Orange scented cookies are topped with a dollop of cranberry sauce in these festive Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies.
For another delicious cranberry holiday cookie, try these Cranberry Orange Cookies.
Oh, how I love December. A few nights ago, we went to a live Nativity that is put on here, and it really put me in the Christmas mood.
Oh yeah – and all of the baking has helped, as well. 🙂
Only in December can I make a new sweet every day and not feel guilty about it!!
I mentioned the other day that I have been a bit obsessed with cranberry and orange lately. Well, those flavors show themselves again today in these Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies. A sweet orange cookie is topped with some tart and sweet cranberry sauce for 2 bites that taste just like Christmas. Yep – it doesn’t get more festive than these little cookies!!
Ingredients
- Butter: I like to use unsalted butter. Make sure it is at room temperature before starting.
- Sugar: You will need granulated (white) sugar for this recipe.
- Egg Yolks: You will only be using the egg yolks. You can save the whites and make some Meringue Cookies!
- Orange Zest & Juice: You will need a fresh orange, as you will be using both the zest and the juice for the best flavor.
- Salt: The salt will help to balance the flavors.
- Flour: I am using regular all-purpose flour. I haven’t tested this recipe with any other flours.
- Cranberry Sauce: You want to make sure the cranberry sauce is fairly thick, so canned cranberry sauce works well here. Make sure you get whole berry cranberry sauce, not cranberry jelly.
- Powdered Sugar: This is just to add a little sprinkle on at the end. You can skip this, if desired.
How to Make Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies
DOUGH: This dough comes together pretty easily. Nothing fancy – just mixing all of the ingredients together.
SHAPE: To shape the cookies, simply roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Place the on a baking sheet. Then, using a wooden spoon, or using your finger, press an indentation into each cookie.
BAKE: Bake the cookies until golden brown. When they are done, you may need to take your wooden spoon and press the indentations down again.
FILL: Fill each cookie with the cranberry sauce. Then return the cookies to the oven for 2 minutes, before removing and letting the cookies cool. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
More Holiday Cookies
Italian Christmas Cookies
Chocolate Dipped Cookies
Mexican Wedding Cookies
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Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- powdered sugar for dusting, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In the bowl of a mixer, beat the butter and the sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the yolks, orange zest, orange juice and salt. Add in the flour and beat just until the mixture comes together.1 cup butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 large egg yolks, 1 tablespoon orange zest, 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Place on the prepared baking sheets, at least 1 inch apart. Using the end of a wooden spoon or a floured finger, make an indentation in the center of each ball.
- Bake until lightly golden brown, about 18 minutes.
- Remove the cookies from the oven, and if necessary, use the wooden spoon to press down any indentations that may have puffed up. Fill each cookie with about 1/2 teaspoon of cranberry sauce, then return the cookies to the oven for 2 minutes.1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- Let the cookies cool completely, then dust with powdered sugar, if desired.powdered sugar
April Ottavian says
can I sub GF flour for regular flour?
Deborah says
Hi April – I don’t have a lot of experience with GF flour, so I couldn’t say for sure. I would think it would work just fine, but that is just a guess.
Jessica @ Sweet Menu says
Aww these are super sweet! Love the cranberry topping – thumbprint cookies are the best!
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says
Cranberry and orange is one of my all-time favorite flavor combinations and you turned that combo into a delicious cookie! These look perfect and I love how easy thumbprints are too make.
Jamie | My Baking Addiction says
Thumbprints are so irresistible and I love the cranberry flavor!
-Jamie