These Chocolate Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate, Cranberries and Walnuts are rich, buttery and loaded with chocolate flavour. The tartness of the dried cranberries complement the dark chocolate perfectly and the walnuts add a touch of texture. The holiday baking continues!
Hello everyone! How was your weekend? We had another Christmas filled one! We had a party to go to Friday, which was lovely and then the rest of the weekend was spent baking, decorating and watching bad made-for-tv Christmas movies. But, seriously, what is up with those movies? They are so predictable, but once I start watching them, I can’t take my eyes off ’em! Are you the same way? Please say yes 😉 Now, onto these delish chocolate shortbread cookies, shall we?
We finally finished decorating our tree, too?Do you guys have an artificial tree or real one? Growing up we always had a real tree and I just love the pine smell that comes from it. Hubby grew up with an artificial tree and when we got married the artificial tree won over. It’s not too bad, though, ’cause it’s pre-light and that is definitely a time saver?! More time for baking cookies….hehehe?
As I was unpacking the ornaments, I realized how many memories are contained in each and every one of them? I’m totally a traditional girl and while the more modern looking decorated trees are beautiful, I must rather prefer an old school tree. Each ornament has a story. As I was grabbing each, I was thinking ‘oh, that’s the time when….’, ya know? We have ones for when we moved into our new home years ago, when we had our first Christmas together as a married couple, ones from loved pets that have since passed and even ones from when we were children.
Funny thing…when you get ornaments like that, while they are special at the time, they truly mean that much more as the years pass and I love looking at our tree – so many happy memories and stories❤️
Food is like that too, don’t you think? Certain foods or meals are representative of a memory or special occasion. Last week I shared Shortbread Cookies with White Chocolate and Candy Cane. Every single year I make these cookies and only at Christmas. I decided to do a twist on this iconic cookie this year and go with a chocolate version. I got the idea of using dark chocolate from my friend Kevin from Kevin is Cooking. He had commented on my last post about seeing a dark chocolate version in his future and I thought that was a brilliant idea! Hence, Chocolate Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate, Cranberries and Walnuts?
For these cookies, I subbed out some of the flour for cocoa powder and garnished them with a rich dark chocolate, tart dried cranberries and buttery walnuts. They tastes just as good as the original, but are totally different with the chocolate kick. It’s good to have cookie options, ya know ? ?
I’m sure with these Chocolate Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate, Cranberries and Walnuts a new tradition has been born. I certainly hope you get a chance to try these too! You’re gonna love ’em!
Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon!
~Dawn
Chocolate Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate, Cranberries and Walnuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1.5 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1.5 cups unsalted butter -softened at room temperature
- 6 oz dark chocolate -melted
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries -chopped, if necessary to make smaller
- 1/3 cup walnuts -chopped
Instructions
- In a mixer combine corn starch, icing sugar, flour, cocoa powder and salt. Add butter and blend until combined and dough is soft. Form into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes until dough is easier to handle.
- Remove dough from refrigerator and shape into 1 inch balls. Place on parchment lined baking sheet and flatten with your hand, about 1/4 inch thick and they are about 1 inch apart.
- Bake 20-22 minutes at 300F. Cool on wire rack. Once cooled, dip in dark chocolate and sprinkle with dried cranberries and walnuts (gently pressing into chocolate, if necessary).
- Place on wax paper lined sheet pan and let chocolate harden completely. To speed cooling/hardening of chocolate, place in freezer for about 10 minutes. Remove and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
You can melt the dark chocolate in a microwave safe bowl, heating for about 30 seconds or so at a time, stirring and mixing and heating for another 30 seconds until just melted.
These cookies are great! I love the combination of flavours – just right for Christmas which is suddenly not really that far away!
So true! Thanks Emily 🙂
I love cranberries and chocolate together! I’m excited to give these a go this holiday season!
Me too! Thanks so much Holly 🙂
This cookie has everything my heart desires. Chocolae, dried cranberries, and its a shortbread cookie! Love this!
Thanks you Nicole 🙂 They are pretty tasty!
I love cookies dipped in chocolate – it always creates such a nice texture contrast. Add in the chopped nuts for crunch and it sounds perfect!
These cookies look fantastic! The dark chocolate is a perfect addition to these. Great treat for the holidays for sure.
The cranberries sound just right! I love contrast flavors like that – add even more interest to what sounds like a lovely rich chocolate cookie~!
Wow, these look sooo good! The perfect holiday cookie! Pinning to try soon 🙂
Thanks so much Sam! Enjoy!
