Third Annual Cookie Exchange: Cranberry Orange Zest Shortbread

Bringing you the Third Annual Cookie Exchange with one of my new favorite recipes and ten other bloggers!

Third Annual Cookie Exchange | Christmas Cookie Recipes | Louella Reese Life & Style Blog

faux fur stole | c/o cape | turtleneck | jeans | c/o earrings | sunglasses 

As with the last two years, I am so excited about today’s post! A virtual cookie exchange with some of my best my best blogger babes. For the last two years, we have had such a great time sharing some of our favorite recipes {new and old}.  See my recipe from last year here and the year before here. Since we’ve had such a great time and y’all seem to love the exchange, it’s happening again!

As with last year, I’m excited to introduce a couple new blogger babes to the group as well. I hope you all enjoy the cookie exchange again this year and find some inspiration for new cookies to whip up for your loved ones. We would also love to hear some of your favorite recipes! Leave them in the comment section below.

Third Annual Cookie Exchange | Christmas Cookie Recipes | Louella Reese Life & Style Blog

Third Annual Cookie Exchange | Christmas Cookie Recipes | Louella Reese Life & Style Blog

Third Annual Cookie Exchange | Christmas Cookie Recipes | Louella Reese Life & Style Blog

Third Annual Cookie Exchange | Christmas Cookie Recipes | Louella Reese Life & Style Blog

Third Annual Cookie Exchange | Christmas Cookie Recipes | Louella Reese Life & Style Blog

Third Annual Cookie Exchange | Christmas Cookie Recipes | Louella Reese Life & Style Blog

Third Annual Cookie Exchange | Christmas Cookie Recipes | Louella Reese Life & Style Blog

Third Annual Cookie Exchange | Christmas Cookie Recipes | Louella Reese Life & Style Blog

faux fur stole | c/o cape | turtleneck | jeans | c/o earrings | sunglasses 

My mom and I had a baking day last week. We whipped up our traditional Monster Cookies and these new Cranberry Orange Zest Cookies. Last year, I made a shortbread cookie and completely fell in love. Therefore, I gave it a go again this year. These cookies are light, fresh, and seriously delicious! I definitely recommend giving these a try over the holiday season. They’re the perfect treat for breakfast, snack, or dessert. 

The way this cookie exchange works is each blogger will feature another blogger and their recipe at the bottom of their post {spoiler alert, my feature blogger is Ashlee from Cobalt Chronicles}. There you will find a photo, their recipe name, and a link to their site. There are a total of eleven bloggers participating in today’s virtual cookie tour. I highly recommend following the chain, checking them all out, and finding your favorite recipe!

Enjoy y’all! 

Cranberry Orange Zest Shortbread Cookies
Serves 28
Light, crisp tangy shortbread cookies
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
12 min
Total Time
22 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
12 min
Total Time
22 min
Ingredients
  1. 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  2. 3/4 cups sugar, divided - 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup
  3. 2 1/2 cups flour
  4. 1 cup butter, cold and cubed
  5. 1 tsp almond extract
  6. zest of 1 large orange
  7. 2 to 3 tbsp of fresh orange juice
Instructions
  1. 1. Combine flour and 1/2 cup of sugar in a large bowl.
  2. 2. Cut in butter. I cut mine in small cubes.
  3. 3. Stir in cranberries, extract, remaining sugar, orange zest, and orange juice.
  4. 4. Use hands to knead the dough together and form a large ball.
  5. 5. Shape the dough into a round log that is about two inches in diameter, wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least two hours.You can do so for up to 72 hours.
  6. 6. Preheat oven to 325F.
  7. 7. Cut slices of cookie dough about 1/4 inch thick - try to keep them all the same size.
  8. 8. Place cookies on baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. You don't want to over bake but want the edges to turn just the tiniest bit of golden.
  9. 9. Let cookies cool for several minutes on baking sheet and then transfer to a cooling rack. Let them cool completely.
  10. Enjoy!
Notes
  1. You can store in an airtight container for up to three days or freeze for up to three months.
https://louellareese.com/
Third Annual Cookie Exchange | Christmas Cookie Recipes | Louella Reese Life & Style Blog

Now it’s time to head over to the next bloggers site to check out their cookie recipe! Next up is Ashlee from Cobalt Chronicles. I met Ashlee at The Blog Socieity Conference a couple of years ago. Since then we’ve been following each other via social media and catching up here and there. Ashlee is just about the sweetest thing and also brilliant! If you aren’t following her already, you definitely should! Her blog too! I feel like her Red Velvet Butter Cookies match her personality perfectly, beautiful and sweet. Go check out her recipe here.

