
These cranberry white chocolate pecan cookies have become a favorite around here. The cookies have a straightforward mix of dried cranberries, white chocolate, and toasted pecans, but the real game-changer is the touch of orange zest. It adds just that little something special. These are perfect for the holidays or any time you’re in the mood for a tasty treat.
When it comes to dried fruit, cranberries do not top my list of favorites. I love raisins, prunes, dried apricots, dried peaches, and dried tart cherries any time of the year, but it’s rare to find a bag of dried cranberries in my pantry most of the time.
However, when Thanksgiving rolls around, I start thinking cranberries and the dried ones inevitably start showing up in my green salads and baked goods and continue to do so through January.
They add a festive pop of color and the flavor pairs beautifully with oranges, one of my favorite things to eat in the winter. I do use the fresh ones for holiday cranberry sauces and relishes, but I think dried cranberries are wonderful in cookies, muffins, scones, and green salads.
Phil loves the combination of cranberries and white chocolate, so I decided to put them together in a cookie recipe for him. I had pecans on hand, so I added those as well. I thought orange zest would be perfect in these, but he asked me to leave it out.
Luckily I didn’t listen to him, because I think the orange zest is what turned these into some of the best cookies I’ve ever made. The orange flavor isn’t overpowering, but it makes them smell so good and festive that I can’t imagine leaving it out.
Basically, I wouldn’t change a thing about these cookies. The toasted pecans are perfect, and yes, I do think that the extra step of toasting them first is worth it. I also think the almond extract is necessary. While it can sometimes be overpowering, the small amount used in combination with vanilla extract here is just enough to add a depth of flavor. You’ll notice it without being able to pinpoint exactly what it is that’s making you want to shove more and more cookies in your face.
I hope you enjoy them as much as we have!

Kitchen Equipment I used for this recipe:
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer
- Zeroll Cookie Scoop, size 30
- Aluminum Half Sheet Pans
- Parchment Paper Sheets
- Heavy Duty Cooling Racks
Related Recipes:
- Dark Chocolate Cherry Chews
- Scandinavian Rosettes
- Persimmon Cookies
- Oatmeal Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Classic Snickerdoodles
Around the Web:
- Brandied Cranberry, White Chocolate Chip Cookies from Simply Recipes
- Dark Chocolate Cranberry Cookies from Two Peas and Their Pod
- Cranberry Bar Cookies from Use Real Butter
- Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies from Brown Eyed Baker

Cranberry White Chocolate Pecan Cookies
These cranberry white chocolate pecan cookies have become a favorite around here. The cookies have a straightforward mix of dried cranberries, white chocolate, and toasted pecans, but the real game-changer is the touch of orange zest. It adds just that little something special. These are perfect for the holidays or any time you're in the mood for a tasty treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup (packed) light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- zest from one medium orange (about 1 teaspoon)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 slightly heaping cup white chocolate chips
- 1 slightly heaping cup sweetened dried cranberries
- 1 slightly heaping cup chopped toasted pecans*
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats, if using. (Ungreased cookie sheets are fine.)
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars until creamy.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in extracts and orange zest.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt, then slowly beat in flour mixture until everything is well combined. By hand, stir in white chocolate chips, cranberries, and pecans.
5. Drop heaping spoonfuls of cookie dough (or use a cookie scoop - one of my favorite kitchen tools), spaced about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 11-13 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through if your oven has hot spots.
Notes
*To toast pecans, spread them on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 6-8 minutes (less if the nuts are in pieces rather than whole), or until they smell good and start to darken slightly. Let cool before chopping.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 116Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 72mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 11gProtein: 2g
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