You can’t blame me for going a little overboard on the butter cookies this time of year! After all, I was programmed to desire them once the weather turns cold. Come December 1st, I start checking the mailbox for those metal tins of shortbread rings with course sugar crystals on top. Surely someone will send me one!
As I set off to bake the masses of Christmas cookies we will deliver to our friends this year, I have one single agenda–turn them ALL into shortbread!
You think I’m kidding…
Here’s another favorite shortbread recipe, prepared in the traditional pan method. I’ve ramped them up a bit by adding orange zest, mini chocolate chips, and cranberries! We tried several combinations one day, and this was the standout! I hope you enjoy them. If not, send them to me!
Merry Shortbread Christmas!
Sommer
To make:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
With an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar vanilla and orange zest until light and fluffy. Add the flour and salt. Beat until just combined.
Then add the chocolate chips and cranberries.
Divide the dough until two pieces. Press them evenly into 2- 8 inch round cake pans. Bake for 11-12 minutes—until golden around the edges.
With a small sharp knife, score the shortbread into 8 wedges per pan.
Allow to cool in the pans another 10 minutes. Then flip out of the pans the gently separate in to wedges.
Makes 16 triangles.
Recipe: Orange Chocolate Cranberry Shortbread
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. orange zest
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
- ¼ cup chopped dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- With an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar vanilla and orange zest until light and fluffy. Add the flour and salt. Beat until just combined.
- Then add the chocolate chips and cranberries.
- Divide the dough until two pieces. Press them evenly into 2- 8 inch round cake pans. Bake for 11-12 minutes—until golden around the edges.
- With a small sharp knife, score the shortbread into 8 wedges per pan.
- Allow to cool in the pans another 10 minutes. Then flip out of the pans the gently separate in to wedges.
Preparation time: 10 minute(s)
Cooking time: 12 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 16 triangles
wow looks amazing also a big fan of short bread yum
I LOVE shortbread, and especially citrus-y ones!
I love shortbread too so I'm totally with you…more butter pleeease!
What a beautiful cookie! Not to mention–> "Absolutely Mouth-watering"
Cheers,
Aldy.
Gorgeous cookies. Yummy!
I agree, I'm a shortbread fan and you know I'm loving this recipe. Great combo.
Okay, YUM.
Speaking of sweet, salty, buttery goodness, do you have a recipe for brickle? I've gotta make some this year!
This shortbread looks perfectly buttery and delicious! I love the addition of chocolate and cranberries, yum!
just bought a crate of oranges and I have vowed not to waste any of the zest, so this recipe is going to be made TODAY. Because I just baked cookies last night, I think I'll freeze this dough in the pan to bake later. LOVE your blog, Spicy!!
Delicious shortbread flavors! I love shortbread and could eat it every day!
I also have a thing for shortbread. There is nothing like a buttery, crumbly cookie and a cup of tea. Just heaven! I love the flavor combination in this cookie. What a bright and delicious holiday treat! Thank you for sharing…I hope you have a blessed week!
This shortbread looks great. I have officially fallen into cookie baking mode, I baked some yesteday (spritz cookies, also full of butter… I will be posting soon) and am already anxious to bake some more. Maybe I should try to bake some shortbread since you speak so highly of it!
I love the butteriness of shortbread too! With a touch of salt – heaven. Oh, you have the kitchenaid mixer that has the head that swivels back. I wish for that one – mine doesn't do that so it's hard maneuvering around it sometimes. Anyways, back to the shortbread – it look amazing. I could always go for a piece of that.
I love shortbread! Perfect coffee dunkers!
your shortbread wedges look delicious. Love the addition of cranberry and chocolate chips and the cutting method.
Thanks for sharing, hope you'll have a wonderful Monday
your photos are perfect… and so is this recipe!
thanks for sharing!
How are you wrapping all of the cookies up and how soon are you delivering after making them? I am always worried they will be stale or crumbly!
I'm going to make these, but leave out the chocolate chips, since I'm not a fan of that, but LOVE shortbread. This looks like the perfect thing to eat with breakfast.
Stunning & appetizing pictures of this Merry Shortbread!
Your shortbread looks truly tasty, my friend!
I love shortbread! And yeah…more butter!
