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Cynthia’s Best Cookie Recipe: Shortbread Cookies with Orange & Dried Cherries

December 21, 2023 2 Comments on Cynthia’s Best Cookie Recipe: Shortbread Cookies with Orange & Dried Cherries

This recipe comes from our 310 Cynthia's Cookie Apron pattern. Cynthia worked at Folkwear for many years and has been a life-long Folkwear fan. She developed the pattern for the apron from a garment that was a staple of her grandmother's who made and wore it all her life - for cooking and doing house and garden chores. An apron to make cookies in should have a delicious cookie to go with it!

This cookie recipe is a variation on Cynthia’s family recipe. Her grandmother loved cordials and liqueurs, so the Grand Marnier was her secret. This cookie is sturdy enough to withstand icing, as well as additional ingredients such as nuts and dried fruit. It is not overly sweet, and so makes a great foundation recipe for changing up the flavors or being made plain.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
zest of two oranges
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter (room temperature)
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup or more of dried cherries or substitute cranberries
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon fresh orange juice or 1/2 teaspoon Grand Marnier
For a variation, add 1/2 cup of pecans

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, salt, and orange zest together. In a separate bowl, cream butter, and sugar until smooth. Add vanilla extract, orange juice, and dried cherries, (and pecans if using) combine.

Slowly add the flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture until fully incorporated. Form dough into ball, wrap in wax paper and refrigerate overnight or at least few hours.

On a floured surface roll dough out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut using cookie cutter and place on lined cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes or until barely golden on the bottom. Transfer cookies to cooling rack to cool completely.

NOTE: You can also shape the dough into rolled logs about 1.5" to 2" (3.75-5cm) thick, chill, and slice into rounds to bake the same way. I used dried cranberries here, rather than dried cherries. I also find that I had to bake the cookies for 16-18 minutes to get them done with golden brown edges.

Happy Holidays from Folkwear!

Roll of cookie dough on a wooden counter with a knife and two oranges

Orange cranberry shortbread raw dough on a cookie sheet ready to cook.

Orange Cranberry Cookies on cookie sheet after being baked

Cookies in a clear cellophane bag on a wooden table, tied with a red ribbon.
These cookies make for great holiday gifting!

2 Responses

KellyK

December 23, 2023

I had to laugh a little when I saw your response, Jeanne since I’m going to try this as a gluten free recipe as well. I have a feeling that the butter will make up for inadequacies inherent in gf flours. I’ll replace some of the flour with almond flour for texture.