chocolate dipped cranberry orange shortbread cookies
Today is the day! What day is that, you ask? Well, it’s the official day for sharing my cookie recipe for the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap – and trust me – it’s a good one.
Back in October, I saw a post by Lindsay from Love and Olive Oil talking about how she and Julie from over at The Little Kitchen were hosting the second annual Food Blogger Cookie Swap. I was instantly intrigued for two reasons:
1. I love everything about food blogging
2. I love everything about cookies.
I was obviously on board.
To make things even better, the cookie swap teamed up with OXO to donate all proceedes to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer fund. How awesome is that?
After I registered and was assigned my cookie swap partners, I got to work thinking about what kind of cookie I wanted to make for the swap. It needed to be something a little holiday-ish and with a bit of chocolate – at least those were my criteria. A sturdy texture would be a bonus as well because these were to be shipped out to our three secret cookie matches.
I decided on Chocolate Dipped Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies. It took two times making the recipe to tweak it just right, and I couldn’t have been happier with the results. It was a little difficult to see them shipped off and out of my life – although in full disclosure, I made a giant batch and had several dozen left at home. Not that they lasted long.
The cookies turned out incredibly tender with the bright flavors of the cranberry and orange playing off the bittersweet of the chocolate. As a bonus, the dough was able to be made ahead of time and then refrigerated and baked off later. I just love cookies that help with my time management. It’s so thoughtful of them.
Chocolate Dipped Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Yield: 3 dozen
Prep Time: 10 minutes (active) 1 1/2 hours (inactive)
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Unwrap the logs and use a serrated knife to slice the logs into 3/8inch slices. If the dough doesn't slice well, allow the it to sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes and try again. Arrange the slices, about 1 inch apart, on baking sheets.
Bake until slightly puffed and lightly golden around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on the baking sheets for 1 to 2 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Place chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir. Microwave on high in 15 second intervals, stirring between each time, until chocolate is melted.
Dip cooled cookies halfway into the chocolate and then place dipped cookies onto parchment lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm.
Cookies can be stored in an air tight container, at room temperature for 5 days.
Good recipe nothing, these were fantastic and so cute too!
I’m so glad you liked them! Thanks for stopping by and saying ‘hi!’
I tried making cranberry orange shortbread like this a week or so ago, but they didn’t turn out exactly how I was picturing. Looks like you nailed it though!
I love that you dipped them in chocolate…
I know what you mean, Loretta. My first recipe I made a batch weren’t quite right. This recipe worked beautifully! I really liked the White Lily flour for these because it made them very tender. And the added chocolate was a definite improvement 😉
The recipe is so simple yet the cookies look 5 star!
Thanks, Rayna!
Gorgeous photos! What a treat to have found your blog through the cookie swap round up. I’m subscribing immediately. Happy holidays!
Thanks, Sharon!!
I made the dough for these tonight and I’m going to bake them in the morning. I didn’t do a great job with measuring the flour (welcome to my world) so I added a splash of orange juice when the dough seemed a little dry and it smells fantastic. Can’t wait to try them!
I hope they turned out for you! The added orange juice sounds delish 🙂
Oh Me Oh my. This is so me. I will be making this as soon I lose 2 lbs. Really that’s it. Because I know I will eat to to to many of them. Thanks so much Deby