I made these cookies for the first time about 2 years ago. And why I haven't made them until now, I don't know. I do remember that they were met with many happy faces and that they didn't last long. I made batch after batch only to watch them disappear. If you are looking for a different cookie to add to your usual run of holiday baking this is the one I urge you to try. The ingredients are simple and sweet. For an empty plate and smiling faces follow my recipe below.
Cranberry Honey Orange Cookies
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1 cup of butter
1 cup of dark brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1/3 cup amber honey - if you can't find amber honey then golden honey will do
1 teaspoon vanilla
grated orange rind of one orange
3 1/2 cups of unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup chopped dried cranberries - I added a bit more than 1 cup
Cream the butter and brown sugar together in a large bowl.
Add the eggs and mix throughly.
Stir in the honey and vanilla.
Add the grated orange rind and stir throughly.
In smaller separate bowl mix the flour and baking soda together. Then add it to the mixture in the larger bowl. Add the cranberries. Chill the dough for a few hours or overnight.
Heat the oven to 350ºF, 180ºC or gas mark 4. Roll into balls the size of a large walnut. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and with the bottom of a glass dipped in flour gently press down on each ball of dough. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are golden. Cool on wire racks.
With these cookies I can also see adding walnuts or almonds. You can dress them up by taking a sieve and sprinkling a bit of icing sugar over the cookies. Which gives the appearance of fallen snow. A nice decorative touch when serving them to the snacking masses. However they are perfect as they are.