These cookies are not only beautiful but so delicious! They are perfect for every important occasion, sure to impress guests.
Thanks Nicoletta! I love making them every Christmas 🙂
These are SO pretty Dawn- they would absolutely steal the show on a holiday cookie platter! I love how they are half dipped and then decorated so nicely!
Thank you Monica! They’re definitely a favourite around here 🙂
These look so festive!! I can’t wait for the holiday season to get here again! I always make shortbread, but I may have to add chocolate shortbread to the list this year!
Thanks Renee! Enjoy 🙂
These look beautiful Dawn!! I am all about the chocolate cookies at Christmas time! These are making me so excited for days spent inside with the fire going, Christmas songs playing and baking!!!
Yes! Totally getting excited right now! Thanks Georgie 🙂
Oh, Dawn, these are just gorgeous! And absolutely so festive for the holidays with those pretty red cranberries (yes – definitely the perfect thing to make or munch while watching bad, made-for-tv Christmas movies LOL!). These are such standouts – so perfect for wowing guests on a holiday cookie tray!
Thank you Shelley 🙂 All the Christmas movies, right 😉 ?? Have a wonderful weekend!
OMG I don’t even want to think about Christmas baking. It is Thanksgiving this coming weekend in Canada. Once that is over…it seems like it is ONE BIG DAY until Christmas. I know have to start shopping and making my baking list. These look super good. Santa won’t get any of them cause I don’t think I will want to share.
I know! Can’t believe it’s just next week! Not sure where the time goes! Eeeeek! I don’t know if I’d want to share either…though, then we may get on Santa’s naughty list, lol 😉
Light and sweet post, just like your delicate and yummy looking shortbread. I love the old fashioned shortbread but when I tried the chocolate version I was amazed. I know I’m going to bake a batch using your recipe soon 🙂
Shortbread cookies are MY FAVORITE!!! And omg- I didn’t even know chocolate shortbread was a THING! I need these… preferably now. Who cares that it’s still breakfast time lol
Me too, Sarah! Easy to make and easier to eat, lol 😀 And cookies are totally acceptable for breakfast, especially during the holidays 😉
That’s one of the things I love about decorating the Christmas tree too – unpacking all of the ornaments that you made as kid, ornaments friends and family got you over the years, ornaments you purchased at special places or during special times… they each seem to tell a story. Christmas cookies do the same thing – and I could definitely see these little beauties becoming part of a delicious tradition of Christmas cookies that get made throughout the years.
Thanks so much, Kathleen! Hope your having a lovely weekend 🙂
I used to have a box of old-fashioned Christmas tree ornaments and when we re-modeled the house a few years back things got moved to our new attic and the box got munched under another heavier one. We have since skipped putting up a tree. Sad face. But about these cookies. Shortbread are one of my all-time favs as you know and chocolate makes it all better, right? Love that touch of dried fruit on there. Beautiful Dawn! Thanks for the shout out, too. Have a great weekend friend. 🙂
Oh no!! That’s too bad!! Thanks Kevin 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend too!
Oh my gosh I love how you mentioned those types of movies! My mom and I always make fun of them because they all have the same title (especially on Hallmark). A husband for Christmas, A family for Christmas, A prince for Christmas… too funny! My mom is into Lifetime movies and I always get sucked into those too! They are just so bad but so entertaining!
So true!! And once I turn them on, I can’t turn them off, lol 😀 Thanks Shelby!
These cookies look amazing. I love the chocolate shortbread….and those moose glasses! Too cute 🙂
Thanks Kathy! I love those glasses! I always break them out at Christmas 🙂
Looks like another lovely weekend Dawn! We’ve always had an artificial tree. I’m allergic to pine and trees and the great outdoors it seems lol. And yeah, some meals are just so full of memory and history, those are the best kinds 🙂 These cookies look so amazing! Love the addition of cranberries.
It was! Oh no! Allergic? Well, I guess you get to spend more time inside baking 😉 Thanks Jolina! Have a lovely weekend!
Aww, I love that the ornaments hold so many memories for you! Ours are that way too – we have some basics that we put up and then all the “special” ones – gifts, mile markers in our lives, ones our kids have made and a bag full of ones from when I was little. They do make the tree all the more magical looking and festive! And these cookies – I love how chocolatey they are and that they have all the fun toppings! YUM!! Hope you have another great weekend! XO
Thanks Kathryn! Hope you get to try these cookies 🙂 They’re pretty delicious! Have a great weekend too! XO
I love Christmas specials but the old school 70s ones. We have a real tree every year and we decorate it with clear lights, wooden red beads, and every ornament of ours has a story.
