My Favorite Cookie

Holy Cow. I'm SO tired. It's taken me three nights to catch up on blogs. You guys sure write a lot! And I'm getting a cold, so I'm not getting much sleep. Makes for a lot of yawning during my boring meetings.

Before I left home, I grabbed a cookie recipe to share with you this week. So far, there's been no recipe sharing here at Thimbleanna -- a problem that needs to be remedied, since I do love to cook. These Orange Cranberry cookies are my VERY favorite and that's saying a lot, 'cause I love cookies. My aunt found these cookies several years ago at a bakery and since I don't live in the area and can't get the cookies whenever I want, I wrote to them and asked them for the recipe. And they sent it! I've made some changes to their recipe and if it's possible, I actually think they're a little better -- not quite as dry. I took 2 dozen of these cookies on the Hawaii trip and after the first day, they were all gone. (Note: the recipe calls for a box of yellow cake mix. I suspect there are some of you who don't have access to a yellow cake mix. The only thing I can think of is to maybe try substituting the mix with the dry ingredients in this recipe.)

Frosted Orange Cranberry Cookies

1 box yellow cake mix (I like Betty Crocker Super Moist Cake Mix)
1/2 c. butter, room temperature
Generous 1/4 c. sour cream
2 T. orange juice
1 t. orange extract
2 t. orange zest
1 c. coarsely chopped dried cranberries
1/2 - 1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans
Mix all ingredients together. Drop by heaping tablespoons (I like to use a medium sized ice cream scoop -- six scoops per sheet) onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. You just have to watch them -- I take them out when they are still underdone in the center and I leave them on the cookie sheets for a few minutes to keep cooking. When cool, frost.Frosting:
2 c. powdered sugar
dash salt
2 T. butter, melted
2 t. orange zest
3 - 4 T. orange juice
Mix all together.

I've found 1 large or 2 small oranges will provide enough juice and zest for the cookies and the frosting. You might not think these cookies are that great when you're eating them. But trust me. Eat one. Then go and do something. Pretty soon, your tongue will be craving another cookie. So. Good Luck!

XOXO,
Anna