40 Comments

  1. courtney wrote:

    Cookie exchanges sound so fun. I’ve never thought to do one before but it’s a really good idea.
    http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/

    Posted 12.19.17
    • They really are! We always have such a blast doing it. You should 100% participate in one.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.19.17
  2. Jessica Camerata wrote:

    What a fun idea! Loving these photos and I think I need a fur stole now!

    xo Jessica
    My Style Vita

    Posted 12.19.17
    • Thanks Jessica! You’ll have to join in next year. Yes, you definitely need one! I couldn’t be more obsessed with this one.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.19.17
  3. Shelby Back wrote:

    you’re adorable & these cookies look amazing! I love shortbread cookies!

    xo!
    Shelby

    Posted 12.19.17
    • 🙂 Thanks sweet gal! They’re super tasty. Perfectly packed with flavor yet light.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.19.17
  4. Belle wrote:

    Virtual cookie exchange is a great & fun idea! Those cookies look really good!

    Belle | One Awesome Momma

    Posted 12.19.17
    • Yay! Thank you lady! Glad you’re a fan of it. We love doing it!! They’re super tasty, highly recommend.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.19.17
  5. Kate wrote:

    this is such a cute idea! those cookies sound delish!

    Posted 12.19.17
    • Thanks Kate! They’re very good! You’ll definitely have to give them a try.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.19.17
  6. Elise wrote:

    This cookies look and sound delish! I am in love with your cream sweater and green stole, they look gorgeous on you!!

    xx, ELise
    http://www.sparkleandslippers.blogspot.com

    Posted 12.19.17
    • They really are! I seriously wish I could share them with everyone that visits the site. Thank you SO much gal! I really appreciate that.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.19.17
  7. victoria wrote:

    yes! love new cookie recipes! thanks for sharing!

    Posted 12.19.17
    • Please let me know if you give it a try! I’d love to hear what you think.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.19.17
  8. Morgan wrote:

    Thanks for hosting again this year!! I always love reading every one’s recipes and testing out a few!

    -Morgan
    How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com

    Posted 12.19.17
    • Of course! Thank you for joining in. Definitely feel the same. Can’t wait to try out some of the recipes shared today.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.19.17
  9. Anna english wrote:

    THese sound delish! I just finished baking some oatmeal rasin today!

    Posted 12.19.17
  10. Ashlee wrote:

    You’re the absolute cutest! Love the idea of the cookie jars for gifts! And they look so yum!

    Ashlee | http://www.cobaltchronicles.com

    Posted 12.19.17
    • Aw thanks so much gal!! I am newly obsessed with using mason jars for cookies, cakes, and all things sweet ha.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.20.17
  11. Kim wrote:

    These cookies look so delish! I love this virtual cookie exchange idea!Oh and obsessed with that green faux fur scarf!

    xoxo,
    Kim

    Posted 12.19.17
    • Thank you Kim! They are quite tasty, if I do say so myself 🙂 You’ll have to join in on the fun next year. I am right there with you on the green faux fur stole. It has seriously stolen my heart.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.20.17
  12. Melissa wrote:

    Oh these look so good and i LOVE SHORTBREAD COOKIES!

    Posted 12.19.17
  13. Kileen wrote:

    These look amazing and this is such a cute idea!! I’ll have to try these out some time!

    Kileen
    cute & little

    Posted 12.20.17
    • Yes you absolutely should! They’re really easy to make and so different + delicious.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.20.17
  14. Chloe wrote:

    This sounds soo fun! I am always a sucker for cookies, hehe! 🙂 I also LOVE your faux fur stole, the color is so gorgeous! 🙂

    xo, Chloe // https://funinthecloset.com/florals-for-fall/

    Posted 12.20.17
    • Me too gal! Give me all the cookies haha. Aw, thank you!! It’s quickly become a favorite of mine. I’m trying to add it to everything.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.21.17
  15. This post is adorable. I love this green fur too!

    Xx Taylor
    http://lightscameracatwalk.com/

    Posted 12.20.17
    • Aw thanks Taylor! Need to have you join in next year. Thanks gal! It’s currently my obsession haha.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.21.17
  16. Dana wrote:

    I love that you’re still keeping up with this! I wish I was competent in the baking department so that I could join in on the fun. Maybe I’ll have my mom make these 😉

    Pink Champagne Problems

    Posted 12.20.17
    • Thanks gal! I really love hosting it. Haha yes you should send these all her way!!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.21.17
  17. katie wrote:

    Yay! Thanks so much for organizing this fun cookie exchange! I am going to have to try your cookies out ASAP!

    ​xx katie // a touch of teal

    Posted 12.20.17
    • Of course!!! Thanks for taking part in it. Let me know what you think of the cookies!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 12.21.17
  18. Heather wrote:

    Can’t wait to try these! Look and sound so scrumptious!

    Posted 12.20.17
  19. LOGAN wrote:

    I love this stole! Such a pretty way to add color into this outfit.

    xo Logan
    https://peculiarporter.com

    Posted 12.23.17
  20. This is the cutest idea! Those red velvet ones sound heavenly!

    ~Hillary
    http://www.styleinasmalltown.com

    Posted 12.26.17

Comments are closed.