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    Home » Dessert

    Cranberry Orange Meltaway Cookies

    Published: Nov 13, 2023 by Sula · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments

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    Pin for cranberry orange meltaway cookies

    With a delightful burst of flavor with every bite, Cranberry Orange Meltaway Cookies are a near perfect treat for the holiday season.

    The tangy cranberries and zesty orange zest create wonderful aromas in your house, and your family might be uncontrollably drawn to the warmth of the kitchen, eager to savor the magic of these melt-in-your-mouth cookies.

    But hold them off long enough to add the sweet glaze on top, to take these cookies over the top!

    Cranberry orange meltaway cookies on a red plate.
    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love These Cookies ❤️
    • Ingredients Needed
    • 📖How to Make Cranberry Orange Meltaway Cookies
    • 👪 Serving Suggestions
    • Storage
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why You’ll Love These Cookies ❤️

    I don’t know about you, but I can’t resist cookies with “meltaway” textures.  It’s a soft, crumbly goodness that dissolves effortlessly, leaving you craving more.

    What sets these cookies apart is their unique combination of tart cranberries and the citrusy brightness of orange zest. The result is a symphony of flavors that dance on your taste buds, creating a perfect balance of tangy and sweet.

    Ingredients Needed

    Ingredients: orange for zest, dried cranberries, vanilla, egg, sugar, flour, baking soda, and butter.

    **Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for detailed quantities and directions**

    📖How to Make Cranberry Orange Meltaway Cookies

    Place your dried cranberries in a small bowl and add just enough water to cover. Let them soak for 5 to 10 minutes to plump up a little. I set them aside while I’m getting everything else started.

    Dried cranberries soaking in water.

    Cream the butter and sugar together by using a hand mixer on medium-high speed for at least 2 minutes.

    💭Tip: use soft, not melted, butter for the right cookie texture.

    Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed. Then add the orange zest, egg, vanilla extract, and baking soda. Mix for about a minute to combine.

    Adding orange zest and egg to the bowl.

    💭Tip: zest only the orange part of the skin, not the white. Called the “pith”, the white part of citrus skin is unpleasantly bitter.

    Add about half the flour and mix in with the hand mixer. Then switch to a spatula or spoon to add the rest of the flour. Stir until just combined.

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    Drain the cranberries and lightly pat dry with a paper towel. Add the cranberries to the bowl and stir to incorporate.

    Cranberries added to the meltaway cookie dough.

    Use a medium cookie scoop and portion the dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Leave about two inches between to allow the cookies to spread.

    Portioning the cranberry orange cookie dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets.

    Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are very slightly golden brown. Then remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for five minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

    Freshly baked cranberry orange meltaway cookies cooling on the baking sheet.

    For the finishing touch, make a simple glaze of powdered sugar and orange juice(squeezed from the orange you just zested). Drizzle about a teaspoon of glaze on each cookie. Allow the glaze to set, then serve.

    A small spoon drizzling eh glaze on the cookies.

    👪 Serving Suggestions

    These Cranberry Orange Meltaway Cookies are so delicious with a cup of coffee or tea.

    For a festive touch, serve them at holiday gatherings or package them in decorative boxes for a thoughtful homemade gift.

    A stack of cranberry orange cookies on a green plate.

    Storage

    Once completely cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze the baked cookies and thaw them as needed.

    Glazed cookies drying on a wire rack.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use fresh cranberries instead of dried?

    Fresh cranberries will release liquid when they bake, which will throw off the balance in the dough. I recommend you stick with dried cranberries for these cookies.

    What else can I make with dried cranberries?

    I'm so glad you asked! I love them so much that I made a whole post of dried cranberry recipes. So go ahead and buy that super-sized bag, it won't go to waste!

