Description
Festive white chocolate cranberry cookies bring holiday cheer with sweet-tart flavor combinations that dance across your palate. Delicate crumbles melt seamlessly, leaving bakers craving another delightful bite of these perfectly balanced seasonal treats.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (10.125 ounces/287 grams)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, melted (8 ounces/227 grams)
Sweet Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar (5.25 ounces/149 grams)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (5.25 ounces/149 grams)
- 2 cups white chocolate chunks or chips (12 ounces/340 grams)
- 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped (4.2 ounces/120 grams)
Flavor and Texture Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons orange zest (from 2 large oranges)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (2 ounces/57 grams) – optional
Instructions
- Blend melted butter with sugars, vanilla, salt, and orange zest in a spacious mixing vessel until smooth and fragrant.
- Incorporate eggs thoroughly, whisking until the mixture achieves a uniform consistency.
- Gently introduce flour and baking soda, stirring minimally to prevent overworking the dough.
- Delicately fold white chocolate, cranberries, and walnuts into the mixture, ensuring even distribution.
- Refrigerate the dough for 1-2 hours or preferably overnight to enhance flavor development and texture.
- Preheat oven to 375°F, strategically positioning racks in upper and lower thirds for optimal heat circulation.
- Allow chilled dough to soften slightly at room temperature for easier handling.
- Shape dough into uniform spheres approximately 1.5 ounces each, spacing them generously on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, targeting golden-brown edges while maintaining soft, tender centers.
- Midway through baking, rotate pans to ensure consistent browning and even cooking.
- After removing from oven, let cookies rest briefly on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
Notes
- Precise Chilling Refrigerate dough for deeper flavor development and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
- Flexible Mix-Ins Swap white chocolate with dark chocolate or add dried cherries for unique flavor variations.
- Temperature Control Allow dough to soften slightly at room temperature for easier scooping and more even baking.
- Texture Tip Use parchment paper or silicone mats to ensure consistent cookie bottoms and prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 171
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 111 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg