Cookie Exchange 2011

I love cookies, link up parties and new recipes!

And, I adore Mel's blog!

Her virtual cookie exchange party is the perfect combination of my favorite holiday things.

Last year my friend Jami and I hosted a real cookie exchange party for the ladies of our church.  You can read all about the festive fun here.

I took these delicious cranberry orange cookies to the cookie exchange.  They were a hit in real life so I figured you guys out in the blogosphere would enjoy them, too.

I found the recipe here.   I Googled "cranberry orange cookies" and this was the first recipe on the search results.  It looked easy enough so I gave it a try.  I highly recommend the recipe.

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

2 tablespoons orange juice

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups chopped cranberries

1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest

3 tablespoons orange juice

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

2.In a large bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg until well blended. Mix in 1 teaspoon orange zest and 2 tablespoons orange juice. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the orange mixture. Mix in cranberries and if using, walnuts, until evenly distributed. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Cookies should be spaced at least 2 inches apart.

3.Bake for 12 to 14 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges are golden. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

4.In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 teaspoon orange zest, 3 tablespoons orange juice and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over the tops of cooled cookies. Let stand until set.