One of my most pinned recipes. These Cranberry Orange Pistachio Cookies are full of dried cranberries and pistachios and rolled in an orange sugar.
My mom and I talk a lot about food. I mean a lot.
Sometimes my mom will list everything she ate that day or read me a recipe over the phone.
She loves describing food to me, which I hate, because I usually become hungry by the time she is done.
And since she does not live close to me I can not go over and get it.
For months now she has been going on and on about these cranberry orange cookies..
My mom kept telling me over and over again how good they are.
She keeps having senior moments and forgets that she has told me how good these are).
So before she came here this weekend I told her, for the love of Pete bring the stinking Cranberry Orange Pistachio Cookies recipe.
As you can clearly see the cookies were indeed made and I must say that they are tasty and agree with my mother that they are good.
To me they say winter but my mother makes them year round.
The original recipe said macadamia nuts, but we make ours with pistachio because we both agree they go better with the cranmorange (see me use the word in everyday conversation) combo.
My mother also is emphatic about them being better the next day.
She encourages anyone who makes them to wait till the next day because they are “that much better”…her words, not mine.
She was a little shocked that I was putting them up on my blog.
I think she too was feeling the pressure that thousands of people would now be judging the cookies that she just kept telling me were the best.
The “what if people don’t like them” panic hit her just a little.
I told her the worst that could happen is that people would rally together and start a website.
A website dedicated to how much they hate these cookies and how evil Peabody’s mom was to suggest they were good.
The movement would gain popularity and a cranberry-orange Peabody’s mom hating cult would form.
They would hold secret meetings plotting her death.
Until they finally killed her off while she was peddling her cookies at the local Farmers Market at the small community center her town has.
I told her not to worry because the chances of that happening were slim.
Moral of the story being, if you don’t like them, just say so…don’t go gun down my mom! 🙂
And as always it’s a great day to order my cookbook.
Want More Holiday Cookie Ideas?
Mini Chocolate Gingerbread Men Sandwich Cookies
Shortbread Roll Out Sugar Cookies
White Chocolate Topped Gingerbread Cookies
Vanilla Bean Caramel Thumbprint Cookies
Cranberry Orange Pistachio Cookies
Ingredients
- Orange Sugar:
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tsp freshly grated orange peel
- Cookies:
- 1 cup sugar
- ¾ cup butter, room temperature
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ½ cup sweetened dried cranberries, chopped
- ½ cup pistachio nuts (unsalted)
- 1 TBSP freshly grated orange peel
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350F.
- Combine all orange sugar ingredients in a small bowl; stir until well mixed. I usually rub it with my fingers to release the oil in the zest. You can leave the zest in but I usually sift it out.
- Combine 1 cup sugar, butter and egg in a large bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy.
- Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking powder and baking soda.
- Beat until well mixed.
- Add all remaining ingredients.
- Continue beating just until mixed.
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll balls in orange sugar.
- Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
- Flatten with bottom of glass to 1 ½-inch circles.
- Bake for 7 to 11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.(DO NOT OVER-BAKE).
- Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Land O'Lakes
Snwan says
Peabody, those are really nice looking cookies. I am going to give it a try coming weekend. Thanks
Patricia Scarpin says
Wow, these look delicious. I totally understand why you mom talk about them so much. 😉
Lisa says
Well they sound really good (as I sit here and eat my cranmorange muffin)! They look really good! How could they be bad? I think your mom is safe. =)
xoxo
rachel says
They do look good! Long live cranmorange!
Cheryl says
They look and sound really good. I’m gonna believe that you mom is right on with her assessment. Can’t wait to try them.
Ivonne says
I am totally making these! Would you use the same amount of macadamia nuts?
winkies6 says
Not an orange fan. But would totally make these with lemon or lime. 🙂
Don’t worry, Mom, I won’t come after ya!
veron says
Tell your mom not too worry ..if I make these it will be at my own risk. They looks so good anyway so I don’t know why she is apprehensive. Oh my mom and I talk a lot about food too…it’s a wonder we talk about anything else.
