These White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies have crisp edges, soft centers, and a secret ingredient that makes them taste like they came straight from a bakery. The combination of creamy white chocolate and tart dried cranberries creates a perfect balance of flavors, making these cookies a must-try for any occasion!
Whether you’re baking for the holidays, a special gathering, or just to satisfy your sweet tooth, this easy recipe is sure to become a new favorite. Plus, there’s no chill time required, so you can enjoy them in no time!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔ Easy to Make – The dough comes together in just a few minutes with simple ingredients. Simply scoop and drop onto baking sheets!
✔ No Chill Time – Unlike other cookie recipes, you can bake these right away.
✔ Perfect Texture – Crisp edges, soft centers, creamy white chocolate, and chewy dried cranberries.
✔ Incredible Flavor – The classic pairing of white chocolate and cranberries is elevated with a touch of almond extract.
✔ Great for Gifting & Holidays – These cookies are beautiful, festive, and perfect for sharing!
Key Ingredients & Why They Work
These cookies are made with everyday baking ingredients, but choosing the right quality can make all the difference.
- Butter: Provides richness and a tender texture. Make sure it’s softened but still cool to the touch for best results.
- Sugar: A mix of granulated sugar (for crisp edges) and brown sugar (for chewiness and flavor) creates the perfect balance.
- Egg: Helps bind the dough and gives the cookies structure.
- Vanilla & Almond Extract: Almond extract is the secret ingredient that enhances the flavor, making these cookies taste like they came from a bakery!
- Flour: The base of the cookies. Be sure to measure correctly by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off.
- Baking Soda & Salt: Baking soda helps the cookies spread, while salt enhances the flavors.
- White Chocolate Chips: Use a high-quality brand like Ghirardelli or Guittard for the creamiest texture.
- Dried Cranberries: Provide a tart contrast to the sweetness of the white chocolate.
How to Make White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
1. Prepare the Dough
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: Beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Mix Everything Together: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in Mix-Ins: Gently stir in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
2. Scoop & Bake
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop Dough: Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to form evenly sized dough balls and place them onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly underbaked.
- Cool: Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
3. Make Them Extra Pretty!
- Press a few extra white chocolate chips and dried cranberries onto the tops of the cookies immediately after baking.
- Let cookies cool completely before serving for the best texture.
Baking Tips for Perfect Cookies
- Use high-quality white chocolate chips for the best flavor and texture.
- Avoid over-softening butter—it should be soft but cool to the touch.
- For evenly sized cookies, use a cookie scoop.
- Don’t overbake! The cookies should look slightly underdone in the center when you remove them—they will firm up as they cool.
- Want thicker cookies? Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
Variations & Add-Ins
Love to experiment? Try these fun variations:
- Nutty Crunch: Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts for extra texture.
- Dark Chocolate Cranberry Cookies: Swap white chocolate for dark chocolate chips for a richer flavor.
- Coconut Cranberry Cookies: Mix in 1/2 cup shredded coconut for a tropical twist.
- Orange Cranberry Cookies: Add 1 teaspoon orange zest for a citrusy boost.
Storage & Freezing Tips
Storing Baked Cookies
- Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Freezing Cookie Dough
- Portion the dough into balls and place them on a baking sheet.
- Freeze until solid, then transfer to a zip-top freezer bag.
- Freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, thaw in the fridge overnight or bake straight from frozen (adding 1-2 extra minutes to the bake time).
Freezing Baked Cookies
- Place cooled cookies in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To enjoy, thaw at room temperature or microwave for a few seconds to warm them up.
More Cookie Recipes to Try
Looking for more delicious cookies? Check these out:
- Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies – A classic, bakery-style favorite!
- Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodles – Cinnamon-sugar coated perfection.
- Snowball Cookies – Buttery, nutty, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
These White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies are the ultimate treat—perfectly soft, chewy, and packed with flavor. Whether you’re making them for the holidays or just a sweet indulgence, they’re sure to become a new favorite. Enjoy! 🍪✨