This recipe for White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies will give you delicious soft, chewy, sweet cookies. This easy recipe is perfect for the holiday season and cookie exchanges.
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‘Tis the season for all things cranberry! As we get closer to the holiday season, the resurgence of cranberries really kicks in and I absolutely love it.
Cranberries are especially popular in appetizers, main dishes, and desserts this time of the year. White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies start popping up everywhere at this time.
So, why should you make this particular White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies recipe? Well, if you prefer the classic combination of white chocolate and cranberries in a buttery soft cookie that actually stays soft even days later, this is your recipe.
If you prefer regular chocolate, try this recipe for Dark Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies instead. They can also be made with milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips.
For a similar flavor combination, you may also want to try these White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies.
Why This Recipe Works
- Sweet white chocolate and bursts of tart cranberries taste delicious together. Add that combination to a soft, chewy, sweet cookie base and it’s pure perfection in every bite!
- The recipe is easy and straight-forward to make. For the best results, it does require chilling the dough, so plan accordingly.
- These cookies are perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Serve them at holiday gatherings or make a batch for your next cookie exchange.
How to Make White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies
Ingredients
- Butter and eggs should be at room temperature before mixing the dough.
- Spoon flour into a measuring cup without packing it down. Too much flour will result in dry dough and cookies.
- We highly recommend using high-quality baking products like King Arthur brand for the best results.
The entire recipe and instructions can also be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.
Prep!
Set the butter out an hour or so before you begin preparing the dough to allow it time to come to room temperature.
Because this dough needs time to chill, you won’t preheat your oven until later.
Create!
Add the all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to a small bowl and mix well.
Beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer until well blended.
Add the egg, then the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the flour mixture until thoroughly incorporated. The batter will be pretty stiff.
Mix in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips with a spoon or spatula. I actually found it easier to just use my hands.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour, or you can keep it in there for up to 3 days.
When you are ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes so that it’s a easier to work with.
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place on a Silpat-lined baking sheet 2-inches apart and flatten each ball of dough slightly. You can add more cranberries and chips to the tops, if desired.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden.
Present!
Let cool for 5 minutes before removing to cooling racks. The cookies will be very soft when hot, so allowing them to cool before removing them from the baking sheet will prevent breaking. They will firm up some as they cool.
Tips and Techniques
- Set the butter and egg out to come to room temperature at least an hour before you are ready to prepare the dough.
- Spoon flour into a measuring cup without packing it down. Too much flour will result in dry dough and cookies.
- Push extra cranberries and white chocolate chips into the dough balls right before baking to better show off what’s inside the cookies.
- Do not skip chilling the dough. If you don’t chill the dough, it is very likely that the cookies will spread too much while baking.
- Use Silpat-lined baking sheets to best prevent cookies from sticking. You can also use aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Store baked cookies in an air-tight container. Use within 5-7 days for the best results.
How to Freeze White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies
- Prepared cookie dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 2 months.
- You can freeze the dough whole, or pre-roll it into 1-inch balls before freezing.
- To bake pre-rolled balls from frozen, add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time.
- Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight, then let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before rolling into 1-inch balls to bake.
FAQ’s
Can You Use Fresh Cranberries In Cookies?
I have tested this recipe with fresh cranberries once and it worked out just fine. Frozen cranberries should work, as well. It does make the dough a little messier to work with, but they taste equally as delicious.
More Cranberry Recipes
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White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg (at room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Combine the all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and mix well.
- Beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer until well blended and somewhat fluffy.
- Add the egg, then the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the flour mixture until thoroughly incorporated. The batter will be thick.
- Mix in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips with a spoon or spatula.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour, or up to 3 days.
- When you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place on a Silpat-lined baking sheet 2-inches apart.
- Flatten each ball of dough slightly and add more cranberries and chips to the tops, if desired.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before removing to cooling racks.
Notes
Tips and Techniques
- Set the butter and egg out to come to room temperature at least an hour before you are ready to prepare the dough.
- Spoon flour into a measuring cup without packing it down. Too much flour will result in dry dough and cookies.
- Push extra cranberries and white chocolate chips into the dough balls right before baking to better show off what's inside the cookies.
- Do not skip chilling the dough. If you don't chill the dough, it is very likely that the cookies will spread too much while baking.
- Use Silpat-lined baking sheets to best prevent cookies from sticking. You can also use aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Store baked cookies in an air-tight container. Use within 5-7 days for the best results.
How to Freeze
- Prepared White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookie dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 2 months.
- You can freeze the dough whole, or pre-roll it into 1-inch balls before freezing.
- To bake pre-rolled balls from frozen, add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time.
- Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight, then let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before rolling into 1-inch balls to bake.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on October 20, 2018. It was updated with new images, more thorough instructions, tips, techniques, FAQ’s, and video in December 2020.
Patsy says
Can you use fresh cranberries in this trcipe.?
Lauren says
Hi Patsy. I haven’t personally tested this recipe with fresh cranberries yet, so I did a little googling and found that you can use 1 Cup of fresh cranberries in place of the 1/2 cup of dried that the recipe calls for. It is recommended to toss them in four first to keep them from sinking into the batter. Hope this helps, Lauren
Stephanie says
Where does the egg come into play?
Lauren says
Oh my…totally left that step out – thanks for letting me know. You add the egg and vanilla after mixing the butter and sugar. I edited the recipe too 🙂
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
These cookies look perfect! I am always craving the white chocolate and cranberry combo this time of the year.
Natalie says
Oh sweet cranberries and milky sweet white chocolate… sooo yum! These cookies look absolutely fantastic. Texture is amazing. Soft and chewy… my kinda cookies.
Catherine says
These cookies wouldn’t last a NY minutes in my house! These are perfect holiday cookie and they look irresistible!
Melissa says
I enjoy a good soft cookie, especially with a cup of hot chocolate, and anything with cranberries has my vote! We use them in desserts, salads, entrees etc so good 🙂 These cookies would be a great addition to our goodie tins this year.
Jenni LeBaron says
These are really pretty, not to mention totally tasty looking! They would be the perfect recipe for a holiday cookie swap!
April says
I agree – these would be perfect for a cookies exchange! And they would look so good compared to all others! I can only imagine how tasty they are yum.
Marisa Franca says
The cookies are so pretty! They would be perfect during the upcoming holidays and especially in a gift box. I’m looking for ideas to make up pretty Christmas boxes and these cookies would be perfect.
Dan Zehr says
This is an incredible recipe. I love white chocolate and cranberry. I want to try the recipe of your cookie. This looks sooooo good! Yummy!
Mahy Elamin says
Great idea to treat guests with great cookies. They look very tasty and easy. I really love cranberries and this is a great recipe for me. Thanks.
Veena Azmanov says
Cranberry and white chocolate is always a perfect combination. These would make great holiday gifts to family and friends. Sounds so yum.
Karyl Henry says
I always keep a bag of dried cranberries in the pantry, and am always looking for something new to do with them. These cookies is what I’ll be doing! These look so good, especially for the holidays
Noel Lizotte says
Here’s a cookie that I need in my life! Sharing so we can test this recipe soon!
Gloria says
I have a recipe that is very similar to this. I love the combination of cranberries and white chocolate. I know these would not last long in our house.
Claudia Lamascolo says
this is really the perfect cookie for the whole fall and holiday season. It shouts fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas and a win win for anytime you want to add a delicious fall cookies