‘Tis Friday, which means Slashfood’s Cookie of the Week. Yay for cookies! (That is what my housemates said as they rushed out of the door this morning. They are stoked about this cookie thing.)
This week: Cranberry, Orange, and Dark Chocolate Chip. Oh christ, they are good. They are rich and buttery, and the orange and cranberry add this bright, tangy awesomeness. And beating the butter and sugar together without an electric mixer gave me a little bit of an upper-body workout. Sweet. Keep reading for the recipe…
Cranberry, Orange, and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 2 c. flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 3/4 c. buter, room temperature
- 1 c. white sugar
- 1 large egg
- zest of one orange (about 2 T.)
- 1/2 c. dried cranberries
- 1/2 c. chocolate chips
The recipe calls for dark chocolate chips, but since I had about 1/2 c. of milk chocolate chips at home already, I used them instead. I kind of wish I hadn’t. They are still very tasty, but I daresay not chocolately enough, and the dark chocolate might have balanced out with the cranberries a little better. Alas.
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. I’m really glad that I read somewhere to use a whisk when mixing dry ingredients. Previously, I had just used a fork, and occasionally, I’d taste pockets of baking soda in my baked goods, which pretty much totally sucks. A whisk works way better.
Beat the butter and sugar together. This part would be way easier with an electric mixer. Crystal even suggested I use the mini processor, but I’m contrary like that, so I decided to just use my superhuman manpower! I so don’t have superhuman manpower, and am actually something of a wimp, but no matter! The beating commenced and in mere minutes (like, maybe 10) they were all creamed together and ready for the next step: beating in the egg. And the orange zest. And then, in about three batches, all the flour mixture.
(I’m also starting to wish I’d bought a microplane zester, instead of the kind I did buy, because I suspect zesting would take much less time with a microplane. Dammit.)
So, you’re supposed to stir the flour and butter mixture until the flour is just mixed in. I was having a bit of a hard time making all the dough stick together, so I just got in there with my hands and starting mushing it all together. I think, though, that I mushed it too much together, because it made the next step harder.
Next step: stir in the cranberries and chocolate chips.
When you finally get everything evenly mixed together, just drop about tablespoon sized drops onto cookies sheets, and make them for about 9-12 minutes (mine took a little longer). You want to take them out when they edges are just lightly browned.
Of course, the recipe says it makes four dozen, and I have about 32 cookies. I think I must make my cookies very big or something, because I always end up with fewer than I’m supposed to have.
Whatever, they are very good and lovely, and I hope the ladies enjoy them! Yay! Cookies!