Recipe: Iced Cranberry-White Chocolate Drop Cookies

1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest

1 large egg

2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) coarsely chopped pecans

1 1/2 cups (about 7 ounces) chopped dried sweetened cranberries

1 1/4 cups (7 1/2 ounces) white chocolate morsels

1/2 cup chopped cranberries

For the icing:

1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 to 4 teaspoons warm water

Center a rack in the middle of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees. Lightly grease several large baking sheets, or coat with nonstick spray oil.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer on medium speed, beat the butter several minutes, until lightened. Add the brown sugar and orange zest. Beat for about 2 minutes, until well combined, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat for 1 1/2 minutes, until very light and fluffy. Using either a spatula or the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in increments, until smoothly incorporated. Add the pecans, dried cranberries, white chocolate morsels and chopped cranberries, stirring until evenly distributed.

Drop the dough by heaping tablespoonfuls, spaced about 2 1/2 inches apart, onto the baking sheets. Bake the cookies, 1 sheet at a time, for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly tinged with brown all over and just firm when pressed in the center; rotate the sheet from front to back halfway through the baking. Cool the cookies on the sheet for about 3 minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack set over sheets of waxed paper (the cookies will still be very tender). Cool completely.

For the icing: In a medium bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and vanilla extract with enough water to yield a slightly runny icing. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a fine tip, or use a spoon, to immediately drizzle the icing in very fine lines over the cookies until they are lightly decorated. Let them stand until the icing sets, at least 1 hour.

Per cookie (based on 40): 161 calories, 2 g protein, 18 g carbohydrates, 10 g fat, 18 mg cholesterol, 4 g saturated fat, 42 mg sodium, 1 g dietary fiber

Recipe tested by Randy Richter; e-mail questions tofood@washpost.com