Girl, these cookies are the bomb! Chocolate shortbread is super tasty and loving the cranberries and walnuts in there too. I’ll have to leave off the walnuts for J but that’s means double nuts on my cookies!! WOOOOOHOOO! 🙂
Old school is the BEST!! I’m with you! Yay! Thanks girl! No walnuts for J? That’s one of the best parts, I think 😉 But, like you said, more for you….hehehe! Can never have too many nuts… or cookies 🙂 XOXO
It’s nice that you all have your Christmas tree standing already, there is more time to enjoy it this way. We only get it on Christmas Eve day or maybe a day before and it’s already gone on the 3rd or 4th of January. The cookies are lovely, I like using cranberries in baked goods, their sourness cuts so pleaseantly through the sweetness.
Years ago, growing up I remember we were a lot later putting up our tree, but these days it seems that a lot of people are putting it up earlier and earlier….some even in November, but that’s a little too early for me. I just love the ambiance it creates in the room with all the coloured lights. Thanks so much, Adina!! Have a great weekend 🙂
Sounds like a fun weekend to me! We had a real tree this year for the first time ever! The adventure of finding it in the forest and cutting it down in the snow, was absolutely nothing short of magical. And I’m like you, I LOVE getting our ornaments out every year and and all of the happy memories that each one represents. And yes, those Christmas movies have some kind of voodoo going on, because you KNOW they’re terrible, but it’s like you can’t help yourself, you have to watch them anyway! Things have been so crazy over here lately, I’ve really missed reading your posts, Dawn! So glad to hear that you’re having a great holiday season! Pinning! XOXO
It really was! Super busy getting ready for the big day, but so fun and I really think that a big part of Christmas is the actual getting ready part, don’t you? Thanks so much for the lovely comment and Pin, Stephanie…really appreciate it! Hope you have a fabulous weekend, my friend! XO
Sounds like a fabulous weekend! I came down with my traditional before-Christmas-cold, so I spent the weekend on the couch with lots of hot drinks and vaguely holiday-themed television. It was actually pretty great. 😉
Mmmm. These cookies are all of my favorite things. I love the idea of chocolate shortbread, and adding dried cranberries just makes it perfect x2! Bet these show up on a lot of cookie trays this year. Pinning!
That unfortunate, but at least it forced you to relax, right 😉 ? Yay! Happy you like the cookies! Shortbread is one of my absolute favourites for sure. Thanks for the kind words and Pin, Tracy! Hope you are feeling better 🙂
squee! that milk glass!!! I am in lurve with these Chrissy cookies, they look perfect.
Thanks so much 🙂
I am totally right there with ya on the ornaments, Dawn! I’ve never thought about it, but Laura and I often talk about the unique ornaments as we pull them out of the box. And there’s always 1 or 2 that we’ve forgotten about, and it’s fun to find them again each year. We always do a real tree because of the smell + tradition, but then we have an artificial tree down in our basement. (That’s where we hang all of our childhood ornaments!) I’m loving these cookies, and I’m thinking a batch of these would be an excellent addition to the holiday cookie lineup. And the cranberries + walnuts on there is a perfect touch for the holidays! 🙂
I may have to get a second tree, lol. I just love the real ones! That smell totally reminds me of Christmas! Thanks David….hope you like the cookies 🙂
I’m with you on the Christmas movies and the traditional ornaments. Our tree is filled with ornaments from my youth all the way to today. We’ve collected from our trips and include every ornament our boys ever made. Makes it so special. Love traditional cookies at Christmas too. Shortbread is a must and even better with chocolate!
Those heartfelt ornaments definitely make the tree extra special! Love it so much! Shortbread is a favourite around here…they don’t last too long 😉 Thanks Cathy!
I can never pass up a plateful of chocolate cookies with all the fixings!
Can never go wrong with cookies, especially during the holidays 😉 ! Thanks Nicole!
I feel like I just need to get TWO trees (tell my husband that!) because I am so torn every year. I LOVE the look of a modern tree that’s all silver and white… But I also love all my fun ornaments. And you’re so right that it’s just like food… I only want our classic family traditions on Thanksgiving, but I also get really sad that I can’t introduce new fun dishes. I guess these are good problems to have??? Also, these cookies like perfect to me!! The good thing about cookies is that you can never have too many… which means there’s plenty of room for the classics and the new guys 🙂
Two trees sounds like a brilliant idea! Now you have me thinking that’s what I should do, lol 😀 I totally agree that you can never have too many cookies, especially since I sample them as I’m baking so I definitely have to make extra…hehehe! Thanks Sues!