Claire says
These look great! I’m going to have to try them sometime soon, for sure! Great combination of flavors!
danielle says
These look scrumptious!
Fruittart says
Laughing hysterically here. The cookies look lovely and I like the pistachio addition. The worst thing will actually be that Peabody’s Mom will have to start her OWN food blog and feel pressured to post 😉
Deinin says
I don’t think it’s even *possible* to go wrong with the cranberry-orange-pistachio combo. I’ll have to try these out!
Rose says
Peabody,The cookies with the cranberries and the pistachio look wonderful. I love this combination.your mom seems really hooked to food bloging. Talent runs in the family.
Brilynn says
Cranmorange is the new black.
Claudia says
Very festive. I have to say that though they may be good – I like the pretty colors best 😉
peabody says
Ivonne- it is 1/4 of a cup of any nuts you want to use!
Kathy T says
The recipe says 1/2 cup nuts. Did you use 1/4 cup? Did you chop them up?
Peabody says
It’s a half a cup of pistachios. My mom does not chop them. You can. But regardless of chopped or not it’s 1/2 a cup.
Marilyn says
Just made these and my husband said they are delicious 😋. He wanted to know who did I make these for. Laughing hard, I said for you. He called me Pinocchio because I bake for others.lol
Peabody says
I’m glad he enjoyed them and I hope however ended up with them enjoyed them too.
Kristen says
I think your mom is right on… those look good…the recipe sounds good. I’m sure they are fantastic!
I think your mom needs to start her own blog 🙂
danielle says
I just made them! Used macadamia nuts because that’s what I had on hand. Great recipe-thank you..and mom!
Julia says
Mmmm I love anything with the cranberry-orange combo. Those look so yummy. I’ve never made anything with pistachio before, I’ll have to give it a try.
JEP says
You have the most beautiful & yummy looking pictures on your blog
Sarah says
They look incredibly good! I’m curious as to their texture. Are they soft like a sugar cookie, crunchy, or chewy?
Ellie says
Ooh, these are quite pretty! And for once, a recipe that involves the only kind of cranberries that I have access to 😀
Sara says
Anything with dried cranberries is OK with me. Thanks, Peabody’s Mom!
barbara says
Right I’m making them tomorrow. I’ll be using macadamias because I have them.
gilly says
Hi Pea! LOL – your mom sounds adorable, honestly! I’m sure these cookies are just a wonderful as she says. Phone conversations with my mom are the same way – we spend about 95% of the time discussing recipes, ingredients, baking, cooking… and the other 5% very quickly recaping the actual earth-shattering events that have gone on around us…
Julie O'Hara says
You’re so right about pistachios being the way to go. Did you explain the alternate scenario to your mom, that she could become a cult figure of hero-worship in the blogosphere–a cranmorange goddess of sorts??
I’m betting that’s what happens, but I want to turn these cookies into muffins…we’ll see.
Tanna says
Peabody I think I love your mother…she has such a great daughter!
Tell her not to fear, I’ll come protect her from the hords who come after her begging for these cookies…if she’ll slip me one or two a day.
Beautiful cookies.
Heather says
I just found/visited your blog for the first time and I am hooked. I can’t wait to try some of your recipes and also keep reading your witty posts.
Amy says
I somehow always read food blogs when I’m hungry. These cookies are giving me hunger pangs… I want to eat my screen. 😉 I have lots of oranges so I think I’ll make some this weekend. Thanks for the recipe!
sandi @ the whistlestop cafe says
Thanks for the inspiration!
You’re tagged~
Sandi
sher says
Stop torturing me!!!!!!!!!! Argh!!!!!
Christine says
I saw that you listed your choice baking chocolates and was wondering where you can typically find those brands? And the Plugra?
Do/will you ever blog about culinary concoctions that are not baked?
Kirsten says
Ha! I am sure your mom will be fine…funny that she got a glimpse of what it feels like to be a carefree blogger, posting your crazy recipes for no one to see – until the day the first comments come in and you realize, crap, people are actually READING my blog?? 🙂
Looks SO yummy!!!
