Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookie Recipe • Longbourn Farm

Orange cranberry shortbread cookies are the perfect holiday treat. They're quick and easy to make using a few simple ingredients!

a stack of orange cranberry shortbread cookies.

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Orange Cranberry Shortbread

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year. Between your packed schedule, gift shopping, and travel plans, it can get overwhelming! But one thing that should never stress you out during this time is baking. That's where my orange cranberry shortbread cookies come to save the day.

With minimal ingredients and an easy-to-follow recipe, these cookies are the perfect holiday treat. Not only do they taste delicious with a burst of orange and tart cranberry flavors, but they would also make great gifts!

Be sure to chill the dough before baking to get that perfect crumbly texture. Before you know it, you'll have a batch of these mouth-watering cookies ready to enjoy with your friends and family.

Why you’ll love this Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookie Recipe

So simple. Using just a handful of ingredients, my orange cranberry cookies come together in no time! Shortbread is the simplest of recipes, which is one of the reasons I love it so much. And the orange glaze uses just 3 ingredients!
Such a classic flavor combination. Fabulously festive, orange cranberry is such a classic flavor combo - and one that is so well loved! And, of course, cranberry shortbread cookies aren't just for the winter months. Summer picnics, Fourth of July barbecues, and birthday parties would all be made better with these cookies!
A make-ahead cookie. Orange cranberry cookies store amazingly well, and if you aren't ready to bake them all, you can freeze the cookie dough for later!

orange cranberry shortbread cookies on a wire cooling rack.

Ingredients for Orange Shortbread Cookies

For the Cranberry Shortbread Cookies

Butter
Sugar
Vanilla extract
Flour
Orange zest
Dried cranberries

For the Orange Glaze

Powdered sugar
Orange juice
Orange zest

For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below. For tips on softening butter, check out this post: How to soften butter quickly!

a glass bowl with butter, white sugar and orange zest.

creamed butter, sugar and orange zest in a glass bowl.

How to make Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

For the Shortbread Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Combine the butter and sugar until well mixed.
Add the vanilla, mix well.
Add the flour and mix until it is evenly distributed.
Add the orange zest and cranberries, mix until combined. The dough will be crumbly and should be the texture of wet sand and hold together when pressed. If it is too dry, add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the texture is correct.
Press the dough together into a rectangle on a sheet of parchment.
Roll out into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick.
Cut into rectangles about 2×3 inches.
Cover and chill for 1 hour, up to 3 days.
Remove from the fridge and let set for 10 minutes to slightly softened.
Bake on lined or greased baking sheets for about 20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.

For the Orange Glaze

Combine the powdered sugar, orange zest and orange juice, whisk until smooth.
Once the shortbread cookies are cool, dip them in the glaze. Set on a cooling rack that is set over a sheet pan so the excess glaze can drip off.
Let set.

orange cranberry shortbread cookie dough sliced into rectangular shapes on a parchment lined baking sheet.

orange cranberry shortbread cookies dipped in orange glaze on a wooden chopping board.

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookie Recipe variations

Feel free to experiment with other icings if you want to try a different flavor combination. Start with a base to which you can add more flavor - like my glaze icing recipe! Then mix in different extracts or juices and zest until you reach your desired flavor.

A lemon glaze would be fun, or you could even do melted chocolate - like I did for my chocolate dipped shortbread cookies.

Does this recipe still work if I don't use cranberries?

If you love the idea of orange cranberry shortbread cookies but don't have any cranberries (or aren't a fan), feel free to omit them from the recipe. Leaving out the cranberries would still create a shortbread full of citrus flavor, as both the glaze and shortbread contain orange. Either way, this cookie will still be yummy!

How to store Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies

Once you have mixed the dough, it can be easily stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for 3 months. If working with frozen cookie dough, be sure to thoroughly thaw it in the fridge before using it! Shaping the dough into individual cookies before freezing would reduce the defrost time for later.

Once you have baked my orange cranberry cookies, they store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also freeze my cranberry shortbread cookies (without the icing) for up to 3 months.

Orange Cranberry Shortbread FAQs

What is the difference between a sugar cookie and a shortbread cookie?

While both sugar cookies and shortbread are delicious, they do have some key differences. The biggest difference between these two types of cookies is the fat content - shortbread contains a higher fat-to-flour ratio, giving it a richer flavor and a more crumbly texture.

Sugar cookies usually contain eggs and leavening agents, which create a soft and chewy cookie. Shortbread, however, is crumbly and delicate - a perfect texture to pair with soft dried cranberries, as seen with these orange cranberry shortbread cookies!