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
Mike atwell
Made them two times. Second time I added white chocolate chips. Both turned out wonderful!
I am trying a half batch this time, but with fresh blueberries. Just an experiment. Hoping for the best!
Patti Estep
That’s great Mike. Let me know how the blueberries turn out and thanks for sharing.
Nica
Great cookie! Used fresh c a berries too; dough was a tad pink. Just added to the rustic character of the cookie. Will certainly make again.
Patti Estep
Glad to hear it Nica. Thanks for sharing.
Renna
Mine burned up into charcoal! I even tried reducing the time and heat. I have no idea how it could’ve gone so terribly wrong!?!
Patti Estep
I’m so sorry Renna. I would have suggested reducing the time or temperature, but I see that you have already tried that.
Terri Upham
These look amazing and I am making them for a holiday cookie exchange, but I had some issues. Do you have tips for using the fresh cranberries? I used the food processor on slightly thawed whole fresh cranberries and found that it made the dough wet and pink. Did you completely thaw them first? Did you chop them by hand? Did you squeeze out the water in paper towels before adding to the dough? I want to try them again and don’t want to ruin another batch. Thank you!
Patti Estep
Terri, I have never used frozen cranberries for these cookies, only fresh. Sometimes I’ll chop them ahead but have also just let the metal blades of my hand mixer chop them up. There is a comment here from another reader stating that she used frozen cranberries and she chopped them by hand. Her dough was pink as well. You should be able to find fresh cranberries in the produce section of the grocery store this time of year. My only other suggestion would be to let the berries completely thaw, rinse and dry out an hour or so before chopping. You don’t really want and juice/water from the berries. Hope that helps.
Renna
I hand chopped mine, which took FOREVER! But let me know how yours turn out. I was going to use mine for a cookie exchange but mine burned horribly for some reason. Maybe my oven has gone bad, but I tried reducing time and temp and they still burned. I’m so bummed because they look amazing!
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.
Renna
I was just thinking that adding nuts would be so good! Sounds amazing! Great idea!