Winter Cranberry Swirl Cookies (Print Version)
Soft, warmly spiced vegan cookies with a festive cranberry swirl, perfect for winter days and holiday celebrations.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Cranberry Swirl
01 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 tbsp water
04 - 1/2 tsp orange zest
→ Cookie Dough
05 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
07 - 1/2 tsp baking powder
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
10 - 1/2 tsp ground ginger
11 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
12 - 1/8 tsp ground cloves
13 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
14 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
15 - 3/4 cup vegan butter, softened
16 - 1/3 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
17 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
# Step-by-step Instructions:
01 - In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, water, and orange zest. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and mixture thickens (8–10 minutes). Remove from heat, mash lightly, and let cool completely.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and all spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves). In a large bowl, beat vegan butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and creamy (about 2 minutes). Add non-dairy milk and vanilla; mix well. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing just until combined.
03 - Divide dough in half. Roll each half between two sheets of parchment paper into a 1/4-inch thick rectangle (about 9x7 inches). Spread half the cooled cranberry mixture over each rectangle, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Using the parchment as a guide, tightly roll up each rectangle from the long side to form a log. Wrap in parchment and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
04 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice each log into 1/2-inch thick rounds and place 2 inches apart on prepared sheets. Bake 11–13 minutes, until edges are lightly golden. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of tart cranberries against the spiced cookie creates this magical moment where comfort and brightness dance together on your tongue.
- These cookies actually improve after a day, letting the flavors meld, which means you can impress last-minute guests without the kitchen scramble.
02 -
- If your dough becomes too soft while youre working with it, dont panic, just pop it in the freezer for 10 minutes and itll firm right up.
- The cranberry swirl will bubble and caramelize slightly at the edges during baking, creating these delicious chewy bits that are often the first part everyone eats.
03 -
- When measuring your flour, fluff it first with a fork, then spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife for the perfect texture every time.
- Dont rush the cooling process before adding the cranberry swirl, or it will melt into the dough instead of creating those beautiful defined spirals.