The first time I baked these white chocolate cranberry orange cookies, the bright scent of orange filled the kitchen before they even came out of the oven. They’ve since become one of my favorite treats to make when I want something festive but delicious any time of year. Their secret ingredient? A box of instant white chocolate pudding mix, which gives them a soft, chewy texture. Add tart dried cranberries, creamy white chocolate chips, and a fresh pop of orange, and you have cookies that are sure to stand out on any dessert tray. 😋
In Short, These Cookies Are:
- Extra soft and chewy, thanks to the instant pudding mix. 🍪
- Packed with white chocolate flavor from both white chocolate chips and white chocolate pudding mix. 🍫
- Brightened with fresh orange zest and a touch of orange extract. 🍊
- Filled with tart dried cranberries. ❤️
- Just as lovely for the holidays as they are for a treat any time of year. 🎄
🛠 Tools You’ll Need
- Mixing Bowls: Use one bowl for the dry ingredients and another for the butter, sugars, and other wet ingredients. 🥣
- Whisk: For evenly combining the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, and salt.
- Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer: Makes it easy to cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: Accurate measurements help ensure the cookies bake up soft and chewy. 📏
- Rubber Spatula: Ideal for gently folding in the cranberries and white chocolate chips. 🥄
- Cookie Scoop: Helps portion the dough into evenly sized cookies. 🍪
- Baking Sheet and Parchment Paper: Prevent sticking and make cleanup easier. 🔥
- Wire Cooling Rack: Lets the cookies cool evenly after baking.
Why Add Pudding Mix?
Pudding mix does more than add flavor to these cookies. The cornstarch in the mix absorbs moisture, helping the cookies turn out denser and chewier. It also helps them stay soft for longer. That’s a lot of goodness from one little box! 🍮
🗝️ Key Ingredients
Instant white chocolate pudding mix: Make sure to use instant pudding mix, not cook-and-serve pudding. If you can’t find white chocolate flavor, vanilla, French vanilla, or even cheesecake pudding mix will work. 🍮
Orange: Fresh orange zest adds a bright, citrusy flavor. When zesting the orange, avoid the white part of the peel, which can make the cookies taste bitter. 🍊
Orange extract: Its flavor can be strong, so start with just ¼ teaspoon if you prefer a more subtle orange flavor, then add more to taste. If you don’t have any, add a little extra vanilla extract or leave it out.
Ways to Vary This Recipe
Swap in some chopped white chocolate for the chips. For a pretty finish, press a few pieces into the cookies after baking. You can also try a different pudding flavor, add chopped pecans or walnuts, or drizzle melted white chocolate over the cooled cookies. 🍫🌰
🍪 How to Make the Cookies
- Start by whisking together the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. 🥣
- In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugars on medium-high for 2–3 minutes, until the mixture is smooth, light, and fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla, orange extract, and orange zest, then beat until everything is incorporated. 🧈
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in about three batches. Mix just until combined and no streaks of flour remain. Gently fold in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. 🍫
- Cover the dough and chill it for at least 30 minutes about an hour is even better. ❄️
- Preheat the oven. Scoop the chilled dough into balls about 1½ inches wide, or use a 1½-tablespoon cookie scoop. Arrange them about 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. You can press a few extra cranberries into the dough before baking, but save the white chocolate chips for after baking so they don’t dry out or burn. 📏
- Bake for 9–11 minutes, until the edges are set and very lightly golden. These cookies are especially delicious when they’re slightly underbaked in the middle, but bake them to your preference. If you like, use a round cookie cutter to shape the warm cookies into neat circles, then press a few extra white chocolate chips and cranberries into the tops. 🔥
Success Tips
Don’t skip chilling the dough. Chilling helps keep the cookies from spreading too much and gives them their best texture. ❄️
Cream the butter and sugars thoroughly. Beating them until light and fluffy helps create the right texture. If they aren’t creamed enough, the cookies may turn out dense or spread too thin. 🧈
Make sure your butter isn’t too warm. Butter that’s overly soft or greasy can affect the texture. Even when softened, it should still feel cool to the touch. 🌡️
☕ Perfect Pairings: The Ultimate Cookie Companions
The Cozy Classic: Coffee or tea. A warm cup is the perfect match for these soft, chewy cookies. ☕
The Decadent Sip: Hot chocolate. It doubles down on the cozy chocolate flavor for an extra-indulgent treat. 🍫
The Bright Bite: Fresh orange slices. Their juicy citrus flavor echoes the orange zest in the cookies. 🍊
The Decadent Duo: Vanilla ice cream. Serve a scoop alongside a slightly warm cookie for a simple, delicious dessert. 🍨
Storage
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for about 4–5 days. They stay soft and don’t dry out quickly. 📦
To freeze: Once completely cooled, the cookies can be stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. You can also freeze the dough, preferably shaped into balls. Bake the dough straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time. ❄️
🍰 More Recipes You’ll Love
- 🎃 Pumpkin Pudding Cookies Soft, Spiced & Ready in 30 Minutes!
- 🎉 Irresistibly Gooey Carrot Cake Stuffed Cookies
- 🍪 Ultra-Soft Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies
- 🎀 Soft Sour Cream Cookies with Pink Frosting
White Chocolate Cranberry Orange Cookies 🍊🍪
Description
These white chocolate cranberry orange cookies are soft, chewy, and full of festive flavor. Instant white chocolate pudding mix helps keep them tender, while dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, fresh orange zest, and a touch of orange extract create a sweet and tangy combination. Chill the dough before baking for the best texture, then enjoy them during the holidays or any time of year.
Ingredients
Instructions
-
Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
-
Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a separate large bowl, beat the butter and sugars on medium-high speed for 2 to 3 minutes, until light, fluffy, and well combined.
-
Add the Wet Ingredients
Add the eggs, extracts, and orange zest. Beat until fully incorporated.
-
Combine the Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture, mixing just until combined and no streaks of flour remain.
Gently fold in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
-
Chill the Dough
For the best results, cover and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes, up to 1 hour.
-
Scoop the Cookies
Once chilled, scoop the dough into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. You can also use a 1 1/2-tablespoon cookie scoop.
Arrange the dough balls about 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
If desired, press a few extra cranberries into the dough balls before baking. Save the extra white chocolate chips for after baking, as they can dry out or burn if placed on top before going into the oven.
-
Bake
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are set and very lightly golden. These cookies are best slightly underbaked, but you can adjust the baking time to your preferred texture.
For perfectly round cookies, use a biscuit cutter or round cookie cutter to gently shape them immediately after baking. Press additional white chocolate chips and cranberries into the tops while the cookies are still warm.
-
Cool
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 36
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 150kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Cholesterol 24mg8%
- Sodium 92mg4%
- Potassium 40mg2%
- Total Carbohydrate 18g6%
- Dietary Fiber 0.5g2%
- Sugars 11g
- Protein 2g4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.