This Simple Christmas Cookie Is Pulled Right Out of a Hallmark Movie (For Real)
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Cranberry Christmas Cookies
If hearing Mariah Carey or Michael Bublé sing their renditions of Christmas music’s greatest hits hasn’t already gotten you into the spirit, then perhaps sitting down for this latest Hallmark holiday movie might do the trick.
Mystery on Mistletoe Lane is a family movie that's perfect for sleuths of all ages. The film, which is premiered on Hallmark this past November, follows a woman named Heidi as she relocates to a small New England town with her two children to begin a new job at the local historical society. While settling into their new home — a previously abandoned manor — it begins to reveal mysterious clues that leads the children on a holiday-themed treasure hunt. With the help of David, the man Heidi is replacing at the historical society, the gang becomes determined to solve Mistletoe Manor's mystery and return it to its former glory by Christmas Eve.
This weekend, why not embark on an adventure with the Wicks Family and while you do, enjoy this recipe for Clara’s Cranberry Christmas Cookies, lifted from one of the clues in the mystery movie.
Get the recipe: Cranberry Christmas Cookies
Courtesy of Dante Parker
Ingredients for Clara’s Cranberry Christmas Cookies
Lucky for us, the mystery behind these cranberry cookies is an easy one to solve. Outside from the actual cranberries, you might already have all the other ingredients needed to piece this puzzle together. To get started you’ll need eggs, sugar, vanilla, softened butter, flour and fresh cranberries.
How to Make Clara’s Cranberry Christmas Cookies
Now that you have all your “clues” — I mean ingredients — together, you’re going to preheat your oven to 350°. Next, in a large bowl, beat together the eggs and the sugar, before mixing in your butter and vanilla extract. After that, begin to stir in the flour until the dough is just combined. And for the last step, add in the cranberries and fold them into the dough.
Scoop the dough onto a cookie sheet, spacing the mounds about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 18 minutes, or until the cookies are puffy with brown edges, then let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before serving. And voila! You now have homemade cookies to not only leave out for Santa but to also share with the family when you sit down to watch your favorite holiday movie.
Related: The 200-Year-Old Christmas Cookie Recipe That's Wildly Simple
Courtesy of Dante Parker
What I Thought of Clara’s Cranberry Christmas Cookies
If you watched the movie, you’ll know that Mistletoe Manor was mired in mystery, but the one mystery I couldn’t figure out from this cookie recipe was: How are these cookies supposed to rise without leavener!? Now I didn’t quite solve this mystery, but actions speak louder than words and these results spoke for themselves.
These cookies were soft, thick, and airy with a scone-like texture. They were very sweet, but the bitterness of the cranberry gave the cookies a great balance. I didn’t expect to enjoy the cookies, as I do not believe in having fruit inside of my baked goods, but these cookies actually surprised me. I liked their density and their texture, but most of all, I enjoyed how making these cookies got the house into the Christmas spirit. Even my husky wanted in on the action. Besides, wasn’t that the goal behind all the mysteries on Mistletoe Lane anyway—getting into the Christmas spirit?
Courtesy of Dante Parker
Tips for Making Clara’s Cranberry Christmas Cookies
Use small scoops of dough for your cookies. The scoops I made were about 1/3 cup large and the cookies spread more than I expected. I had to use a cookie cutter to keep them looking neat and presentable.
