Cranberry Orange Snowball Cookies are a cheerful treat! With sweet cranberries and a burst of orange flavor, these lovely little bites are coated in powdered sugar for a snowy touch.
Seriously, these cookies are like sunshine in every bite! I can’t help but smile while enjoying them with a cup of tea. ☕ Plus, they make a festive addition to any cookie platter!
Making these cookies is super easy! Just mix, roll them into balls, and bake. They’re perfect for sharing or keeping for yourself (no judgment here!)!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Unsalted Butter: Unsalted butter is perfect as it gives you control over the saltiness. If you need a dairy-free option, coconut oil or a plant-based butter works well without compromising texture.
Powdered Sugar: This sugar gives the cookies their melt-in-your-mouth feel. For a lower-sugar alternative, you could use a powdered sugar substitute, but it may change the texture slightly.
Orange Zest: Fresh orange zest adds bright, citrusy flavor. If you don’t have an orange, lemon zest can also work as a nice alternative for a different zing!
Dried Cranberries: Chopped dried cranberries provide tartness and texture. Feel free to substitute with dried cherries or even chocolate chips if you prefer a sweeter cookie.
How Do You Ensure Your Cookies Hold Their Shape?
Keeping your cookies uniform and perfectly shaped requires a few simple steps. Here’s how to achieve that:
- Scoop dough portions and roll them into uniform balls, about 1 inch in diameter, to ensure even baking.
- Space them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet to allow for spreading.
- Don’t let the cookies brown too much! The tops should remain pale for that classic snowball appearance.
Cranberry Orange Snowball Cookies
These buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are loaded with tangy dried cranberries and the zesty freshness of orange. Rolled in powdered sugar, they look like little snowballs!
- Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minute
- Yield: 24–30 cookies 1x
- Category: Christmas Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar (plus extra for rolling)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- ½ cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and ½ cup of powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the vanilla extract and orange zest until well incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt.
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing until just combined. The dough will be thick.
- Fold in the chopped dried cranberries and nuts (if using) until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls (about 1 inch in diameter).
- Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The tops should remain pale.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes.
- While still warm, roll the cookies in powdered sugar until fully coated. Allow them to cool completely.
- For an extra snowy effect, roll the cooled cookies in powdered sugar again before serving.
Keywords: Cranberry orange cookies, Snowball cookies recipe
