Thursday, November 10, 2011

White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Cookies—12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies

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I had a hankerin’ for cookies with white chocolate, dried cranberries and pecans.  So I made some.  These would be perfect for the holidays, so they are my pick for the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies this week.

The cookies turned out great and just how I wanted them.  I made up the recipe by tweaking my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and adding the mix-ins I wanted.  Use pistachios instead of pecans for an even more festive cookie!

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White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Cookies, by Katrina, Baking and Boys!

2 cups all purpose flour (240 grams)

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 plus 1/8 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon coarse salt

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (5 ounces), room temperature

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar (135 grams)

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (112.5 grams)

1 large egg, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup (2 ounces) pecans, toasted and chopped

1/2 cup (2 ounces) dried cranberries

4 ounces white chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars together for a couple minutes, scrape the sides of the bowl.  Add the egg and vanilla and beat together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Add the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated.  Add the chocolate, cranberries and pecans, stirring them in with a spatula. 

Roll 2 tablespoons of dough into balls (make them smaller if you’d like and adjust the baking time) and place on baking sheet about 2 inches apart.  Bake for 12-13 minutes.  Let cool on baking sheet for a couple minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool completely.  Makes about 3 dozen.

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These are just what I wanted.  I tasted one and as soon as they were cooled, I stuck the rest in the freezer for a church activity on Friday, and so I didn’t eat more. ;)   Week 7—did you hear me, week 7 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies.  Kind of like having just made another orthodontist appointment for Scott six weeks from now and the appointment is December 20.  Any way you look at it—the holidays, they’re upon us, Folks.

White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Cookies 11-8-11 12 weeks of christmas graphic

Check out the blog hop for many more ideas for your holidays baking!

17 comments:

Chelle B said...

These cookies sound perfect for the holidays. Yummy!

Fallon said...

I love these cookies because they remind of a similar cookie I make, minus the pecans! Something about the dried cranberries (I'll use dried cherries) and white chocolate makes the best cookie for the holidays!!

sue said...

those look grat!

Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl said...

Love the white chocolate in these, and the dried cranberries for an extra festive look. Great job!

Delishhh said...

YUM YUM - i love white chocolate and these look fab!

Mary @ Bites and Bliss said...

Those look PERFECT! So soft, chewy, and sweet. Wishing I had one in front of me right now!

Lisa said...

I don't have your willpower. If I stuck them in the freezer, all that means is that I'd be eating them cold which is perfectly fine with me.

Curt said...

Cranberries are so good in a cookie. And of course, you have to have pecans in them!

Unknown said...

Oh, these look heavenly! My husband is crazy about white chocolate, so I think these will be a special treat for him.

Cassie | Bake Your Day said...

I love everything about these cookies. I'm such a fan of white chocolate, especially when paired with cranberries!

Amanda said...

katrina, these look so perfect! And you are using m favorite brand of white chocolate :)

kita said...

I was die hard chocolate chip cookie fan, until I met the amazing combination of white chocolate and cranberries... oh yeah, now I can't get enough of these babies. I love the sound of pecans too!

marla said...

Love cranberries in cookies :)

Elizabeth - SugarHero.com said...

Hey, that's my favorite white chocolate! I love how it has vanilla bean specks in it. These cookies look awesome. I just made chocolate chip cookies tonight and...let's just say things ain't pretty. I think I mis-measured? At any rate, they spread all over and I have cookie frisbees. :( Definitely wishing I'd made these instead. Next time!

Stephanie - The Travel Chica said...

I am soooo gonna miss Christmas cookies this year (for the second year in a row).

JulieD said...

wow, these look so good!!

Lauraaa. said...

i tried these.. and now i am eting the resluts..and they are so DELICIOUS!!!! ♥ ♥