Buttery Chewy Cranberry Cookies (Printable)

Buttery, chewy cookies studded with tart cranberries and a touch of vanilla, ideal for sharing.

# What's Needed:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

04 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Add-ins

09 - 1 cup dried cranberries
10 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl until evenly blended.
03 - Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
04 - Add eggs one at a time to the butter and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition, then mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined.
06 - Fold dried cranberries and chopped nuts into the dough, ensuring even distribution.
07 - Drop rounded tablespoons of the dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Tips for Success:

01 -
  • They bake in under 15 minutes and taste homemade in the best way, not fussy or complicated.
  • The tart cranberries cut through the buttery sweetness so perfectly that people ask for the recipe every single time.
  • You can mix the dough by hand if your mixer is buried, making this the ultimate no-excuse dessert.
02 -
  • The moment your edges turn golden is also the moment they'll start burning if you're not watching, so set a timer and don't trust your memory.
  • Cranberries hold moisture differently than chocolate chips—store-bought batches can dry out in 3 days, but homemade cookies in an airtight container stay tender and chewy for a week.
03 -
  • Brown your butter first if you want to take these from good to unforgettable—it adds a nutty depth that makes people pause mid-bite and really taste what they're eating.
  • Don't skip the salt because it's what transforms these from just-sweet into a flavor that has actual dimension and keeps people reaching for another one.

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