Cranberry, Orange and White Chocolate Cookies

 

Ovens are funny things. I adapted this recipe from one that I wrote years ago, where I stipulated the time at 8-9 minutes. I have since moved and, in my new oven, these took closer to 11 minutes. You need to watch them. When they have spread out and are just starting to turn golden yet remain lovely and soft, they are done. I tried a batch of these on greaseproof paper and a batch straight on the baking tray. The batch on the baking tray actually came out the best and were easy to remove with a spatula.

 

A bit of a stateside influence here, using many of the flavours that are popular during the American Holiday Season - Orange, Cranberry and Cinnamon.

 

I took most of these to work, where everyone raved about them and afreed that they were so much better than shop bought cookies. They were gone in no time, which I took as a good sign.

 

Cranberry, Orange and White Chocolate Cookies

Makes about 16 cookies

• 150g soft butter (I used salted - if using unsalted add a pinch of salt)
• 75g granulated sugar
• 75g soft light brown sugar
• A few drops of vanila extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon, plus extra for dusting
• grated zest of 1 orange
• 200g self raising flour
• 30g dried cranberries
• 50g white chocolate, chopped

 

1. Beat the sugars and butter until soft and pale. It's monents like this that make me wish I had a mixer! This is easier if the butter is really soft.

 

2. Beat in the vanilla, cinnamon and orange zest then add the flour.

 

3. Mix until almost combined, then add the cranberries and white chocolate, mixing to a dough with the berries and chunks evenly dispersed. It is important that you don't handle the dough too much as the cookies will become heavy.

 

4. Break off chunks of dough and roll into balls. You should get 16-18. Space them evenly on a baking tray and flatten slightly with your hand before baking at 180°. Check after 8 minutes, then keep an eye on them until they are done.

5. Remove from the oven and dust with cinnamon whilst still warm.