Cranberry Pecan Cookies

Soft, buttery, and loaded with tart cranberries and toasty pecans, these old-fashioned cookies taste like your childhood Christmas. A splash of orange zest brightens every bite, and the simple glaze makes them downright irresistible.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Amercian Heritage

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings

Calories 153kcal

Author Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar packed
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest grated
1 large egg
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup pecans or walnuts - chopped
2-½ cups cranberries chopped

Glaze

½ teaspoon orange zest
1 ½ cups confectioners sugar
3 tablespoons orange juice

Instructions

Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 F.
Grease baking sheets or cover with parchment paper.
Beat together room-temperature butter and sugars until creamy.
Stir in orange juice and egg. Set aside.
Stir together dry ingredients.
Mix flour mixture into the butter mixture.
Stir in nuts and cranberries.
Drop dough by tablespoons about 2" apart on prepared cookie sheets.
If you are making these to bake later flash freeze them by placing the unbaked cookies on the cookie sheet and putting them in the freezer. When frozen add them to freezer bags.
Bake 10-15 minutes.
Allow to cool for 2 minutes on baking sheet, then remove to wire cooling racks to cool completely.
Drizzle the glaze over the top when cool.

Glaze

Mix glaze ingredients until smooth and drizzle on cookies.

Notes

Storage:

Baked cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. Baked cookies can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Although these ship well they are not great for overseas shipping because if the box is held up too long they could go bad because of the fresh cranberries. Substitute dried cranberries for overseas shipping.

Tips:

The 2 ½ cups of flour works perfectly for me but if you think the dough is too soft or it runs together stir in an extra ¼ - ½ cup of flour.
If you will be shipping these overseas substitute dried cranberries for the fresh ones. They'll stay fresh longer.

Nutrition