Cookies with dried cranberries
Cranberry Cookies: A Simple and Delicious Recipe
Who doesn't love the fresh aroma and sweet-tart taste of cranberry cookies? These delights resemble a winter celebration and are perfectly suited for any occasion, whether you're preparing a snack for yourself or a surprise for guests. The recipe below is so simple that you'll surely repeat it every time you crave something sweet.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Chilling time: 2 hours (or 30-60 minutes in the freezer)
Baking time: 10-15 minutes
Total: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes
Number of servings: 35-40 cookies
Ingredients
- 250 g butter (at room temperature)
- 115 g sugar
- 1 packet of vanilla sugar (about 10 g)
- 2 tablespoons of sour cream
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- 370 g flour
- 100 g walnuts (organic), ground
- 100 g cranberries (organic), dried
- 40 g sugar (for decoration)
A Brief History of Cranberries
Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) are fascinating fruits, native to an area where they grow naturally. They are harvested using a unique method that involves flooding the fields, allowing them to float, which makes harvesting easier. Cranberries are appreciated not only for their tart and refreshing flavor but also for their nutritional benefits. They are an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants, making them ideal for supporting the immune system.
Steps to Prepare Cranberry Cookies
Step 1: Mixing the Wet Ingredients
1. In a large bowl, add the butter at room temperature and sugar. Using a mixer or food processor, beat the mixture until it becomes a fluffy cream, pale yellow in color. This is when the delicious aroma of butter will spread throughout the kitchen.
2. Add the vanilla sugar, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Continue mixing until well combined. Using sour cream will add a touch of richness, and the vanilla will enhance the flavor of this dessert.
Step 2: Mixing the Dry Ingredients
3. In another bowl, sift the flour together with the salt. This will help to combine the ingredients evenly and prevent lumps in the dough.
4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter composition, gently mixing with a spatula or wooden spoon until you achieve a dough that holds together.
Step 3: Adding Cranberries and Walnuts
5. Incorporate the ground walnuts and dried cranberries into the dough. These will add a crunchy texture and a slight tartness, balancing the sweetness of the cookies.
Step 4: Shaping the Dough Rolls
6. Divide the dough into two equal parts. Using plastic wrap, shape each part into a cylinder. Ensure that the rolls are tightly sealed at the ends so that the dough does not deform during chilling. This step is crucial for achieving perfectly round cookies.
Step 5: Chilling
7. Place the dough rolls in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or, if you are short on time, in the freezer for 30-60 minutes. The dough should be firm enough to be cut without deforming.
Step 6: Cutting and Baking
8. Preheat the oven to 180-200°C. Prepare a baking tray with parchment paper.
9. Remove the dough rolls from the refrigerator and slice them into pieces about 6 mm thick. Roll the edges of each slice in sugar to add a touch of sweetness and a shiny appearance.
10. Place the cookies on the prepared tray, leaving a little space between them to allow for expansion during baking.
Step 7: Baking
11. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes until they are slightly golden at the edges. You will smell a tempting aroma that will make you want to eat them immediately!
Serving and Storing
Once the cookies are ready, let them cool on a wire rack. These delicious cranberry cookies are excellent served warm, with a cup of tea or coffee, but you can also enjoy them alongside a glass of cold milk.
You can store them in a metal tin, where they will stay fresh for several days. If you want to always have a sweet snack on hand, freeze a roll of dough to bake later when you have guests or when you crave something good.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use fresh cranberries?
Usually, dried cranberries provide a more pleasant texture and taste in cookies. However, if you have fresh cranberries, you can use them, but you will need to adjust the baking time.
2. What other ingredients can I add?
You can experiment with dark chocolate or hazelnuts, adding them to the dough for an extra flavor boost.
3. How can I reduce the sugar in the recipe?
If you want to reduce the amount of sugar, try using a natural sweetener or reduce the added sugar by 10-20%.
Variations
- Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies: Add dark chocolate chips to the mixture for a delicious contrast between sweet and tart.
- Cinnamon Cookies: Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to the flour mixture for an extra flavor boost.
Conclusion
These cranberry cookies are more than just a simple dessert; they are a way to bring a touch of joy to every day. Whether you enjoy them with family, offer them to friends, or save them for a quick snack, these cookies will surely become a favorite. So, let’s put on our aprons and enjoy the magic of cooking! Enjoy your meal!
Ingredients: 250 g of butter at room temperature, 115 g of sugar, 1 packet of vanilla sugar, 2 tablespoons of sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 370 g of flour, 100 g of walnuts (organic), 100 g of dried cranberries (organic), 40 g of sugar.
