Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Orange Christmas Cookies
These festive cookies feature chewy centers, golden edges, and a burst of tart cranberries, creamy white chocolate, and fragrant orange zest. Quick and easy to make, they’re the perfect holiday treat for gifting, sharing, or enjoying with family.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange zest (about 2 medium oranges)
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- Optional: Extra orange zest for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until pale and fluffy (2-3 minutes with mixer, 4 minutes by hand).
- Beat in egg, vanilla extract, and orange zest until well combined. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not over-mix.
- Gently fold in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. If using nuts, add them now.
- Cover and refrigerate dough for 10-15 minutes (optional, for best chew).
- Use a medium cookie scoop (about 1.5 tablespoons) or spoon to portion dough onto baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are lightly golden and centers look just set. Do not over-bake.
- Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 3-5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool.
- Optional: Sprinkle extra orange zest over warm cookies for garnish.
Notes
Chilling the dough helps achieve a chewy texture and prevents cookies from spreading. Use a microplane for fine orange zest and avoid the bitter pith. For gluten-free or vegan adaptations, substitute flour and butter as needed. Quality white chocolate chips make a big difference in flavor and texture. Cookies are best slightly underbaked for soft centers.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (about 32g)
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 13
- Sodium: 60
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 21
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1
Keywords: Christmas cookies, white chocolate cranberry cookies, orange zest cookies, holiday dessert, easy cookie recipe, chewy cookies, festive baking