These hearty Cranberry and Eggnog Cookies are good any time but they are especially good at Christmas. This is because they combine traditional flavors of the season – eggnog, dried cranberries, orange rind, pecans, and the warm spices we associate with Christmas – cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
Cranberry and Eggnog Drop Cookies are easy to make. Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature before making these cookies. I do NOT recommend softening the butter in the microwave for baked products as it changes the properties of the butter and liquifies it too much. For butter at room temperature, I remove it from the refrigerator about an hour before I need it and dice the amount I need into about 1” cubes. This hastens the softening.
For other ingredients (e.g., eggs, milk, yogurt) for which a recipe calls for them to be at room temperature, I usually take them from the refrigerator about 30 minutes or so before using them in a recipe. Simply put, room temperature ingredients incorporate into most batters much better than do cold ingredients.
Two baking sheets of these cookies can be baked at once with the oven racks positioned in the upper and lower third of the oven. Rotate the cookie sheets and switch them between racks halfway through the baking to ensure even baking of all the cookies. These cookies will have a tender texture and be somewhat soft and chewy if they are not overbaked.
I have given a baking time guide of 13-16 minutes. However, some judgment on the part of the cook is required to determine the baking time for his or her oven because ovens are known for baking somewhat differently. The cookies are done when they are just barely set and the edges and the underneath sides just start to turn a light golden tan color. Overbaking will result in a harder, crisper cookie.
These festive Cranberry and Eggnog Drop Cookies are hearty, wholesome cookies that freeze well and are perfect for holiday cookie exchanges.
[Printable recipe follows at end of posting]
Cranberry and Eggnog Drop Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
¾ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp allspice
1/8 tsp cloves
1½ cups quick cooking rolled oats
¾ cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup chopped pecans
½ cup salted butter, room temperature
¾ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 large egg, room temperature, lightly beaten with fork
¼ cup eggnog, room temperature
1½ tsp finely grated orange rind
1 tsp pure vanilla
Method:
Position oven racks in upper and lower third of oven. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Sift the flour, baking powder, and spices together into a bowl. Set aside.
In separate bowl, combine the rolled oats, cranberries, and pecans. Set aside.
In bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream the butter at medium speed. Gradually blend in the brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy, stopping to scrape sides of bowl with rubber spatula, as required. Add the egg, eggnog, grated orange rind, and vanilla. Beat until combined with butter and brown sugar.
Reduce speed to low and gradually add the sifted dry ingredients, Increase speed slightly and mix well until ingredients are incorporated.
Stir in the rolled oats, cranberries, and nut mixture until combined.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonful onto prepared cookie sheets, leaving approximately 1½ – 2” between cookies. Bake 13-16 minutes (rotating and switching baking sheets between racks halfway through the baking), or until edges and bottoms of cookies are light golden tanned. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheets for 2-3 minutes before using a cookie lifter to transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely.
Store cookies in airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
Yield: Approximately 2½ dozen
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Cranberry and Eggnog Drop Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp allspice
- 1/8 tsp cloves
- 1½ cups quick cooking rolled oats
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup salted butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 large egg, room temperature, lightly beaten with fork
- ¼ cup eggnog, room temperature
- 1½ tsp finely grated orange rind
- 1 tsp pure vanilla
Instructions
- Position oven racks in upper and lower third of oven. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Sift the flour, baking powder, and spices together into a bowl. Set aside.
- In separate bowl, combine the rolled oats, cranberries, and pecans. Set aside.
- In bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream the butter at medium speed. Gradually blend in the brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy, stopping to scrape sides of bowl with rubber spatula, as required. Add the egg, eggnog, grated orange rind, and vanilla. Beat until combined with butter and brown sugar.
- Reduce speed to low and gradually add the sifted dry ingredients, Increase speed slightly and mix well until ingredients are incorporated.
- Stir in the rolled oats, cranberries, and nut mixture until combined.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonful onto prepared cookie sheets, leaving approximately 1½ - 2” between cookies. Bake 13-16 minutes (rotating and switching baking sheets between racks halfway through the baking), or until edges and bottoms of cookies are light golden tanned. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheets for 2-3 minutes before using a cookie lifter to transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely.
- Store cookies in airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
Recipe Notes
Yield: Approximately 2½ dozen
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