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    Home » Recipes » Cakes and Cookies

    Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe (Egg less)

    Published: Dec 19, 2018 · Modified: Oct 23, 2024 by Vaishali · This post may contain affiliate links · 39 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    This Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe makes cookies that are rich and buttery while being crunchy. These egg less cookies have a delicious combination of citrus and tart flavors. Sprinkled with sugar on top for an extra sparkle this holiday season!

    Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies on a dark cookie sheet with dried cranberries and orange.

    When I set out to make a list of cookies I want to bake for this Holiday season, I always rely on some of my favorite flavor combinations that I can turn into cookies. As we get deeper into the Fall season, cranberry fever takes over and I love combining dried cranberries with orange. So, here you have it - orange cranberry shortbread cookies that are perfect for the season and are egg less!

    I use dried cranberries a lot and often like in making my homemade granola recipe, in oatmeal, in salads, or straight up as a snack with nuts. My citrus scented carrot cranberry loaf cake is a reader and Dr. A's favorite so that is always on rotation. And since you all also love my carrot cake cookies recipe, I wanted to try cranberry and orange cookies this holiday season.

    Jump to:
    • ✨Why you'll love about this recipe?
    • 📋Recipe Ingredients
    • 👩‍🍳Steps to make this recipe
    • 💡Vaishali's Tips!
    • 📖Substitutions, Additions and Variations
    • 🫙Storage, freezing, and reheating instructions
    • ❓FAQ
    • Related
    • Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies (Egg less)

    ✨Why you'll love about this recipe?

    • Easy to find, basic ingredients. This recipe has only 6 ingredients! That can't be beat! Plus, you can easily find them in your grocery store.
    • Tastes like the holidays. Something about the orange cranberry flavor combination magically transports you into warm, holiday vibes. And it is the best feeling ever! The cookies are buttery, soft, mildly sweet and just perfect!
    • Perfect edible gift. I have made these eggless shortbread cookies for several years now to share with friends for holiday gift giving and everyone always loves them.

    📋Recipe Ingredients

    A simple list of baking staples and orange and dried cranberries. Does not get simpler than this, my friends.

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    Labeled ingredients for orange cranberry shortbread cookies on a wooden backdrop. The photo includes all purpose four, butter, sugar, cranberries, orange and vanilla.
    • Orange - I use the zest and juice of 1 small orange in this recipe. You can easily find clementines around the stores during this time of the year. But you can use whatever kind of orange you have, just not very tart.
    • Dried Cranberries - You can use sweetened or unsweetened dried cranberries in this recipe. I usually use the sweetened and dried cranberries (craisins) for these cookies so that the cranberries are not very tart to bite into.
    • Butter - I recommend using room temperature unsalted butter just like in my Spiced Pumpkin Muffins recipe. So, plan ahead! Also, if you do not have unsalted butter, salted will work fine as well.
    • Vanilla - Please use good quality vanilla extract and not the imitation kind. Trust me, it makes a difference!

    Don't forget to check out the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients along with the quantities.

    👩‍🍳Steps to make this recipe

    Plan Ahead - this recipe calls for chilling the dough. Also take the butter out of the refrigerator ahead of time so that it's at room temperature to begin with.

    Step 1: Add the cranberries and ¼ cup sugar to the bowl of your stand mixer and mix on medium high speed for about 30 seconds. This will help in breaking up the cranberries into smaller bits (Image 1).

    Step 2: Add butter and ½ cup more of sugar to the mixer and mix at high speed till the mixture is light and creamy (Image 2).

    Dried cranberries mixed with sugar in a stainless steel mixing bowl.
    Butter, sugar, and cranberry mixture in a stainless steel bowl.

    Step 3: Now add the vanilla, orange zest and juice. With the mixer running on low speed, carefully add the flour, ½ cup at a time. Mix until the dough comes together (Image 3).

    Step 4: Cut a piece of plastic wrap and lay it on your kitchen counter. Dump the dough out on the plastic wrap and shape into a smooth log about 1.5 inches wide (Image 4).

    Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookie dough in a stainless steel bowl.
    A hand forming orange cranberry shortbread cookie dough into a log.

    Step 5: Wrap the dough completely, fold the ends of the plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator to chill (Image 5).

    Step 6: Unwrap the dough log and using a very sharp knife, cut it into ¼ inch thick slices (Image 6).

    A log of orange cranberry shortbread cookie dough wrapped in plastic wrap.
    Unbaked Sliced orange cranberry shortbread cookies on a silpat mat.

    Step 7: Roll the cut slices into remaining sugar and lay on the parchment paper lined cookie sheet (Image 7).

    Step 8: Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets at about 6 minute mark. Take the cookies out of the oven and let cool in the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack and letting them cool completely (Image 8).

    Sugar coated orange cranberry shortbread cookies ready to bake in a parchment lined cookie sheet.
    Baked orange cranberry shortbread cookie in a hand.

    💡Vaishali's Tips!

    • If the dough is not coming together, you can add orange juice or milk 1 tablespoon at a time until it happens. It should not take you more than 2 tablespoons.
    • Use a sharp knife (my favorite knife!) and flour your knife as you slice through the cookie dough log. Doing this will make sure that the dough does not stick to your knife.
    • Keep an eye on the cookies as they bake. Everyone's ovens run different.

    📖Substitutions, Additions and Variations

    • Raisins - instead of cranberries, you can use raisins for a quite different flavor profile
    • Almonds - use ¼ cup of chopped almonds for a crunch element and making the cookie more festive. Cranberries, almonds and orange work well together
    • Chocolate drizzle - melt some semi sweet chocolate and drizzle over the cookies after they are baked. Let the drizzle set before enjoying the cookie. Chocolate and orange is a great flavor combination

    🫙Storage, freezing, and reheating instructions

    • To store: These Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week at room temperature and up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
    • To freeze baked cookies: The baked cookies can be stored in a freezer-safe container in layers separated by parchment paper and frozen for up to 3 to 4 months. Thaw overnight at room temperature before enjoying.
    • To freeze unbaked cookies: Sliced, unbaked cookies can be flash frozen and then stored in freezer bags for later. Bake straight from the freezer. Add 2-3 minutes of baking time.
    Easy shortbread style citrus scented egg less cranberry cookies

    ❓FAQ

    Can I use fresh cranberries in place of dried cranberries?

    Fresh cranberries will not work in this recipe due to the moisture and juice in the fresh fruit. Dried cranberries add a chewy texture that is characteristic of dried fruit and is perfect in these Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies.

    Can I make out cutout cookies with this recipe?

    Yes. Before chilling the dough, shape it into a disc instead of a log. After chilling time, roll out the dough and use your favorite cookie cutter shape to make cut out cookies and bake.

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

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      Easy Cut Out Lemon Sugar Cookie Recipe | Christmas Edition

    If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment and let me know how you liked it! Share it on Instagram with the hashtag #thekitchendocs or share on Facebook, too.

    Love – Vaishali

    Easy shortbread style citrus scented egg less cranberry cookies

    Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies (Egg less)

    Vaishali
    This Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe makes cookies that are rich and buttery while being crunchy. These egg less cookies have a delicious combination of citrus and tart flavors. Sprinkled with sugar on top for an extra sparkle this holiday season!
    4.94 from 15 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 12 minutes mins
    Chilling and cooling 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 37 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 36 cookies
    Calories 105 kcal

    Equipment

    • Stand Mixer
    • Cookie Sheets

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup dried cranberries like craisins
    • 1 cup sugar divided
    • 1 cup butter room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla essence
    • 1 orange, zested and juiced about 2-3 tablespoon juice
    • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour

    Instructions
     

    • Plan Ahead - this recipe calls for chilling the dough. Also take the butter out of the refrigerator ahead of time.
    • Add the cranberries and ¼ cup sugar to the bowl of your stand mixer and mix on medium high speed for about 90 seconds. This will help in breaking up the cranberries into smaller bits.
    • Add butter and ½ cup more of sugar to the mixer and mix at high speed for 1 minute or till the mixture is light and creamy.
    • Now add the vanilla, orange zest and juice. With the mixer running on low speed, carefully add the flour, ½ cup at a time. Mix until the dough comes together.
    • Cut a piece of plastic wrap and lay it on your kitchen counter. Dump the dough out on the plastic wrap and shape into a smooth log about 1.5 inches wide.
    • Wrap the dough completely, fold the ends of the plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator to chill for at least two hours and upto 24 hours.
    • After the dough is chilled, take it out and preheat your oven to 325 degrees F or 163 degrees C. Put parchment paper on 2-3 cookie sheets.
    • Unwrap the dough log and using a very sharp knife, cut it into ¼ inch thick slices. Roll the cut slices into remaining sugar and lay on the cookie sheet.
    • Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets at about 6 minute mark. I also switch the cookie sheets among different rack positions at this time so that they bake evenly.
    • Take the cookies out of the oven and let cool in the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack and letting them cool completely.
    • Enjoy the cookies yourself or pack them in little baggies or boxes to share with friends and family.

    Video

    Notes

    I use unsalted butter in this recipe but if you have salted butter, you can use that instead.
    If the dough is not coming together, you can add orange juice or milk 1 tablespoon at a time until it happens. It should not take you more than 2 tablespoons.
    Sliced, unbaked cookies can be flash frozen and then stored in freezer bags for later. Bake straight from the freezer. Add 2-3 minutes of baking time.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 105kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 41mgPotassium: 18mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 166IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.4mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Miss Simplitty

      October 26, 2024 at 10:31 am

      5 stars
      Interesting combination. They look very tasty.

      Reply
    2. Jenna

      March 09, 2024 at 6:01 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness, these citrus scented egg less cranberry cookies look and sound so good! I think I can smell them through the screen. Thank you for sharing your recipe, I can’t wait to try them! 🙂

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        March 09, 2024 at 8:35 pm

        Thanks, Jenna. I hope you enjoy them.

        Reply
    3. Andrea

      February 19, 2024 at 5:38 pm

      5 stars
      These look delicious! Orange and cranberry sound like the perfect combination for a delicious cookie. Looking forward to trying!

      Reply
    4. KEVIN FOODIE

      February 19, 2024 at 2:43 pm

      5 stars
      This is such an interesting cookie recipe. this is perfect for children and adults who have egg allergies. I am interested in experiencing the texture of your eggless cookie. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        February 21, 2024 at 1:15 pm

        Thanks Kevin

        Reply
    5. Nisha

      February 19, 2024 at 1:19 pm

      5 stars
      Sounds like a yummy recipe , hope to try it !

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        February 21, 2024 at 1:12 pm

        Thanks Nisha. I hope you enjoy it.

        Reply
    6. pedja

      February 19, 2024 at 9:33 am

      5 stars
      Ah, butter and cranberries, a very interesting combination in a ddition to citrus. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        February 21, 2024 at 1:06 pm

        Thanks, Pedja. I'm glad you enjoyed the combination.

        Reply
      • Vaishali

        February 21, 2024 at 1:10 pm

        Thanks, Pedja. I'm glad that you enjoyed the combination of these flavors.

        Reply
    7. Brandi

      February 19, 2024 at 7:02 am

      Oh goodness, this looks delicious!!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        February 21, 2024 at 1:04 pm

        Thanks Brandi

        Reply
    8. Jessica

      January 13, 2019 at 2:50 pm

      5 stars
      I made these over winter break for my family and we all loved them!! It was tough trying not to eat all of the dough before they made it into the oven : )

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        January 14, 2019 at 9:36 am

        That's great Jessica. Thanks for sharing your experience..:)

        Reply
    9. jomar enecio

      January 06, 2019 at 9:19 am

      very cool. this is absolutely right!

      Reply
    « Older Comments
    4.94 from 15 votes

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    Hey, I'm Vaishali!

    Welcome! I am so excited to cook and talk life with you. Here, you will find my kitchen journal full of mostly healthyish recipes that are family friendly, use seasonal and fresh ingredients, plant forward, packed with healing Indian spices and indulgent desserts.

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