozy afternoon treat, they’re easy to make and guaranteed to impress.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 29 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Zest from 1 large orange
- 2/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 3/4 cup white chocolate chips or chunks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat unsalted butter and powdered sugar with a hand or stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Mix in orange zest and vanilla extract. Beat until evenly combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt. Slowly add to the butter mixture, beating on low until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
- Gently stir in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips or chunks until evenly distributed.
- Turn dough onto parchment paper, shape into a log about 2 inches in diameter, and wrap tightly. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Unwrap dough and slice into 1/4-inch rounds. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, until edges are golden and centers look set. Rotate pan halfway through baking.
- Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.
Notes
Chilling the dough is crucial for crisp texture and preventing spreading. For gluten-free, use a GF flour blend and add xanthan gum if needed. If using fresh cranberries, chop and pat dry to avoid excess moisture. Cookies crisp up as they cool. For extra flavor, try lemon zest or drizzle with melted dark chocolate.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 16
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
Keywords: shortbread, holiday cookies, cranberry, orange, white chocolate, Christmas, dessert, easy cookies, edible gifts