Kirsten
Linda, The Village Vegetable says
i adore this marriage of flavors – so fresh! these look lovely. i wish i had such a beautiful culinary relationship with my mother!
Jancd says
I felt like you were talking about MY mother. She lives 350 miles away and we talk every day–always to include in the conversation what I am cooking for dinner and every bite she had had to eat that day! WHY????? But back to the subject, these cookies do look good and I am going to try them. Tell your mom hello!
Lisa says
Your photos make those cookies look delectable. I’m thinking I must try them — and I’m not even a “cookie” person!
Judy says
This is close to a recipe I made from Food and Wine?? At least I think that’s where I got it. Could be a dozen other mags I read. They were so good and I got lots of compliments. Anyway there was no orange, just the pistachios and dried cranberries. I can hardly wait to try these and compare. Bless your Mom, I think she is safe.
Carolyn T says
I love these cookies. So much that I decided to post the recipe (giving you all the credit) on my own blog. I’m a novice at blogging, and am still working at taking photos for my personal cookbook, and have very few photos of my own regular recipes. The other day I took a few of your cookies out of the freezer and snapped a photo of them (I made a mistake – I forgot to flatten mine – but they still tasted just fine). So thanks for the recipe. I enjoy reading your blog – which I get through Google Reader. I served these cookies to guests with my Lemon Velvet Ice Cream. They were super with it – the combo of the lemon in the ice cream, and the orange in the cookies was very tasty, indeed. Thanks!
Charlie says
I made these a few weeks ago but forgot to come back and tell you how wonderful they were. Delicious — definitely worth talking about!
Mart says
Awesome cookies! I made them to bring them to work for Thanksgiving (Canadian one, last weekend)and they were gone in about 15 minutes. People loved them and 4 different people asked me for the recipe, so I directed them here!
Brooke says
Yahoo! I have been looking for this recipe for months on my shelf. I made the recipe in 05 and my brother-in-law has now stated that I can not visit unless I bring these cookies along. I decided to search the web and bumbled upon your web site! I am baking this weekend for the holidays! Thanks for posting!
Amanda says
I’m slow to write, but I made these last christmas and was searching for the recipe to make again this year because my mean, nasty, cold-hearted aunt loved these! She kept telling me over and over how good they were and was hoarding them to eat with her tea the next day.
I swear you should name them “Grinch cookies” because I literally watched her heart grow 3 sizes the day she ate them. 🙂
Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
Parita says
Hello Peabody, I tried these cookies today and they came out fantastic, thank you so much for the wonderful recipe 🙂
Ginger says
I just made these cookies. WONDERFUL! I love the pistachios mixed with the cranberry-orange flavors. I was looking for some new staples in my Christmas Cookie mix. These not only taste festive but look the part as well. I can’t wait for the feedback from family and friends on these super cookies!
Jen says
Simply divine! This is a very light and yet delicately crispy cookie! Yum.
Nickie Davison says
OMG! I made these cookies with a slight variation to add a bit of a Christmas flare. I took the dried cranberries and soaked them in dark rum and about 1/4 cup of sugar overnight to rehydrate. They are devine Peabody! Thanks so much! They are my new favorite cookie, and from a choco-holic…that is saying something! Thanks again.
katie says
I have made this cookie twice now and everyone is blown away by their distinctive taste. Truly one of the easiest and most delicious cookies I have ever made and I am approaching 72 years young. Excellent!!
Meghan says
These cookies were so delicious! My whole family requested the recipe. I’ll definitely be including them in my boxes of cookies for my neighbors!
Jamie says
These now get requested by all family members. Great cookie!!
Linda says
My new favorite cookie! Made them several times over the holidays.
Lizzy says
A burst of flavors! Colors are festive! My favorite cookie.
Ginger says
I was looking for a cookie recipe that had some color to it – this one was not only beautiful, but delicious as well. I sent them to work with my husband on a tray full of many types of cookies and I had several people ask him if they could get the recipe for THIS cookie – obviously a HIT!!!
