Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.

Hey Shorty…it’s your Holiday Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies!  These zingy, delicious shortbread cookies have dried cranberries, finely chopped pecans, mini chocolate chips and just a hint of orange zest in this much loved cookie recipe.

More holiday treats? You’ll also love these Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars, this Cranberry Orange Quick Bread and these fun Santa’s Red Velvet Cookies!

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies holiday recipe

Why You’ll Love These Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

Celebrate the holidays with these delicious Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies! This recipe is a great way to show your family and friends how much you care. Cranberries offer a tart flavor to traditional shortbread cookies, and oranges add a bright, zesty note. Enjoy this recipe during the holidays or all year round!

  • These treats combine the sweet, buttery flavor of shortbread with the tangy, zesty flavor of fresh cranberries and oranges.
  • Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies are a delicious, festive holiday treat that you won’t want to pass up because they are super popular!
  • Definitely a holiday cookie favorite, full of flavor!
  • In just a few simple steps, you can have a batch of holiday shortbread cookies that will satisfy and impress even the pickiest of eaters.

These Cranberry Orange & Chocolate Shortbread Cookies are a wonderful presentation for any holiday party and don’t forget that jolly ole’ guy, Santa!  Of, course, I can picture myself (without Santa) sitting by a fireplace, drinking hot cocoa, while munching on these cookies.

It doesn’t sound too bad, if I say so myself.  Pssst…don’t tell Santa.  I’ll be put on that naughty list, especially if I eat them all before he comes down the chimney!  YIKES!

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies holiday recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need 

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookie Recipe

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies holiday recipe

How to Make Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

  1. Preheat oven to 350°
  2. Using a mixer, beat softened butter at medium speed until creamy.
  3. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth.
  4. Stir in orange zest and vanilla extract until blended.
  5. Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  6. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended.
  7. Add in cranberries, pecans and chocolate chips, folding in until combined.
  8. Shape shortbread dough into 2 (7-inch) logs.
  9. Wrap each log in wax paper, and chill 4 hours, or freeze logs in zip-top plastic freezer bags up to 1 month.
  10. If frozen, let cookie logs stand at room temperature for 10 minutes for easier cutting.
  11. Cut each log into ⅓ inch to ½ inch slices.
  12. Place shortbread slices 1 inch apart on lightly greased or parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
  13. Bake shortbread for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges of slices are golden.
  14. Remove shortbread from baking sheets, and place on wire racks and let cool completely.
  15. Store in airtight containers to keep fresh.

Anywhoooo, if you love rich, buttery shortbread cookies that are full of flavor, you really need to give these Holiday Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies a try.  Maybe you could even leave one, or two for Santa?  (Nahhhh!)  Here’s the Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookie Recipe!

More Holiday Cookies!

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

Holiday Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

Kim Lange
If you love rich, buttery cookies, you really need to give these Holiday Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies a try. Maybe you could even leave one, or two for Santa? (Nahhhh!)
3.80 from 15 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
CHILL 4 hours
Course Dessert
Servings 24 Servings
Calories

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter 2 sticks, softened
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest or 1 tablespoon orange juice
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup chopped dried cranberries
  • cup finely chopped pecans
  • ½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips or white chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°
  • Using a mixer, beat softened butter at medium speed until creamy.
  • Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth.
  • Stir in orange zest and vanilla extract until blended.
  • Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended.
  • Add in cranberries, pecans and chocolate chips, folding in until combined.
  • Shape shortbread dough into 2 (7-inch) logs.
  • Wrap each log in wax paper, and chill 4 hours, or freeze logs in zip-top plastic freezer bags up to 1 month.
  • If frozen, let cookie logs stand at room temperature for 10 minutes for easier cutting.
  • Cut each log into 1/3 inch to 1/2 inch slices.
  • Place shortbread slices 1 inch apart on lightly greased or parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
  • Bake shortbread for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges of slices are golden.
  • Remove shortbread from baking sheets, and place on wire racks and let cool completely.
  • Store in airtight containers.

Notes

Makes 2 dozen-ish
You can also freeze the unbaked cookies (after the dough is cut into circles). When ready to use them, place the frozen cookies on a cookie sheet and bake for a minute or two longer. 🙂
Keyword chocolate chip, christmas cookies, cookies, cranberry, orange, pecans, shortbread
Tried This Recipe?Let us know how it was by commenting below!

14 Comments

  1. You are so sweet Peggy! Thank you! It’s whatever you want, but you if you add the other orange juice, I would be a little hesitant on 1/2 cup never trying it, yet I’m not too familiar with candied orange peel, so if it wouldn’t be too overpowering, then go for it! Let me know how they turn out! Glad you are here!

  2. Really looking forward to making these for the holidays. I love candied orange peel and am considering adding 1/2 cup, diced, to your recipe. I might substitute that for the chips. What do you think? Thanks! I just discovered your page. Really lovely.

  3. Hi Sally, I am not familiar with using convection ovens, even though I own one, I don’t use the function. But here is a website that might direct you with some more information. http://www.finecooking.com/articles/convection-ovens.aspx. You should be fine on the chocolate chips and cranberries though, it doesn’t have to be exact. If it was me experimenting I might go 25 degrees less and keep a watch on the cookies for the first round. 🙂

  4. Hello!

    These sound perfect for presents this year!
    I’ve converted the measurements to grams (England) although the crandberries and choc chips have come out at different weights on the website I used?!
    I just wanted to ask if you knew what temperature to put a fan assisted oven at to bake these please?

    Many thanks,

    Sally

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating