Soft White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Soft White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies are a classic treat that delivers the perfect balance of sweetness and gentle tart flavor. These cookies stay incredibly soft, have a rich vanilla base, and bring together the comforting contrast of creamy white chocolate and chewy dried cranberries. They are ideal for holiday baking, cookie exchanges, or anytime you want a batch of soft, bakery style cookies at home.

Before you begin mixing the dough, gather your ingredients and prepare your baking space so the process flows smoothly. These cookies bake evenly, store well, and can be frozen before or after baking, which makes them wonderful for meal prepping or planning ahead for seasonal gatherings.

Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Cook Time: 11 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

3/4 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
3/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries

Step-by-Step Instructions

Below are detailed instructions designed to create consistent, soft, bakery quality cookies. Follow each step carefully, paying close attention to ingredient temperature and dough chilling time.

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl, use a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed for about three minutes or until the mixture becomes creamy, smooth, and lighter in color. Proper creaming creates air pockets within the butter that help the cookies develop their soft, thick structure. Once fully creamed, add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl to ensure the batter is fully unified.

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients and Mix Into Wet Mixture

In a separate medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent and prevents any concentrated spots of baking soda within the dough. Turn the mixer to low speed and slowly incorporate the dry mixture into the wet mixture. Continue mixing until just combined. The dough will be thick and somewhat dense at this stage. Add the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries and mix on low speed until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Step 3: Chill the Dough

Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Chilling helps firm the dough, preventing the cookies from spreading too much while baking. It also enhances the flavor and texture by allowing the dough’s components to settle together. If you chill the dough longer than four hours, allow it to sit at room temperature for about thirty minutes before scooping to make the dough easier to work with.

Step 4: Scoop and Bake the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop about one and a half tablespoons of dough and roll lightly into a rounded ball. Place the dough balls three inches apart on the baking sheet. Bake the cookies for eleven to twelve minutes or until lightly golden around the edges. The centers should still appear soft. If the cookies do not spread enough, lightly tap the baking sheet on the counter to encourage gentle spreading. Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.

Pro Tips for Perfect Soft White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies

1. Use room temperature butter rather than melted butter. Proper creaming leads to soft, thick cookies.
2. Cornstarch is essential for softness. It produces a tender, bakery style texture.
3. Do not skip chilling. The dough must firm up to reduce spreading and maintain thickness.

Serving Suggestions and Pairings

These cookies shine on holiday trays, but they are also wonderful as an everyday dessert. Serve them with warm milk, coffee, or hot chocolate. They complement seasonal breakfast spreads and pair well with vanilla ice cream for a simple dessert. For gatherings, create a cookie board with various textures and flavors, placing these soft white chocolate cranberry cookies at the center for contrast.

Nutrition Information

Serving Size	Calories	Protein	Carbs	Fat	Fiber	Sugar
1 cookie	180	2g	24g	8g	1g	17g

Nutrition facts are estimated and may vary by brand of ingredients used.

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