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These delicious Orange Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies combine tangy orange and cranberry with smooth white chocolate for a wonderful holiday cookie!
Hello! Melissa here from Ice Cream and Inspiration sharing with you an amazing holiday cookie. These cookies combine the tart flavors of orange and cranberry with smooth, sweet white chocolate to create the perfect combination. I’m also going to show you the “tower” method of cookie-baking so that you can get lovely crispy edges, and soft, chewy centers.
How to Make Orange White Chocolate Chip Cookies
First, let’s talk about how to get our orange flavor in these cookies. I used freshly grated orange zest along with some orange extract for a bright orange flavor.
For the cranberries, I used dried cranberries (commonly known as “Craisins”). I don’t suggest using fresh cranberries, because they will bleed and taste pretty sour. (Although if you try using fresh cranberries and like it, please let me know!).
Next, you are going to bake these cookies at a lower temperature than usual–325 degrees. This causes them to bake slowly and makes it so that the centers bake evenly. If you watch these in the oven, you’ll see that a little “pool” forms around the base of the cookie as it first starts baking. This will turn into your crispy edge. Then the centers slowly sink down, leaving the middle of your cookie thick and chewy. It’s magic. (Well, it’s actually science, but let’s not get technical here).
After I take these out of the oven, I immediately press a few more white chocolate chips onto the top, just to make them look pretty. If you break a cookie open, you can see that it is dense and soft in the middle.
The texture of these cookies is just perfect, and the flavors meld spectacularly. Give these cookies a try the next time you are looking for a little something different. And good luck not eating the whole batch!
THE “TOWER METHOD” FOR BAKING COOKIES
Now, here is the tower method of cookie baking. This just works with dough that is pretty solid. Your dough for these cookies should be cohesive and not stick to your fingers when you pinch it. (If you need to add a little more flour than the recipe says to get the consistency right, go ahead).
Then you use a large cookie scoop, place the dough on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat, and use your fingers to squish the dough so that it gets tall, like a tower. (You can also use a small cookie scoop and place one scoop on top of the other and then squish them together).
HOW TO STORE CRANBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE COOKIES
These cookies are perfect for freezing! Cookies should be stored in an airtight container or a large ziploc bag. At room temperature they should be enjoyed within 3-4 days for best quality and in the fridge, 1-2 weeks. Freeze cookies for up to 6 months for optimal freshness.
WANT MORE CHRISTMAS COOKIES? TRY THESE:
- Orange White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
- Chocolate Orange Cookies
- White Chocolate Candy Cane Drop Cookies
- Christmas Cheesecake Cookies
- Fudgy Dark Chocolate Brownie Cookies
- Cranberry Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Orange Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
- 1 3/4 cups flour plus more if necessary
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Line baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper.
- Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, orange extract and orange zest, and mix well.
- Add one cup of the flour along with the baking soda and salt and mix well. Add remaining ¾ cups flour and mix until incorporated. Pinch the dough. If it doesn't stick to your fingers, it is ready. If it does, add more flour (start with 2Â tablespoons) until dough does not stick to your fingers.
- Add the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries and mix until evenly distributed.
- Using a large cookie scoop, place the dough two inches apart on your baking sheets. Re-shape the dough so that it is taller than it is wide. The dough should look like small pillars.
- Bake for 12 minutes, just until the edges start to brown. Remove from the oven and let continue baking on the hot cookie sheet for ten minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi there!
You requested feedback if anyone used fresh cranberries and liked it. Well, I’m here to tell you that my recipients LOVE the cookies I make this way. The tartness of the fresh cranberries balances out the overwhelming sweetness of the white chocolate chips. I coarsely chop the cranberries before adding to the batter. Also, not only do I add fresh orange zest and orange extract, but I also finely chop the entire orange into the batter.
My 83y/o dad who has finally gotten down to his desired weight is cursing me for making these again this year; they were his new favorites last year. Sorry, Dad, now you know how it was growing up with YOUR tantalizing cooking and fighting a weight problem! (I lost MY weight, too!)
Anyway, thank you for this fabulous recipe. It will be in the family for many years to come!
That’s great! I always love to hear feedback when you alter the recipe and it works out. Great job!
Hello Laura, thank you so much for the awesome feedback. Love the back story as well, thanks for stopping by to share.
Yummmmy. Best cookies ever
Hello! Do you need to use orange extract for this? Would orange juice suffice? If so, how much would you use.
Thank you!
Orange extract has a much stronger flavor than just orange juice Since you use so little it’s what adds the orange flavor to the cookies. You could add some fresh orange zest instead though.
Made this recipe for my blog with a few changes. It is delicious!!!!! Thank you for the recipe!
I sourced you at the bottom of the post.
Thank you Sarah!
Adding this recipe to my list of holiday cookies to make this year! They look amazing!