Whata festive shortbread! So yummy looking.
Cheers,
Rosa
Orange and chocolate are magical words to my ears!
I like the thinness of this shortbread, packed full of chocolate and cranberry goodness. You have a passion for shortbread and because of that, I'm sure your shortbread is the best around. Thanks for sharing this…I'm with you about shortbread – luv it!
Shortbread is pretty hard to resist! My mom would LOVE this cranberry orange version. This recipe may have to be a part of my holiday baking spree.
I would dearly love to find this in my mailbox! This is the one time of year I succomb to all things butter. And then you put in the chocolate and the cranberries and the orange and you've hooked me.
this looks so yummy!! wish i had one for this right now. it looks so festive!
I feel the same way – I use salted butter all the time and I think I could happily enjoy salted butter rolled in chocolate chips and sugar. I DON"T do that but I think I COULD.
I just ran out to check my mailbox
!!! Your shortbread is beautiful and sounds so tasty. Very festive 
Beautiful shortbread Sommer! And I'm with you, the more butter the better.
Oh my! More shortbread to try! I have been playing with Mangiabella's biscochitos and have Dulcis In Furno's shortbread-like biscotti on my to do list … now, yours! I should just buy a milk cow so I can make my own butter!
I love the ingredients of this shortbread…orange, chocolate and cranberries…not only pretty but very tasty
Those look delicious and so pretty!
This looks great. I love the combo of orange and chocolate and with cranberries, even better. I don't have any shortbread recipes so this is perfect. Bookmarked!
These look so buttery and delicious, I love the cranberries and chocolate combo!
I'm a fellow shortbread fan, and the flavours in these look delicious. So crispy and thin. I am giving it some buzz!
hey sommers wonderfully explained and am sure bookmarking this !
Looks super easy and tasty! Cranberries add such a festive touch.
I love shortbread!! I never thought of making it this way, the cranberries are such a wonderful additon! You really make it look easy, I'm going to have to make it over break!
Cheers
Dennis
Mmmmm…cranberry and orange….I absolutely love this combination, and adding chocolate chips to it is genius. They look lovely. I should definitely bake some cookies this week. Have a great week Sommer.
Oh, you are not alone! More butter – always! Salt – YES! And no eggs – wonderful!! I adore shortbread too (more than regular cookies *shhhhhh*) and with chocolate, orange and cranberries, it's just genius!!!
These shortbread cookies look amazing. I love the flavor combination!!
love love shortbread, did I say love..I love your festive creation…yum sommer..I will have to try this for my hubbys holiday work party!!
sweetlife
Good for you! I mean – shortbread is the quintessential Christmas cookies and everything DOES taste better with butter… and these look incredible! Love the idea.
YUM!
Valerie
That's a great variation of shortbread… I'm hungry now.
The shortbread looks so elegant cut into triangles!
I just put out everything this morning so I could make shortbread when I got home from work.. I may have to make a batch now with your additions! thanks for sharing
I am crazy for shortbread. Key lime and coconut is my favorite flavor combination. The chocolate and cranberries are so festive, and just right for this time of year. I know I will love these!
These sound heavenly, Sommer! Butter and salt makes everything better, right? I love that you included both cranberry and orange with the chocolate chips. I've never made thin shortbread like this…will have to try!
That looks wonderful.
However, the post needs one more picture: an empty plate with a single crumb on it!
in scotland, you get a year of good luck if you wake up on New Year's to find shortbread on your front step.
if anyone needs the address of my front step …
Best to you and yours this holiday. Cheers!
I just adore shortbread, and this is so perfect for this time of year…looks delicious!
I tend to steer away from traditional British baking, seeing as I'm actually IN Britain, and rather wow my friends and neighbours with the almighty chocolate chip cookie……however, I think I am going to make this for Christmas, and may even take some over to our neighbours house.
oh and a question, can you use fresh orange zest? as they don't sell the dried kind here. If so how much?
Hey April~ I did mean fresh orange zest. Come to think of it, I don't believe I've seen the dried kind around here either! 1 tsp. = about a medium orange.
Thanks! I'm going to bake these TODAY!!
Will post a picture of them! xxx
That looks phenomenal!!! WOW! I must try this!!
Merry Christmas!
Mary
Delightful Bitefuls