This festive fresh cranberry shortbread cookie recipe uses fresh cranberries instead of dried. I promise you won’t miss the extra sugar.
Fresh Cranberry Shortbread Cookie
This is the best time of year to make fresh cranberry shortbread cookies. You may be able to find frozen cranberries any time of year, but why not buy a couple of extra bags now, and toss them into the freezer, while they are still in season.
There are many cranberry shortbread recipes out there, and they are all very similar. Heavy on butter, usually no baking soda or baking powder, making them dense and delicious. However, most use dried cranberries.
I wanted to use the fresh cranberries that I had bought for some other recent projects like the wood, candle, cranberry, and fresh evergreen centerpiece, and the cranberry garland in the rustic tree decoration post.
The result was amazing, and I felt good about using the fresh cranberries because it cut down on the sugar content. I promise you will not miss the extra sugar.
Once you mix up the dough you need to refrigerate it in logs.
I like this because you can make the dough in a short time, and then whip up the cookies later or even the next day. Since all you have to do is slice them, and place them on a cookie sheet, they come together pretty quickly.
Cookie Baking Tip:
My mother taught me this and I almost always do it when baking cookies.
Halfway through the cooking time switch the trays. Move the top cookie sheet to the bottom rack and the one on the bottom to the top. It really helps the cookies bake evenly.
Also, if you bake often you may notice that your oven and my oven are not exactly the same. You may need to leave the cookies in for an extra minute or two. Or, you may need to take them out a little early.
Added Bonus: They freeze really well, so you can make them ahead.
They’re so pretty too. A great festive color for the holidays.
P.S. You may also like this festive Cranberry Pistachio Cake Cookie Recipe or my mother’s famous Thumbprint Cookie Recipe. You can find them and many other cookie recipes on my Recipes Page.
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Fresh Cranberry Shortbread Cookie Recipe
This festive fresh cranberry shortbread cookie recipe uses fresh cranberries instead of dried. I promise you won't miss the extra sugar.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup fresh cranberries finely chopped
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Instructions
- Combine butter and sugar and mix together on medium speed until well blended.
- Add the flour about 1/2 at a time and mix until combined.
- Add chopped cranberries and lemon zest, mix well.
- Transfer about 1/2 of the dough onto plastic wrap and roll into a log.
- Continue with the remaining dough.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Cut dough into 1/4 inch rounds and bake for 10 minutes.
- Switch pans by moving top pan to the bottom and the bottom pan to the top, then bake for an addition 10 minute or until the cookies start to brown.
- Makes about 2.5 dozen.
Nutrition Information
Yield 30 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 99 Total Fat 6g Saturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 0g Unsaturated Fat 2g Cholesterol 16mg Sodium 49mg Carbohydrates 10g Net Carbohydrates 0g Fiber 0g Sugar 4g Sugar Alcohols 0g Protein 1g
Gail Fitzsimmons
Did you use salted or unsalted butter. I love cranberries and can’t wait to make them.
Patti Estep
Gail, most baking recipes call for unsalted butter but to be honest I almost always use salted. It’s just easier for me to have on hand. If you prefer unsalted I suggest you add about 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the batter. I hope you love the cookies.
Wanda
Can the logs be frozen and then sliced and baked when needed
Patti Estep
Wanda, I haven’t tried that but I think you could do it. You may need them to defrost a bit first. Let me know how it goes if you try it.
Annie M
These are the tastiest, easiest, most gorgeous cranberry shortbread cookies ever! I followed recipe exactly; rolled half of the cookies in crushed pistachios, left half plain with a sprinkling of sparkling sugar for the holidays. I liked the plain cookies best, as they look more delicate and it was easier to tell when they were done. Thank you Patti for such a great recipe!
Patti Estep
Thank you Annie for this wonderful comment. I’m so glad you like the recipe and shared your experience here.