Cranberry Bliss Cookies Recipe

SomethingSwanky is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

Soft and thick white chocolate cranberry cookies with a hint of orange zest and cinnamon. A quick and easy copycat of Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars!

***Originally posted in December 2015.

Cranberry Bliss Cookies, a simplified copycat of Starbucks!
12 Days of Christmas Cookies

Day 4 of Christmas Cookies! Have you made any yet? So far my family’s favorite has been Cowboy Cookies. My mom says they’re the best thing to ever come out of my kitchen! High praise indeed from the cookie queen herself.

This recipe deviates from the chocolate that is typically the standard fare around here. Today we’re talking creamy white chocolate, sweet and tart cranberries, and the softest, butteriest, most golden gorgeous cookies everrrrrrrr.

Cranberry Bliss Cookies, a simplified copycat of Starbucks!

These cookies are a simplified version of the Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars. Just like their famous predecessor, these cookies have sweet, subtle notes of orange zest and cinnamon and are chock-full of cranberries and white chocolate.

I used my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe as the base.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe uses a combination of shortening (Crisco) and butter to create supremely soft, chewy, flavorful cookies with perfectly golden crispy edges.

I know a lot of people don’t like to use shortening, but I promise– it will make your cookies AMAZING! You can read more about the science behind why I like using shortening + butter in cookies in this post. But in a nutshell: it creates pillowy cookies that are soft and chewy and a little crispy while also keeping that buttery flavor we all like in cookies so much.

This recipe also calls for a little bit of vinegar. This speeds up the reaction time of the baking soda, which helps puff up the cookies, creating those thick, luscious crinkles.

Also in these cookies: a little bit of orange zest and cinnamon. Could the flavors working together here be any more perfect for the holidays?? Plus, those little cranberry beauties will add a stunning pop of color to your cookie plate this year.

Cranberry Bliss Cookies, a simplified copycat of Starbucks!

Now, I will add one little thing here before giving you the recipe. You all know that I’m a texture freak, and I love some crunch in my cookies. I resisted adding chopped almonds or pecans or walnuts to these cookies, because I wanted to stay as true to Cranberry Bliss Bars as I could. But I can’t help but think that these cookies would be amazing with a little nutty crunch. If you make these, you must give that a try and let me know what you think!

Tag me on Instagram @somethingswanky so I can see all of your Something Swanky holiday baking!

Cranberry Bliss Cookies, a simplified copycat of Starbucks!

Cranberry Bliss Cookies

Yield: 2 dozen

Soft and thick white chocolate cranberry cookies with a hint of orange zest and cinnamon. A quick and easy copycat of Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars!

Ingredients

  • brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon vinegar, cider or white
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Beat together the sugars, butter, shortening, salt, vanilla, vinegar, and baking soda until smooth.

Mix in the egg.

Mix in the flour, cinnamon, orange zest, white chocolate chips, and cranberries.

Scoop two tablespoons of dough into a ball and place on a non-greased baking sheet. Repeat with 8-11 more scoops of dough (so you'll have 9-12 cookie dough balls on the baking sheet, depending on the size of your sheet), with 2 inches in between each.

Bake for 9 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for a minute or two before transferring to a wire rack.

Cranberry Bliss Cookies, a simplified copycat of Starbucks!

More of my favorite cookie recipes:

M&M Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies

Red Velvet Cream Cheese Thumbprints

Red Velvet Cream Cheese Thumbprints

Red Velvet Macadamia Nut Cookies

Red Velvet Macadamia Nut Cookies

Be sure to check out these helpful Cookie Baking Hacks too!

Cookie Baking Hacks everyone needs to know for the holidays!

Skip to Recipe