    📖 Recipe

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    A small plate of glazed cranberry-orange meltaway cookies.
    5 from 25 votes
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    Cranberry Orange Meltaway Cookies

    Cranberry Orange Meltaway Cookies are pure bliss—soft, tangy, and utterly irresistible. Discover the perfect balance of citrusy zing and sweet, melt-in-your-mouth goodness!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Cooling and icing10 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 24 to 30
    Calories: 196kcal
    Author: Sula

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup dried cranberries
    • 1 cup butter room temperature (2 sticks)
    • 1 cup sugar
    • Zest of one orange 1 tablespoon +
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
    • 2 ½ cups flour

    For the glaze

    • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
    • 2-3 tablespoons orange juice

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375F. Line your baking sheet(s) with parchment paper and set aside.
    • Place dried cranberries in a small bowl. Add enough water to just cover. Soak for 5 to minutes.
      1 cup dried cranberries
    • In a medium-large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a hand mixer on medium-high for at least 2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
      1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar
    • Add the orange zest, vanilla, baking soda, and egg. Mix for another minute to combine.
      Zest of one orange, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¾ teaspoon baking soda
    • Add about half the flour and mix on low. Then switch to a spatula or spoon to add the rest of the flour. Stir until just combined.
      2 ½ cups flour
    • Drain the cranberries, lightly pat dry with a paper towel. Add to the bowl and stir in to the dough.
      1 cup dried cranberries
    • Use a medium cookie scoop (2 tablespoon size) to scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Leave about 2 inches between to allow the cookies to spread.
    • Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are just slightly golden.
    • Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
    • Whisk the powdered sugar and juice together to make the glaze. Drizzle about a teaspoon of glaze onto each cookie. Allow the glaze to set before moving or serving.
      1 ½ cups powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons orange juice

    Notes

    To make the glaze, milk can be substituted for the orange juice. Adjust quantities to get the consistency preferred.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 98mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 249IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Betty

      November 22, 2023 at 6:58 am

      5 stars
      These were delicious!
      The meltaway name is perfect for them as they were melt in the mouth and so buttery.
      I loved the tip for soaking the cranberries, it made them plump and juicy so they didn't dry out in the cookies.
      I am going to make these for our cookie exchange this Christmas 🙂

      Reply
      • Sula

        November 26, 2023 at 6:55 am

        The meltaway texture is my favorite, it makes these cookies irresistible!

        Reply
      • Mk

        December 15, 2023 at 5:34 pm

        5 stars
        Likes the texture but couldn’t get the glaze right. Any suggestions?

        Reply
        • Sula

          December 17, 2023 at 8:07 am

          The glaze is easy to adjust. Just add a little more liquid (orange juice) to make it thinner or a little more powdered sugar to thicken.

          Reply
    2. Puja

      November 20, 2023 at 10:58 pm

      They really do melt in your mouth! Perfect for the holidays!

      Reply
      • Sula

        November 26, 2023 at 6:52 am

        Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Sherry

      November 20, 2023 at 1:53 pm

      5 stars
      These cranberry orange meltaway cookies turned out perfect and they taste amazing with the freshly grated orange peel. I loved how you soaked the dried cranberries before adding them to the cookie dough. I will be adding these cookies to my Christmas cookie baking list!

      Reply
      • Sula

        November 26, 2023 at 6:51 am

        With the cranberry and orange flavors, they are perfect for the holidays!

        Reply
    4. Hilligard

      November 20, 2023 at 11:51 am

      5 stars
      I baked these cookies to welcome our new neighbors- They absolutely loved them - I could tell from their excited smiles and compliments. In fact, they enjoyed them so much that now my neighbor and I have started a little baking swap. Thank you 🙂

      Reply
      • Sula

        November 26, 2023 at 6:48 am

        Such a lovely way to welcome new neighbors!

        Reply
    5. Sage Scott

      November 19, 2023 at 8:30 am

      5 stars
      To me, these cookies taste like the holidays --- they're the perfect blend of sweet and tangy. So delish! I'm making them again for our neighborhood cookie exchange!

      Reply
      • Sula

        November 20, 2023 at 9:27 am

        Sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays with your neighbors! Enjoy!

        Reply
    6. Ellen P LaFleche-Christian

      November 14, 2023 at 3:32 pm

      5 stars
      I can't wait to try these meltaway cookies for Christmas this year!

      Reply
      • Sula

        November 15, 2023 at 7:26 am

        Give them a try, you won't be sorry!

        Reply
    5 from 25 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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