My Favorite Christmas Cookies

With Christmas just a few days away, my Holiday baking has officially commenced, and, per usual, my kitchen is an absolute mess. We’ll be heading to NY to spend Christmas with my family, and I baked up my favorite Christmas cookies to take with me.

I first stumbled upon this recipe on Pinterest a few years ago when I was searching for a copycat recipe for one of my favorite Holiday treats- Starbucks’ Cranberry Bliss Bars! When I saw the inspiration to transform everything I love about the Cranberry Bliss Bars into a cookie, you can bet these were coming out of my oven that same day! If you aren’t familiar with the Cranberry Bliss Bars, you should go get one immediately! They are the perfect combination of tart dried cranberries and sweet cream cheese icing and remind me so much of the Holidays!

I hope you guys have an opportunity to whip up these delicious cookies! I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do! Safe Travels and Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Cranberry Bliss Cookies (Adapted from GIMME SOME OVEN)

Ingredients:

Cookies-

3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup of softened unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried sweetened cranberries

Frosting-

8 oz room temperature cream cheese
1/2 cup melted white chocolate chips (I use the microwave)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners sugar

Finishing Touch-

1 cup dried sweetened cranberries roughly chopped
1/2 cup melted white chocolate chips

Instructions:

Cookies-

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Whisk flour, salt and baking soda in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
3. Mix softened butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar together with electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time while beating in between to make sure they’re incorporated.
5. Add vanilla extract then reduce speed to low.
6. Slowly add in the dry ingredients (so you don’t make a mess).
7. Increase the speed back to medium-high until well combined.
8. Remove bowl from stand and gently fold in the chocolate chips and cranberries.
9. Refrigerate cookie dough for at least 1 hour then, using a tablespoon cookie scoop, add dough to baking sheet covered by parchment paper allowing at least 2 inches between dough.
10. Bake 11-13 minutes or until edges just start to become golden.
11. Allow to cool to room temperature on cooling rack.

Frosting-

1. Beat room temperature cream cheese and melted white chocolate using electric mixer until well combined.
2. Add vanilla extract and continue to mix until combined
3. Reduce speed to low and slowly add confectioners sugar mixing until combined.
4. Frost the room temperature cookies then immediately add finishing touches of chopped dried cranberries and melted white chocolate drizzle by shaking fork over cookies.