Pamsy says
Try these. They are beautiful, festive, delicious and easy to make a lot of. I was looking for a cranberry cookie recipe 3 years ago and tried these. They’ve become go to Christmas cookie. Everyone always want to talk about how great they are and I’m always hearing how special they are. I bake at least 10 dozen every year.
Buffy Foster says
I LOVE these cookies. I’m not much of a baker, as I have issues following recipes…but I think I managed alright with this one! Buttery, nutty, and the tart citrus cranmorange ;)…resulting in delectable. I think I have found my go-to Christmas cookie. Festive colors are a bonus!
Emmie says
I love these cookies and make them every year to give to my friends for Christmas. I would like to know if they can be frozen for a short period of time or if the dough can be frozen to use at a later date.
Peabody says
Not the dough but you can freeze the cookie my mom always does.
Emmie says
Thanks for the info. I am going to bring some to my friends in Costa Rica on my next visit. How long can I freeze them without losing their integrity? By the way, I actually made a little orange liquor glaze for the tops the last time I baked them and everyone absollutely loved it!
Health-Conscious Eater says
Tested and true for the health-conscious baker! Recipe with substitutions are as follows:
Cookies
1/2 cup agave nectar
1 large and 1 small banana, mashed
1 egg
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
½ cup sweetened dried cranberries, chopped
½ cup pistachio nuts
1 tbsp freshly grated orange peel
Ash says
Hi – I’m thinking of making these for a cookie exchange tomorrow. Are they more soft/chewy or more crisp? I’m hoping for soft/chewy 🙂
Thanks!
Peabody says
@ash- they are not soft they are more of a tea cookie.
Jenny says
About how many cookies will this recipe produce?
Peabody says
Not sure- like it says on my about page I don’t give serving sizes since everyone makes it different. But most cookie recipes make about 3 dozen.
JeanneB says
Peabody: Your Mom was right!
I’ve made these cookies the last two Christmases and they are a huge hit. And they’re so pretty.
Thank you so much for sharing with us!!!
Jeanne
Cindy Nei says
I am freezing these before baking, after forming them. I
freeze cookies by the cookie sheet full, then store in ziplock
bags. They thaw on cookie sheets while the oven heats, never EVER
had a problem, and I don’t see any ingredients in these that won’t
freeze! Go for it!!!!!!!
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup says
I’m so thankful to know that I’m not the only one who loves to talk about what everyone else is eating! I’m also thankful for this yummy recipe – I’m pinning it now. Thanks!
Megan says
Hi, I’m making these for a cookie exchange so I want to get it right! Should the pistachios be raw or roasted? Thanks.
Peabody says
@Megan- roasted but not salted is what my mom usually uses
Kamala says
Hi Peabody (love your name by the way),
You made me laugh so much and thanks for sharing this recipe.
God love your mum
K
Heidi says
Oh my, these are the best cookies ever! I made these for Thanksgiving and I will definitely make these for the Cookie Exchange I am going to in 2 weeks. Even my husband who is basically a chocolate chip cookie lover and rarelyr strays from something “tried and true” thought they were one of the best cookies I have ever made. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Barb says
I am going to try these! I made some brownies from a recipe my mom gave me. She was not baking anymore so I thought I would surprise her with a supply of her favorite brownies – the recipe makes a lot. During the next two days she phoned me to tell me the different ways she ate the brownies… Warm one up in the microwave. Serve with ice cream. Do the warming but use whipped cream. Do the warming again and try it with
ice cream, whipped cream and cherries. It was fun to listen to her different ways of eating one of her most favorite treats. Needless to say the brownies did not last long but that was okay too. Sadly my mom has passed away but I know she would have liked your cookies so I will make them for my mom!
Stacey says
I’m hoping these will use up my pistachios, but mine are salted -is there anything I can do to combat that in the recipe?
Peabody says
The salted will be fine.
Denise says
What is orange sugar?
Peabody says
http://localfoods.about.com/od/orangestangerines/fl/Orange-Sugar.htm
Denise says
Before everyone thinks I’m stupid. I read the recipe again. I got it!
Carol Williams says
Can I use fresh cranberries instead of dried ones?
