Jolly White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies Recipe for the Holidays

Sweet and buttery white chocolate cranberry cookies burst with festive holiday cheer, delivering a delightful twist to traditional cookie recipes.

These soft-baked treats combine rich white chocolate chips with tart cranberries for an irresistible flavor combination.

Bakers love how simple ingredients create such a memorable dessert.

Each cookie offers a perfect balance of sweetness and tang that melts in your mouth.

The vibrant red cranberries scattered throughout the cookies create a festive look that’s sure to impress.

Warm from the oven, these cookies fill your kitchen with an inviting aroma that promises deliciousness.

Bake a batch and watch them disappear in moments as friends and family can’t resist their charm.

Quick Recipe Overview

Ingredients for White Chocolate & Cranberry Cookie

For Wet Ingredients: .

• Butter: Creamy base that provides rich, smooth texture and helps cookies spread evenly.
• Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel notes and moisture to enhance cookie softness.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create crisp cookie edges.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and creates structure for perfect cookie consistency.
• Egg Yolk: Adds extra richness and helps create a tender, chewy texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings warm, complex flavor that elevates the entire cookie experience.

• All-Purpose Flour: Foundation of cookie structure with classic smooth texture.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and creates light, airy texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile.
• Cinnamon: Optional spice that adds warm, aromatic dimension to cookies.

• White Chocolate Chips: Creamy, sweet morsels that melt beautifully and provide luxurious richness.
• Dried Cranberries: Tangy burst of fruity flavor that adds bright, festive touch.
• Chopped Nuts: Optional crunchy element that introduces textural contrast and nutty depth.

Tools for Holiday Cookie Baking

• Electric mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar smoothly.
• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining wet ingredients and mixing cookie dough.
• Separate mixing bowl: Needed for whisking dry ingredients together.
• Baking sheets: Two lined with parchment paper or silicone mats for even baking.
• Wire rack: Helps cookies cool evenly after baking.
• Tablespoon: Used for scooping consistent cookie portions.
• Whisk: Great for blending dry ingredients thoroughly.
• Spatula: Helpful for folding in chocolate chips and cranberries gently.

How to Mix and Bake These Festive Cookies

• Warm Up the Oven

Get your oven toasty and ready by setting it to 350F. Line two baking trays with slick parchment paper so nothing sticks.

• Whip Butter and Sugars

Grab your mixer and blend butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until they’re super fluffy and look like soft clouds.

• Introduce Liquid Friends

Drop in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix until everything looks smooth and creamy like a dream.

• Combine Dry Teammates

In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Slowly add this powdery mix to your wet ingredients and stir gently.

• Sprinkle in Goodies

Softly fold white chocolate chips, cranberries, and nuts into the dough. Be gentle to keep everything light and airy.

• Shape Cookie Buddies

Roll small balls of dough and place them about two inches apart on your baking sheets. They’ll need room to spread and dance.

• Bake to Perfection

Send cookies into the oven for 9-11 minutes. They’re done when edges turn golden but centers look slightly soft and dreamy.

• Cool and Celebrate

Let cookies rest on the tray for five minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Enjoy with a hot drink or share as a delightful gift!

Notes for That Balance of Sweet and Tart

• Baking Brilliance: Soft Butter Technique ensures perfectly creamy cookie dough by allowing butter to reach room temperature before mixing.
• Texture Perfection: Chilling the prepared dough for 30 minutes helps prevent excessive spreading and creates thicker, chewier cookies with more concentrated flavors.
• Dietary Swap: Gluten-Free Option can be achieved by replacing all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and adding 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum for better structure.
• Nut-Free Alternative: Substitute chopped nuts with toasted coconut flakes or additional white chocolate chips for crunch and extra sweetness without compromising the recipe’s delightful texture.
• Holiday Gift Hack: Pack cooled cookies in festive mason jars or cellophane bags with a ribbon for a homemade treat that looks professionally prepared and tastes absolutely delicious.

Serving Up a Crowd Favorite During Winter

• Festive Cookie Platter: Create a stunning display by arranging cookies on a decorative holiday plate with sprinkled powdered sugar and fresh cranberries for a beautiful presentation.
• Dessert Pairing Delight: Serve these cookies alongside a warm mug of spiced chai tea or creamy hot chocolate to enhance the cozy winter flavor profile and create a comforting treat.
• Gift-Worthy Packaging: Pack cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons, adding a personalized gift tag for a homemade touch perfect for holiday gifting to friends and family.
• Dessert Bar Sensation: Include these white chocolate cranberry cookies as part of a holiday dessert buffet, complementing other seasonal treats like gingerbread and peppermint bark for a delightful spread.

How to Store Them

• Smart Cookie Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, ensuring maximum freshness and delicious flavor.
• Freezing Friendly: Stack cookies between parchment paper layers in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for 3 months, perfect for make-ahead treats or unexpected guests.
• Gift-Ready Packaging: Wrap cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons. Bundle with a handwritten note for a homemade touch that spreads joy and deliciousness.
• Moisture Management: Add a small piece of bread to your storage container to maintain cookie softness and prevent them from becoming dry or crumbly.

Festive White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

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4.6 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Rich and buttery white chocolate cranberry cookies blend sweet and tart flavors into a delightful holiday treat. Crisp edges and chewy centers make these cookies a perfect companion for festive gatherings and cozy winter afternoons.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ¾ cup (170 g / 6 oz) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 g / 7 oz) light brown sugar
• ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups (250 g / 8.8 oz) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
• 1 cup (170 g / 6 oz) white chocolate chips
• ¾ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) dried cranberries
• ½ cup (50 g / 1.8 oz) chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Line baking sheets with parchment paper to create a non-stick foundation for the cookies.
2. Creaming: Whip butter and sugars using an electric mixer until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, creating a smooth, aerated base for the cookie dough.
3. Wet Ingredients Fusion: Blend egg, extra egg yolk, and vanilla extract into the butter mixture until achieving a glossy, homogeneous consistency.
4. Dry Ingredient Combination: Thoroughly whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a separate bowl to ensure even distribution of leavening components.
5. Dough Formation: Gently incorporate dry ingredients into the wet mixture, carefully mixing to maintain the dough’s delicate structure and prevent overmixing.
6. Mix-in Incorporation: Tenderly fold white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and optional nuts throughout the dough, ensuring uniform ingredient distribution.
7. Shaping and Positioning: Scoop and roll dough into uniform balls, placing them strategically on prepared baking sheets with sufficient spacing to allow for spreading.
8. Baking Process: Slide sheets into a preheated 350F (175C) oven, allowing cookies to transform into golden-edged treats with perfectly soft, tender centers.
9. Cooling Technique: Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for five minutes to stabilize their structure, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling and texture development.

Notes

• Optimize Butter Temperature: Ensure butter is softened but not melted, allowing perfect creaming that creates a light, fluffy cookie base with ideal texture and consistency.
• Prevent Overmixing: Mix dry and wet ingredients gently to maintain a tender crumb, stopping precisely when ingredients are just combined to avoid tough, dense cookies.
• Uniform Cookie Size: Use a consistent tablespoon scoop or cookie scoop to create evenly sized cookies, guaranteeing uniform baking and professional-looking results with consistent doneness.
• Customize Ingredient Variations: Swap white chocolate chips with milk or dark chocolate, substitute dried cranberries with other dried fruits like cherries or blueberries, or add nuts like pecans or almonds for personalized flavor profiles.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 182
• Sugar: 14 g
• Sodium: 77 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 22 mg