Cranberry-Orange Shortbread Cookies with Apricots

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Servings: 32
Yield: 32 servings

Description

Dried apricots and cranberries are the magical ingredients in this citrus shortbread cookie flavored with orange zest.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large oranges, zested
1 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots

Directions

1 Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a bowl; mix together.
2 Cream butter in a large bowl using an electric blender until fluffy and lightened in color slightly. Add sugar and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, several more minutes. Mix in vanilla and orange zest. Add flour mixture in 3 batches and mix until just combined, kneading the last addition by hand. Knead in cranberries and apricots.
3 Divide dough in half and roll out into two 1 1/2x7-inch long logs. Wrap each log in parchment paper and refrigerate until dough is chilled, at least 4 hours.
4 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
5 Remove dough from the refrigerator and cut each log into about 16 slices that are 1/3-inch thick. Place slices 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
6 Bake in the preheated oven until cookies just begin to turn slightly golden on bottom, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.