Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches

Teresa Ambra

Teresa’s Bake Shop – Christmas Cookie Extravaganza – 2012

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches are amazing. There is lots of delicious cranberry and lemon flavor in every bite with a luscious lemon buttercream icing in the middle. These rich cookies have a wonderful texture and crunch and simply taste divine.

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Everyone we serve them to raves over them. We have included these in our Christmas Cookie Extravaganza in the past and they made it again this year!

This is another recipe from the Taste of Home Fall Baking 2009 cookbook. They are slightly more involved than some cookies because they are a sandwich cookie, but they are amazing and deliciously sweet nonetheless. We really enjoy these cookies and think you will want to give them a try also.

If you’re looking for a way to use craisins consider this delicious cookie. Except for lemon zest you will probably have all the ingredients on hand so it’s also a fairly economical recipe as well. Once you taste these delicious sandwich cookies you won’t be able to quit eating them!

When I initially posted this recipe in June 2012 it was right after I began my blog. Even though I redid the pictures in November 2012, they were still shot with an iPhone so they were not as clear and sharp as I would have liked. Plus, I set them amid too many Christmas decorations so the whole result was rather gaudy.

I recently remade these jewels (December 2016) for our Christmas Cookie Extravaganza this year. And, yes, I got a lot of great feedback on how these were everyone’s favorite cookies! I made the first batch without pushing the cookies down with a glass dipped in sugar.

But these cookies really work better when you press them down with a glass before baking. The other ones were too spherical so they kept tipping over and icing kept oozing out! I gobbed on the icing and still had plenty for all the cookies.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches are fabulous treats for the holidays.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Festive, beautiful and decadent, Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches have incredibly amazing taste.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

These cookies are so delectable. 

Here’s what I did.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

I used these ingredients for the cookies.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Soften butter and put in mixing bowl. Add Crisco shortening. Don’t use cheap substitutes. Add sugar, powdered sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, salt and cream of tartar.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Mix with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Add UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour. Bleached flour toughens cookies. Add craisins.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Stir mixture together with a wooden spoon. Don’t mix with an electric mixer or that will toughen cookies. Chill dough for a couple of hours.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Roll mixture into balls and place on cookie sheets that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Place granulated sugar in a small bowl. Dip bottom of glass in bowl of sugar and press onto cookies to flatten.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Do each cookie a couple of times so plenty of sugar adheres to the cookie. 

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes or until cooked but don’t let the edges brown.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

I used these ingredients for the icing.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Soften butter. Add milk, lemon peel and powdered sugar. Cream mixture with an electric mixer until smooth.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Spread icing mixture on bottom of cookie. Top with another cookie and press down slightly so icing comes to the edges.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches are great holiday treats to take along to office parties or give out as gifts. Your neighbors and coworkers will love them.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Here’s a close up picture so you can see the texture of Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches. These are the ones I made without pressing the cookies down with a glass first. The icing oozes out more in these.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Every bite of Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches is so mouthwatering.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

You’ll be drooling over these sandwich cookies from the first bite.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches are great for Christmas Cookie Exchanges.

Here’s the recipe.

CRANBERRY LEMON SANDWICHES

(Recipe adapted from Taste of Home Fall Baking Magazine, 2009)

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches

Teresa Ambra
Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches are outstanding for holiday baking. These fantastic sugar cookies are filled with lemon and dried cranberries then made into sandwiches with a luscious lemon buttercream frosting. Every bite will have you drooling.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 4 minutes
Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 352 kcal

Equipment

  • 2 18x26" cookie sheet pans
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 wooden spoons
  • 1 spatula
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 small mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

COOKIES:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup Crisco shortening
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 4 1/2 to 4 3/4 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
  • 1 tsp. cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp. grated lemon peel
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar for dipping a glass into to flatten cookies

LEMON BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

  • 2/3 cup unsalted butter softened 1 ¼ tsp. grated lemon peel
  • 2 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
  • 1/4 cup 2% milk
  • 1 1/4 tsp. grated lemon peel

Instructions
 

COOKIES:

  • In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening, sugars, eggs, vanilla, cream of tartar, lemon peel and salt with an electric mixer.
  • Add flour and cranberries.
  • Stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle.
  • Roll into 1-inch balls.
  • Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets.
  • Flatten with a glass dipped in granulated sugar.
  • Bake at 350˚ for 12-14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
  • Rotate cookie sheets on oven racks after 6 minutes of baking time.
  • Remove to wire racks to cool.
  • Spread the bottom of one cookie with Lemon Buttercream Frosting.
  • Top with another cookie of similar size and shape.

LEMON BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

  • In a small bowl, combine the filling ingredients, beat until smooth.
  • Spread on the bottoms of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies.

Notes

NOTE: Preparation time does not include time needed to chill dough.
 
NOTE: Preparation time includes time required to spread frosting on cookies.
 
NOTE: I made one batch without pressing the cookies down with a glass and another where I did. These cookies really work better by pressing the glass down into the cookies. They lay flatter after baking and the icing doesn’t ooze out quite so much.
 
