Description
Cranberry Orange Softburst Christmas Rounds — soft, tender holiday cookies studded with ruby dried cranberries and bright orange zest. These easy homemade Christmas cookies feature a small cream cheese “softburst” in the center for extra richness. Perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday gift tins, festive dessert platters, and Pinterest-worthy photos. Recipe highlights: quick to make, pantry-friendly ingredients, freezer-friendly dough, and adaptable variations (white chocolate, nuts, spiced). Ideal for baking with family or gifting during the holidays.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- Zest of 1 orange
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese (for center)
- Optional: 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 cup chopped nuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
- Add the egg and orange zest and mix until fully incorporated.
- Whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder; gradually add to the butter mixture and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Fold in the dried cranberries and any optional add-ins (white chocolate, nuts).
- Portion the dough into 1½–2 tablespoon rounds and place spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Press a small dab (about 1/4 teaspoon) of cream cheese into the top or center of each dough ball, gently sealing or leaving it slightly exposed.
- Bake for 11–13 minutes, until edges are set and tops are lightly golden; avoid overbaking to keep centers soft.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool further. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Notes
- Pro tip: Spoon and level flour for the correct texture; too much flour makes cookies dry.
- Use room-temperature butter for proper creaming to ensure a soft, airy crumb.
- Chill dough briefly in warm kitchens to prevent spreading and keep cookie height.
- To keep cookies soft, store in an airtight container with a slice of bread for up to 5 days.
- Freeze baked cookies up to 3 months or freeze portioned dough balls and bake from frozen adding 1–2 minutes to bake time.
- Variation ideas: white chocolate & cranberry, almond extract & sliced almonds, chocolate-dipped halves, spiced with cinnamon/cardamom, gluten-free using 1:1 flour blend.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 11-13 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 175
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: cranberry orange cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookie recipe, soft cookies, cream cheese center, festive cookies, easy holiday baking