CRANBERRY ORANGE ZEST COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Combine all orange sugar ingredients in bowl; stir until well mixed. Set aside.
• Combine 1 cup sugar and butter in large bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add egg and 1 teaspoon orange zest; mix until combined. Add flour, baking powder and baking soda; beat at low speed until well mixed. Add cranberries. Continue beating just until mixed.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll balls in orange sugar. Place, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten with bottom of glass to 1 1/2-inch circles.
• Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack.

Steps:

• Beat 1 cup softened butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 3/4 cup powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Stir in chopped cranberries, orange zest, vanilla extract, and almond extract until blended.
• Stir together 2 cups flour, 1/4 tsp. baking powder, and 1/8 tsp. salt.
• Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended.
• Shape shortbread dough into 2 (7-inch) logs. Wrap each log in wax paper, and chill 4 hours, or freeze logs in zip-top plastic freezer bags up to 1 month.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• If frozen, let logs stand at room temperature 10 minutes. Cut each log into 24 slices. Place shortbread slices 1 inch apart on lightly greased or parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
• Bake shortbread slices at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges of slices are golden.
• Remove shortbread from baking sheets, and place on wire racks; let cool completely (about 20 minutes). Store in airtight containers.