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Best Cozy Cranberry Orange Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies

Cozy Cranberry Orange Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies - featured image
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These soft, chewy sugar cookies are studded with tart dried cranberries and topped with a bright orange glaze. Perfect for Thanksgiving or any fall gathering, they come together in about 30 minutes with no chilling required.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Zest of 1 large orange
  • 1 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Zest and juice your orange first. Set zest aside and juice the orange (need 2-3 tablespoons for glaze).
  3. Chop the dried cranberries into pieces about the size of a chocolate chip.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
  6. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and orange zest until just combined (about 30 seconds). Scrape down the sides.
  7. With mixer on low, add the flour mixture in two additions, mixing until just combined (a few streaks of flour remain).
  8. Fold in the chopped cranberries with a spatula until evenly distributed.
  9. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop rounded tablespoons of dough (about 1.5 tablespoons each) onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
  10. Bake one sheet at a time in the center of the oven for 10-12 minutes, until edges are just barely golden and centers look slightly underdone.
  11. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  12. While cookies cool, make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice, extra orange zest, and a pinch of salt. Add more juice if needed for drizzling consistency.
  13. Once cookies are completely cool, drizzle glaze over them using a spoon or piping bag.
  14. Let glaze set for 15-20 minutes until firm to the touch.

Notes

Don’t over-cream the butter and sugar—stop when mixture looks like fluffy sand (about 2-3 minutes). Room temperature ingredients matter. Chop cranberries consistently to about chocolate chip size. Watch baking time closely; start checking at 9 minutes. Let cookies cool completely before glazing. Make glaze fresh just before using. Cookies taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry orange sugar cookies, Thanksgiving cookies, soft sugar cookies, cranberry cookies, orange glaze cookies, fall cookies, holiday cookies

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/best-cozy-cranberry-orange-thanksgiving-sugar-cookies/