Cranberry Orange Soft Winter Star Cookies are buttery, tender cut-out cookies speckled with dried cranberries and brightened with fresh orange zest—perfect for cozy winter baking and festive cookie trays. Their soft, pale centers and lightly golden edges make them ideal for decorating with a dusting of sugar or a drizzle of white chocolate.
Why you’ll love these cookies
These cookies stay soft thanks to a classic creamed-butter base, just enough flour, and careful baking so they set without browning too much. Cranberries add chewy pops of tartness, while orange zest gives a fresh citrus aroma that feels exactly right for winter and holiday baking.
The dough is very forgiving and adaptable—you can add white chocolate, nuts, spices, or even swap the citrus—so you can easily create multiple variations from one batch. Star shapes make them especially suited to Christmas and New Year cookie platters, but the dough works with any cutter you like.
Ingredients
Continue to the next page to get the full ingredients and steps