Orange Cranberry Spice Cookies

A good friend passed along this recipe one Christmas and it has become a favorite of my oldest daughter.  I make a batch, spoon out the dough and freeze to have on hand to bake as needed or to send in a care package to her.  It freezes well up to 6 months.  Just pop them in the oven and add a minute or two to the baking time.  They are great sandwiched between some vanilla or pumpkin ice cream.

Orange Cranberry Spice Cookies

Ingredients

Cookie Dough
1 c unsalted butter
1/2 c sugar
1 c light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 c molasses
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp orange extract
2 tsp orange zest
2 1/2 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp ground clove
1 c dried cranberries

Sugar Coating
1 Tbs orange zest
1 c white bakers sugar

Directions

1. Mix butter and sugars in a mixer until smooth, add vanilla, zest and orange extract.
2. Mix in egg and beat until fluffy.
3. Pour in molasses and mix until totally incorporated.
4. Sift flour and all dry ingredients into a bowl.
5. Slowly blend dry ingredients into wet mixture.
6. Add cranberries and mix.
7. Refrigerate dough for two hours or place in freezer for 10 minutes.
8. Mix topping sugar with zest and blend with a small fork.
9. Form golf size balls of cookie dough, roll in topping sugar.
10. Place on parchment lined cookie sheet and pat down gently.  Can be frozen at this point.
11. Bake in preheated oven at 350 for 10-13 minutes.
12. Cool on wire racks.