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Easy Cranberry Orange Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies

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These easy cranberry orange sugar cookies are a happy accident that turned into a holiday favorite. Tart cranberries and bright orange zest balance perfectly in a soft, buttery cookie that’s ready in about 30 minutes with no chilling required.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups fresh cranberries, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest (from about 2 large oranges)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • For the glaze (optional):
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides halfway through.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated. Mix in the vanilla extract until smooth and glossy.
  4. Stir in the orange zest and orange juice. The mixture may look slightly curdled; this is normal.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt for about 20 seconds.
  6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed or folding with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  7. Gently fold the chopped cranberries into the dough using a spatula, being careful not to crush them.
  8. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
  9. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers look set but still soft. Do not overbake.
  10. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely (about 20 minutes).
  11. For the glaze: While cookies cool, whisk together powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of orange juice. Add more juice a teaspoon at a time until thick but drizzle-able. Drizzle over cooled cookies and sprinkle with extra orange zest.

Notes

Don’t skip room temperature ingredients for best texture. Chop cranberries evenly into ¼-inch pieces. Test doneness by gently pressing the top of a cookie—if it springs back, they’re done. Let cookies cool completely before glazing. For stronger orange flavor, add another tablespoon of orange zest. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Freeze unglazed cookies for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry orange sugar cookies, thanksgiving cookies, easy sugar cookies, holiday cookies, cranberry cookies, orange cookies

Find it online: https://oracooks.com/easy-cranberry-orange-thanksgiving-sugar-cookies/