Cranberry Orange Christmas Cookies – Festive, Bright, and Perfect for Holiday Baking
If there’s one cookie that tastes exactly like Christmas, it’s the classic Cranberry Orange Christmas Cookie. With tart pops of dried cranberries, bright citrusy orange zest, buttery soft centers, and lightly crisp edges, these cookies deliver everything you want in a festive holiday treat. They’re vibrant, flavorful, incredibly easy to make, and smell like pure Christmas magic while baking.
These cookies perfectly balance sweet, tart, and citrusy notes — making them a standout addition to cookie platters, holiday parties, edible gifts, or cozy evenings by the fireplace. Every bite brings you refreshing orange aroma paired with chewy cranberries and soft cookie dough, creating a nostalgic and elegant holiday dessert.
In this full recipe guide, you’ll learn not only how to make the best cranberry orange cookies, but also how to get perfect texture, how to prep the dough ahead, how to customize flavors, and how to store or gift them beautifully. Let’s get festive.
Why These Cranberry Orange Cookies Are Perfect for the Holidays
- Bright, fresh flavor from real orange zest
- Beautiful holiday color palette — the red cranberries pop against the golden cookie
- Soft and chewy texture with crisp edges
- Easy to make in one bowl
- Freezer-friendly for holiday prep
- Crowd-pleasing for adults and kids alike
The orange–cranberry flavor combination is a classic December pairing, showing up in cakes, breads, drinks, and sauces. But when placed into a cookie, that duo becomes irresistibly festive.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Cranberry Orange Christmas Cookies
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp orange zest (from 1–2 oranges)
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 1 ¼ cups dried cranberries (chopped if large)
How to Make Cranberry Orange Christmas Cookies
1. Cream the butter and sugars
Beat softened butter with granulated and brown sugar until creamy, fluffy, and pale.
2. Add wet ingredients
Mix in eggs, vanilla extract, orange zest, and orange juice. The orange zest is what truly brings out the holiday aroma.
3. Add the dry ingredients
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until just combined.
4. Fold in cranberries
Stir in the dried cranberries. If they are large, chop them slightly for even distribution.
5. Chill the dough
Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes. This prevents spreading and enhances texture.
6. Scoop and bake
Scoop the dough into balls and place on a lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden.
7. Cool and enjoy
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack.
Cranberry Orange Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cream softened butter with granulated and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in eggs, vanilla, orange zest, and orange juice.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt separately, then add to wet ingredients.
- Fold in dried cranberries and chill dough for 30 minutes.
- Scoop dough balls onto parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes.
- Cool for 5 minutes on the sheet before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
Tips for Perfect Cranberry Orange Cookies
Use fresh orange zest
This provides real citrus flavor that extracts cannot match.
Chill the dough
This ensures soft, thick cookies with perfect texture.
Do not overbake
Take them out when edges are golden but centers still look slightly soft — they firm up as they cool.
Chop cranberries
This helps distribute flavor more evenly and keeps the cookies from getting too chunky.
Optional Add-Ins & Variations
White Chocolate Cranberry Orange Cookies
Add ¾ cup white chocolate chips for a creamy sweetness.
Orange Glaze Drizzle
Whisk powdered sugar with orange juice for a thin glaze to drizzle over cooled cookies.
Fresh Cranberry Version
Use chopped fresh cranberries tossed in sugar for a tart, juicy variation (increase flour by 2–3 tbsp to balance moisture).
Nutty Holiday Twist
Add chopped pecans or walnuts.
Sparkling Sugar Tops
Roll cookie dough in coarse sugar before baking for a frosted holiday look.
How to Store and Freeze
Store
Keep baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freeze dough
Roll dough balls and freeze on a tray. Store frozen dough balls for up to 3 months.
Freeze baked cookies
Let cookies cool, then freeze in layers separated by parchment.
Bake from frozen
Add 1–2 extra minutes when baking frozen dough balls.
Holiday Gifting & Serving Ideas
- Add them to a Christmas cookie tray
- Package in clear cellophane bags tied with red ribbon
- Serve next to hot cocoa, mulled cider, or coffee
- Pair with other seasonal favorites like gingerbread cookies or peppermint bark
These cookies also travel well — perfect for classroom parties, potlucks, and holiday office events.
