Chocolate Dipped Cranberry Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened but still slightly firm
• 1 tsp orange zest
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• Red food coloring, optional
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups cherry flavor dried cranberries, chopped into small bits
• 12 oz. chopped semi-sweet chocolate
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper, then put them aside.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar for 20 seconds. Set that bowl aside for now.
3. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the sugar, butter and orange zest together until everything is evenly combined.
4. Mix in the egg, then add the egg yolk, food coloring, approximately 12-15 drops, and vanilla extract.
5. Add the flour mixture and mix just until it is almost incorporated. Add the cranberries and continue mixing until the dough comes together.
6. Scoop the dough and form it into 2 Tbsp balls. Arrange them 2-inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
7. Press the cookies down a bit. Bake 1 sheet at a time in the heated oven for 9 – 11 minutes; they should still look a touch underdone.
8. Leave the cookies on the pan for several minutes, then move them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
9. Melt the chocolate in a medium mixing bowl using 50% power in 20 second increments, stirring after each interval, until it is smooth.
10. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
11. When the cookies are fully cool, dip half of each one into the melted chocolate. Gently shake off the extra chocolate and run the bottom edge along the bowl rim to remove a little more, then place the cookie on the parchment paper.
12. Sprinkle with walnuts if desired.
13. Move the cookies to the refrigerator and chill until the chocolate firms up, about 15 minutes. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.