NOTE: My cookies took longer than 14 minutes to bake.
 
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home.
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 4gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 50mgPotassium: 80mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 420IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cookie, cranberry, dessert, lemon, sandwich cookie
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches[/b]
Recipe Type: Cookies, Brownies and Bars
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from [url href=”http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cranberry-lemon-sandwiches” target=”_blank” title=”cranberry lemon sandwiches”]Taste of Home[/url]
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 24
These fantastic sugar cookies are filled with lemon and dried cranberries than made into sandwiches with a luscious lemon buttercream frosting.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup Crisco shortening
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 4 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)
  • 1 tsp. cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp. grated lemon peel
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¾ cup dried cranberries
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening, sugars, eggs, vanilla, cream of tartar, lemon peel and salt.
  2. Add flour and cranberries.
  3. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
  4. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle.
  5. Roll into 1-inch balls.
  6. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets.
  7. Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar.
  8. Bake at 350˚ for 12-14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
  9. Remove to wire racks to cool.
  10. Spread the bottom of one cookie with Lemon Buttercream Frosting.
  11. Top with another cookie of similar size and shape.
Notes
Preparation time does not include time needed to chill dough.

 

[b]Lemon Buttercream Frosting[/b]
Recipe Type: Cookies, Brownies and Bars
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from [url href=”http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cranberry-lemon-sandwiches” target=”_blank” title=”cranberry lemon sandwiches”]Taste of Home[/url]
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 24
These fantastic sugar cookies are filled with lemon and dried cranberries than made into sandwiches with a luscious lemon buttercream frosting.
Ingredients
  • 2/3 cup butter, softened
  • 2 ¾ cups confectioners’ sugar
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 ¼ tsp. grated lemon peel
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, combine the filling ingredients, beat until smooth.
  2. Spread on the bottoms of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies.
Notes
Preparation time includes time required to spread frosting on cookies.
Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Here’s a small tray of Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches for Santa and his elves.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

The nice thing about Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches is you can make them all year round. Dried cranberries are easy to find any time.

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Here’s a plate for you!

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

These festive cookies are perfect for Christmas and holiday parties.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Cranberry Nut Swirls

Cranberry Nut Swirls | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these are our favorite #Christmas #cookies. They have a lovely #cranberry, pecan & orange zest filling in a shortbread crust. Heavenly. #dessert

Cranberry Almond Bars

Paula Deen's Cranberry Almond Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaulaDeen #cookie recipe with a streusel crust and topping. The filling is made with fresh #cranberries & #pineapple preserves & #almonds on top. This is a terrific #dessert for #Christmas baking.

Cranberry Nut Vanilla Chip Bars

Cranberry Nut Vanilla Chip Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these amazing #brownies include dried #cranberries, Vanilla chips & #walnuts. They're terrific for #holiday & #Christmas parties. They're rich, decadent & heavenly. #Dessert #HolidayDessert #CranberryDessert #ChristmasCookie #ChristmasCookieExchange
Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are perfect for the #holidays. They use #craisins & #lemon zest. The icing is heavenly. #dessert

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches

Teresa Ambra
Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches are outstanding for holiday baking. These fantastic sugar cookies are filled with lemon and dried cranberries then made into sandwiches with a luscious lemon buttercream frosting. Every bite will have you drooling.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 4 minutes
Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 352 kcal

Equipment

  • 2 18×26" cookie sheet pans
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 wooden spoons
  • 1 spatula
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 small mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

COOKIES:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup Crisco shortening
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 4 1/2 to 4 3/4 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
  • 1 tsp. cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp. grated lemon peel
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar for dipping a glass into to flatten cookies

LEMON BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

  • 2/3 cup unsalted butter softened 1 ¼ tsp. grated lemon peel
  • 2 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
  • 1/4 cup 2% milk
  • 1 1/4 tsp. grated lemon peel

Instructions
 

COOKIES:

  • In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening, sugars, eggs, vanilla, cream of tartar, lemon peel and salt with an electric mixer.
  • Add flour and cranberries.
  • Stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle.
  • Roll into 1-inch balls.
  • Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets.
  • Flatten with a glass dipped in granulated sugar.
  • Bake at 350˚ for 12-14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
  • Rotate cookie sheets on oven racks after 6 minutes of baking time.
  • Remove to wire racks to cool.
  • Spread the bottom of one cookie with Lemon Buttercream Frosting.
  • Top with another cookie of similar size and shape.

LEMON BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

  • In a small bowl, combine the filling ingredients, beat until smooth.
  • Spread on the bottoms of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies.

Notes

NOTE: Preparation time does not include time needed to chill dough.
 
NOTE: Preparation time includes time required to spread frosting on cookies.
 
NOTE: I made one batch without pressing the cookies down with a glass and another where I did. These cookies really work better by pressing the glass down into the cookies. They lay flatter after baking and the icing doesn’t ooze out quite so much.
 
NOTE: My cookies took longer than 14 minutes to bake.
 
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home.
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 4gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 50mgPotassium: 80mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 420IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cookie, cranberry, dessert, lemon, sandwich cookie
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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