The snowy white frosting with a sprinkling of cranberry and orange pieces then drizzled with white chocolate makes a holiday cookie showpiece. These cookies are festive looking, delicious, and rich.

Ingredients:

Dough:

1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1½ cups firmly packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1¾ cups white chocolate chips

1½ cups dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

1 cup toasted pecans, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup grated orange zest (about 2 oranges)

Note: See Baking How To's for how to toast nuts. 

Frosting:

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar

½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 tablespoon grated orange zest (about half of 1 orange)

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Topping:

1/3 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon grated orange zest (about half of 1 orange)

1 cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 11 by 15 inch jelly roll pan.
   
   Dough:
2. In a large bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla; whisk together until mixture is smooth. Add flour, baking powder, and salt; whisk together until mixed. Add white chocolate chips, cranberries, pecans and orange zest; stir until mixed.
   
   
3. Spread the dough evenly in the jelly roll pan (dough will be stiff). Bake 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Leave cookie in pan to cool; place baking pan on wire rack to cool.
   
   Frosting:
4. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioners sugar, butter, 1 tablespoon orange zest, and vanilla. Beat until mixture is smooth and fluffy. Spread on cooled cookie.
   
   Topping:
   
5. In a small bowl, combine cranberries and 1 tablespoon orange zest. Sprinkle over frosting.
   
   
6. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the white chocolate chips, stir constantly until melted so chocolate does not burn. Drizzle melted chocolate over cookie.
   
   
7. When chocolate is set, cut into 3 inch squares; cut each square in half diagonally.
   
   Makes about 4 dozen bars
   
   Note: These bars can be baked in a 9 inch by 13 inch baking pan; bake about 35 minutes.
   
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