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    Cranberry noels

    Published: Dec 08, 2012 / 16 Comments

    8.1K shares
    • Facebook406
    Recipe Print

    Cranberry Noels - delicious holiday cookies. Simple shortbread cookie recipe for Christmas. A crunchy texture of shortbread paired with the chewiness of the dried cranberries – all in one cookie!

    Cranberry noels

    I crave no fancy cookies for Christmas - just give me a simple shortbread cookie and I'll be happy. It's all about simple cookies that taste good and bring back the childhood memories during the holidays season. I started last week with simple almond shortbread cookies with Amaretto, and these Christmas cranberry noels from Martha Stewart are also simple to make and so good to taste: a crunchy texture paired with the chewiness of the cranberries - all in one cookie! This holiday recipe uses the basic icebox cookie dough with the addition of dried cranberries. The cranberries are chopped in a food processor, and I omitted pecans from the original cranberry noel recipe. Then, after the cookie dough shaped as logs have been in the freezer/refrigerator, the cookie dough logs are rolled in decorative red sanding sugar to make cookies even more festive. Look at this beautiful log of raw cookie dough:

    log sliced

    The freezing of the dough for about 40 minutes and then refrigerating it for 30 minutes makes the dough stiffer which, in turn, makes it easier to slice the cookie dough in round shapes. You could also use cookie cutters like the star on my photo by letting the cookie dough soften a bit to room temperature. I did this to one of my cookie dough logs - left it on the counter to soften to reach room temperature so that I could roll it to the desired size of cookie cutters.

    Cranberry noels

    This raw cookie dough wrapped in plastic can be stored in the freezer for a couple of months, and once baked, the cranberry noels keep well at room temperature in an air-tight container for a month.

    Cranberry noels, holiday, Christmas

    First, mix the cookie batter ingredients:

    mixing

    Add chopped cranberries to the cookie dough

    mixing chopped cranberries in

    Rolling cookie dough logs of different sizes if you like (for bigger and smaller cookies)

    logs

    logs2

    Rolling the edges of cookie dough log in red sanding sugar:

    log

    Placing sliced cookie dough on a baking sheet

    on a sheet

    Bake cranberry noels in the preheated oven at 350 F just until edges just start turning brown, about 12 minutes:

    Cranberry noels

    cranberry noels
    5 from 6 votes

    Cranberry Noels

    Cranberry Noels - delicious holiday cookies.  Simple shortbread cookie recipe for Christmas.  A crunchy texture of shortbread paired with the chewiness of the dried cranberries – all in one cookie!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 35 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 50 cookies
    Calories per serving 73 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), room temperature
    • ¾ cup sugar
    • 2 tablespoons milk
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ cup dried cranberries
    • red decorating sugar , for decorating

    Instructions 

    • In a large bowl, using mixer, cream butter, sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Add milk and vanilla, beat to combine.
    • With mixer on low, gradually add flour and salt, continue beating until dough forms.
    • Chop dried cranberries in a food processor into smaller bits. Add chopped cranberries to the dough, mix with the spatula to combine.
    • Divide dough into 2 portions. Shape each portion into a log. I shaped each portion into different sized logs: small and big for smaller and bigger cookies. Wrap logs in plastic wrap, put in the freezer for 30 minutes, then in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
    • Preheat oven to 350 F.  
    • Place red decorating sugar on a plate. Roll each cookie log in red decorating sugar, pressing sugar to the dough to stick. Using sharp knife cut each log into thin slices, about¼ inch thick. 
    • Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until edges just start turning brown, about 12 minutes. Remove from oven, place cookies to cool on wire rack.

    Notes

    This recipe is adapted from Martha Stewart.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    Cranberry Noels
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    73
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    3
    g
    5
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    13
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    9
    mg
    3
    %
    Sodium
     
    24
    mg
    1
    %
    Potassium
     
    9
    mg
    0
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    9
    g
    3
    %
    Sugar
     
    4
    g
    4
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    115
    IU
    2
    %
    Calcium
     
    3
    mg
    0
    %
    Iron
     
    0.3
    mg
    2
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Tried this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment and provide a Star Rating below - I love your feedback and try to respond to every comment!
    « Almond Shortbread Cookies with Amaretto
    Creamy mushroom soup with Shiitake »
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    Please share your comment and Star Rating in the comments section below.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. S

      November 12, 2019 at 5:16 pm

      Cute cookies. I am adding them to my cookie tray this year.

      Reply
    2. Marina | Let the Baking Begin!

      December 09, 2013 at 12:06 pm

      Your cookies are so cute!

      Reply
    3. Monica Lazar

      December 10, 2012 at 3:20 pm

      Those cookies look amazing ♥ and your photos are so beautiful!! 🙂

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 12, 2012 at 3:42 pm

        Thank you, Monica.

        Reply
    4. Jackie @ Domestic Fits

      December 10, 2012 at 1:53 pm

      A nice shortbread is a thing of beauty, isn't it? Lots of butter, no eggs, and not over-baked. This looks perfect!

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 12, 2012 at 3:34 pm

        Thank you, Jackie.

        Reply
    5. Paola @gnom-gnom

      December 10, 2012 at 11:22 am

      I am fairly certain that I am currently having a love affair with cranberries- so these are right up my alley! I might give them a go using fresh cranberries though... I love their tartness against the sweetness of dough!

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 12, 2012 at 3:28 pm

        I love tart fruits myself and would love to make these with tart fresh cranberries or even tart cherries (if I can ever find them). 🙂

        Reply
    6. cquek

      December 10, 2012 at 6:22 am

      Looks like a good selection of dishes you tried out.

      Reply
    7. Hannah

      December 09, 2012 at 6:43 pm

      "Unfancy" and yet still stunning- That red sugar really sets them apart from the pack! They would make a lovely addition to any cookie platter.

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 12, 2012 at 3:22 pm

        Thank you. 🙂

        Reply
    8. Ana Ciolacu

      December 09, 2012 at 12:56 pm

      I just discovered it, but i looove your blog. Is so colorful... <3
      And these cookies are amazing. They are on my "to do" list now. 🙂
      Hugs, Ana.

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 09, 2012 at 1:56 pm

        Thank you! Your blog has breathtaking photography.

        Reply
    9. Monique

      December 08, 2012 at 5:03 pm

      Julia..I just just made a similar recipe and have prepared a little post:-)
      These stars are so cute..I like working with stars:-)

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 09, 2012 at 1:54 pm

        I rarely use cookie cutter but I should - they are so pretty ... Maybe next year.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Julia! Welcome to my recipe blog where I share easy-to-make weeknight dinners and other recipes using simple ingredients!

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