Peabody says
I’m not sure about that. You could try but I think it might be too much moisture plus fresh are way more tart.
Cuisina says
Peabody….your mom is right. Awesome flavour! Loved these cookies. Thank you!
Peabody says
@Cuisina- I’ll be sure and tell her you liked them
Cuisina says
Awesome flavour! Loved these cookies. Thank you!
Alisha Clark says
Do these freeze well? I want to make for Christmas but won’t have time right before and need to make them now…wondering if anyone has tried to freeze them and it works well or should I stay away from it? Thanks for any help!!
Peabody says
Yes, they do. My mom has them in her freezer year round.
Sakshi says
They do look good! Long live cranmorange!
Jeanne Babin says
I have been making your cookies for about 10 years now. Every Christmas my family asks over and over “When are you going to make the pistachio cookies?!”. This year my granddaughter joined me in making them for the first time…we made cookies and a treasured memory. These cookies ARE Christmas for us.
They are delicious and crunchy and buttery….everything good. They will always be the standout in my Christmas recipe list.
Thank you so much for sharing it with us all those years ago.
Peabody says
Love hearing this and love that you it means Christmas to you! So special that your granddaughter made them with you.
Lynn says
how many cookies does this recipe typically make? They look really yummy!
Peabody says
Depends on how big you make them but about 2 dozen
Elizabeth says
About how many cookies do you get out of 1 batch?
Would like to make for a cookie exchange this coming season.
Peabody says
Depends on how big you make them but about 2 dozen
Ron says
How many cookies does the recipe yield? Approximately of course. 1 dozen? 15? Eighteen? Two dozen? Always nice when a recipe indicates the yield especially so you can consider increasing quantities. Thank you.
Peabody says
The yield is listed in the recipe. But anywhere from 2 dozen if you make them larger like I do or 3 dozen if you go smaller
Patricia says
Made these cookies today to test for a Tea Party I will be giving. WOWEEE, these are absolutely delicious! The texture of the cookie is tender and flavorful to the max with the orange zest, nuts and dried cranberries. The orange zest sugar is incredibly wonderful and gives not only crunch to the tender cookie but a wow pop in the mouth. I’ll be making these for the upcoming holidays for family, as give-a-ways and to bring to neighbors. Thank you. They are easy to make and the recipe easy to follow.
Peabody says
So happy to hear you enjoyed them!
Lisa says
I am definitely making these! They sound so yummy! I am sure they can be frozen after baking and cooled down?
Peabody says
Yes, they can be frozen.
Megan says
These sound delicious! What is the dough like? Do they spread much when baking? Would it be possible to roll these out and use round scalloped-edge cookie cutters and then sprinkle with the orange sugar before baking instead? I was hoping for a festive shape for my holiday cookie box.
Peabody says
They don’t spread that much. I’m not sure you could use cutters with these.
Jeanne Babin says
I’ve been making these cookies for many years! My family LOVES them. And they’re red & green….perfect. We double the orange zest. I cook them on Silpat sheets. As soon as they come out of the oven, I slide the Silpat onto the cool granite countertop. They become perfectly crispy/chewy in just a few minutes. I guess I make them a little smaller….I get 3 dozen per batch. Cook exactly 11 minutes.
Don’t chop the cranberries or pistachios too small. You want the red and green to show. Lastly, I never find UNsalted pistachios. I just use the roasted, salted ones. I don’t even adjust the salt and it works fine.
Make these cookies! I guarantee they will become a holiday tradition in your home, too.
Peabody says
So glad they are a holiday tradition!
George Williams says
What is orange sugar?
Peabody says
If you read through the recipe it tells you how to make it.
Suzi says
Ive made this cookie every Winter for the past 2 or 3 years now. It tastes like Christmas to me!! I use gluten free flour mix, flax eggs and cut the sugar to healthy it up a bit more. The texture and taste of these are just so divine!! Ive also subbed almonds for pistachios and tart cherries for cranberries. A great recipe to play with for sure.
Peabody says
Glad you can sub it to work for your tastes.