Cranberry Orange Christmas Sandies

5 from 1 vote

Brighten your cookie tray with Cranberry Orange Christmas Sandies - soft, buttery cookies with tart cranberries and citrusy orange zest.

Prep Time20

Cook Time15

Additional Time30

Total Time1 5

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 1-inch cookies

Author: Jamie Sherman

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
1 cup unsalted butter
Add the powdered sugar and mix until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Mix in the vanilla and flour until a soft dough forms.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 cups all-purpose flour
Stir in the chopped cranberries and orange peel.
1 cup dried cranberries, 2 teaspoons orange peel
Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 15 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly browned.
Immediately transfer cookies to a cooling rack and let cool completely.

🥡 STORAGE: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

For longer freshness, layer cookies with parchment paper.

♨️ REHEATING: Enjoy at room temperature or warm briefly in the microwave for 5-10 seconds.

❄️ FREEZING: Freeze baked cookies in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Thaw at room temperature before serving.

💡 TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS: Use real butter for that classic shortbread texture.

Fresh orange zest gives the brightest, most flavorful results.

Finely chop the cranberries so they blend evenly throughout the dough.

Let cookies cool completely before storing to maintain their crisp edges.

🍳 ALTERNATE COOKING METHODS: Bake in a toaster oven at 325°F for 12-14 minutes for small batches.

For convection ovens, reduce the temperature to 340°F and bake for slightly less time.

♻️ LEFTOVERS: Crumble leftover cookies over ice cream or yogurt for a sweet topping.

Package extras in holiday tins or gift boxes to share with friends and family.

If desired, you can roll the cookie dough balls in Christmas-colored (or any color you prefer) nonpareils and proceed with baking as directed.