These look so good and I think they’ll make the perfect holiday cookie for my family!! Could you clarify what temperature to bake at? 350 degrees F? Thanks!!
Thanks so much, Natalie! I’m sure they will love them! These need to be baked at 300F for about 20 minutes. I’ve updated that in the instructions – thank you 🙂
Your weekend sounds like a blast! I actually got sucked into watching Home Alone 2 the other day and I’d forgotten how funny it is. Going the chocolate route with these cookies was a genius move, my friend! I love the cranberries and walnuts in here too!
It was!! Haha! Home Alone is pretty funny 😀 Thanks girl! So happy you like the recipe 🙂 Have a great week!
Sounds like you had a wonderful, holly jolly weekend, Dawn! Our weekend was busy and productive, but none of it was spent on holiday stuff. Oops? Lol. Our tree is artificial, but we don’t have one up yet… and I’m thinking it might not make it up this year. I donno though, we will see. I’d just rather spend all my free time baking holiday cookies for my own consumption. 🙂 LOVE these!! Boy would absolutely devour these! He eats all the chocolate for me, so I’m thinking I will need to make a double batch of these! The cranberry and walnuts in here is perfect!! Cheers, dear!
Yes, we definitely did, Cheyanne! No tree up? Maybe you can put it up and even if you didn’t decorate it, but just had it lite? I just love the ambiance it creates! Perhaps you can make these for boy and the white chocolate version for you 😉 Thanks girlie!
We did real trees forever until the year with spiders (I whispered that), which I think I already told you about… Oh my! Then switched to artificial for ten years, and now this year – we took a leap of faith and went back to real! I just missed the pine smell in the house! So far, so good! So these cookies with chocolate? Are you kidding me? Divinity!! Pinned! Have a great day, my dear! XO
Giving me cold shivers just reading that, Annie! You know me and spiders, lol 😀 Yes, you definitely can’t beat that pine smell. It’s the best!! Thanks for the kind words and Pin, my friend! XO
We have two real trees Dawn. One big one and one smaller one. We always decorate the smaller one with ornaments that are beach inspired! It’s my favorite tree!
I can’t get enough shortbread during the holidays, so I’ll be adding this recipe to my cookie list for sure! I love the tart cranberries in this one!
That’s so neat – two trees! What a great idea! I’d love to see that beach inspired one 🙂 Thanks Mary Ann-hope you like ’em!!
Dawn, I love old school trees too – my daughter and I started a tradition a while ago of getting an ornament (and if we couldn’t find one, then a keychain) from every city/place we visited and so every year at Christmas we get to relive our adventures -in a way. I wouldn’t trade those old ornaments/clunky keychains for anything!
By the way – these cookies look so good! So loving the dark chocolate + cranberry + walnut combo!
Awwww….that’s so sweet! Now, every time you look at those ornaments or keychains you think about the day you got them 🙂 Thanks Shashi! Hope you have a wonderful week!
This is just Christmas in a cookie – perfect for chocolate addicts like me 😉 Can’t believe it but I am slowly getting ahead of my to do list. We have also managed to decorate our Christmas tree – we bought a real one but we used an artificial one before which is great as well! Christmas food and ornaments certainly bring back fond memories of past Christmas – I just love this time of year! Have a great week!
Yay for you for getting ahead on your to do list! Always nice to cross things off! Can’t believe we are less than two weeks away! Thanks Miriam 🙂 Hope you have a lovely week, my friend!
Sounds like you had a great weekend, Dawn! I get sucked into those made-for-TV movies EVERY time. Most aren’t too bad, but I watched one last weekend that was horrible (not a Christmas one though), and afterwards, I was second guessing my sanity haha! 🙂 And hooray for finishing your tree! My husband and I both grew up with artificial trees, so it was a no-brainer for us to get one too. So much easier to put up and so fun to decorate! We got piled with snow this weekend (about 7-8 inches) so I’ve been baking up a storm. These cookies look SO good, friend! I can’t decide which of your shortbreads I like better! 🙂 I don’t think I’ve ever had a chocolate version before, so this is calling my name. I love the addition of cranberries and walnuts, just perfect for the season. Pinned, of course! Hope your week is off to a wonderful start!
Thanks for the sweet comment, as usual, Gayle…and for the Pin – much appreciated! Hope you have a wonderful week too 🙂