Cranberry Orange Cookies

Orange Sugar

1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp freshly grated orange peel

Cookies

1 cup sugar
¾ cup butter, room temperature
1 egg
2 cups all purpose flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
½ cup sweetened dried cranberries, chopped ( raisins can be as substitute )
½ cup pistachio nuts
1 TBSP freshly grated orange peel

Heat oven to 350F.

Combine all orange sugar ingredients in a small bowl; stir until well mixed. Set aside.

Combine 1 cup sugar, butter and egg in a large bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking powder and baking soda. Beat until well mixed. Add all remaining ingredients. Continue beating just until mixed.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll balls in orange sugar. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten with bottom of glass to 1 ½-inch circles.

Bake for 7 to 11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.(DO NOT OVERBAKE). Cool 1 minutes; remove from cookie sheets.