Cranberry Orange Thumbprint Cookies

A plate of cookies with filling and frosting drizzle.

Cranberry Orange Thumbprint Cookies

Cranberry Orange Thumbprint Cookies are tender, not overly sweet with a great cranberry tartness. The orange in the sauce, the cookie dough, and the glaze partners perfectly with the cranberries!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cookies, cranberry, orange, thumbprint

Budget Cheap

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Cooling time 2 10

Total Time 2 45

Servings cookies

Calories 169kcal

Equipment

Large bowl
Cookie sheet

Ingredients

For the cranberry sauce:
½ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
½ cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 12 oz bag fresh cranberries
Zest of one orange
For the cookie dough:
½ cup butter softened
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
¼ teaspoon pure orange extract
1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cranberry orange sauce
For the glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
¼ teaspoon pure orange extract

Instructions

Make the cranberry sauce:
Bring orange juice, water and sugar to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Add the cranberries and orange zest and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and boil gently for about 10 minutes. When most of the berries have burst, remove from heat. Cool at room temperature then chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours.
Make the cookies:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and sugar with mixer on medium speed. Add the egg and orange extract, and mix well. Gradually add the flour and mix on low speed until just combined. Use a small cookie scoop to measure approximately one tablespoon dough. Gently roll dough into a ball and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone baking sheet. Make a small indentation into the center of the ball, and fill with a small scoop of cranberry sauce.
Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a rack to room temperature, then chill in refrigerator.
Make the glaze:
Sift the powdered sugar through a strainer to remove the lumps. Whisk the sifted powdered sugar and milk together until smooth. Whisk in orange extract. Pour the glaze into a pastry bag or a small zipper bag and cut of a small part of one corner of the bag. Drizzle glaze over the cookies. The glaze will harden in 10-20 minutes.

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