Grandma's Cranberry Frosted Cookies

  

I love my grandma!  She makes these cookies every year at the holidays.  I think almost every family member loves them.  She always seems to run out of them before I can even get seconds.  I was hankering for one this week, so I just made them!  The recipe calls for fresh or frozen cranberries.. but I couldn't find any and used canned.  They still turned out yummy  - flatter than grandma's, but still yummy.    Also as a side note.. don't stack the finished cookies on top of each other.  Put a piece of wax paper between each layer for storage or they will stick together.  Here is the recipe.. courtesy of Virginia Marcellino. 

Ingredients

 

1/2 cup butter (no substitutes)
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
2 T orange juice
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 cups chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup chopped walnuts

Frosting (double if you like thick frosting on your cookies) 

1/3 c butter (no substitutes)

2 cups confectioners sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-4 T hot water

In mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars.  Add milk, egg and orange juice; mix well.  Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture and mix well.  Stir in cranberries and nuts.  Drop by the tablespoonful, 2 inches apart, onto greased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on wire racks.

For Frosting: Heat the butter in a sauce pan over low heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes.  Cool for 2 minutes; transfer to a small mixing bowl.  Add sugar and vanilla. Beat in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until frosting reaches desired consistency.  Frost the cookies after they have completely cooled.  Yields about 5 dozen.

Grandma this Mother's day opening my gift to her.  She loves a good champagne!