Farkleberry Cookie Recipe

Written by: Vladimir Lapshin

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The Farkleberry cookie is a fun holiday treat with a special story. It is soft, chewy, and filled with dried cranberries, orange zest, and white chocolate chips. The mix of sweet and citrus flavors makes it stand out during the holiday season.

This cookie tradition started in the 1970s when radio host Jack Bogut used the idea of a “farkleberry” to help raise money for the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund. Even today, Oakmont Bakery bakes these cookies every holiday season, and part of the sales still go to the hospital.

In this article, I shall give you step-by-step instructions, flavorful tips, and serving suggestions for this farkleberry cookie recipe.

Key Takeaways

• Pittsburgh tradition: Farkleberry cookies began in the 1970s as a fun fundraising idea on KDKA radio and soon became a beloved holiday treat.
• Real berries vs. cranberries: Farkleberries are real winter berries, but since they are too bitter and seedy for baking, dried cranberries are used instead.
• Flavor profile: This farkleberry cookie recipe mixes orange zest, dried cranberries, and white chocolate chips for a sweet and tart flavor with a soft, cake-like texture.

What is a Farkleberry Cookie?

The Farkleberry cookie is a soft and cake-like cookie with a mix of cranberry and citrus flavors. The story goes back to the 1970s when KDKA radio host Jack Bogut made up the idea of a “farkleberry” during his holiday fundraiser. He joked with the phrase, “Start your heart, eat a Farkleberry Tart,” and people loved it. Soon after, he worked with McDonald’s owner Jim Delligatti to sell tarts and other baked goods for charity.

Later, Oakmont Bakery picked up the tradition and turned the tart into a cookie. Every holiday season, they still bake Farkleberry cookies, and part of the sales goes to the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund.

Even though the cookie is named after a real berry, actual farkleberries are not used. They have too many seeds and are not very tasty. Bakers use dried cranberries instead, which give the cookies a tart bite and a pop of color. To finish, the cookies are dusted with powdered sugar so they look like they are covered in snow.

Why You Will Love this Farkleberry Cookie Recipe?

I love this farkleberry cookie recipe because it is easy, tasty, and flavorful. You do not need fancy tools or hard-to-find ingredients. With a few pantry basics, you can mix up the dough and have cookies ready in no time.

The flavor is what makes them unforgettable. The orange zest gives a fresh citrus kick, the dried cranberries add a chewy tartness, and the white chocolate chips bring creamy sweetness. Together they make a soft cookie that feels almost like a little piece of cake.

There is also something special about the tradition. These cookies started as part of a fundraiser, and baking them today feels like keeping that story alive. Sharing them with friends or family makes the recipe even more rewarding.

Flavor Variations of Farkleberry Cookie Recipe

Adding Nuts or Seeds

For extra crunch, mix in about ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts with the cranberries and chocolate. Sunflower seeds also work well if you prefer a lighter, nutty flavor. Toast the nuts or seeds for a few minutes in a dry pan before adding them to bring out more aroma and taste.

Chocolate Chip and Farkleberry Blend

If you enjoy chocolate, increase the white chocolate chips to 1½ cups or replace half with semi-sweet chocolate chips. This gives you a marbled cookie with pockets of both dark and white chocolate. The slight bitterness of dark chocolate balances the sweet dough and the tart cranberries.

Spiced Version with Cinnamon or Nutmeg

For a warm, cozy flavor, add ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a small pinch of nutmeg or cloves to the dry ingredients. These spices match beautifully with orange and cranberries and remind you of mulled cider. You can also add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the wet mixture for more depth.

Recipe for a Farkleberry Cookie

Tips for the Perfect Cookies

How to Prevent Overbaking

Take the cookies out when the edges are just golden and the centers still look soft. Always set a timer for the minimum baking time, check often, and rotate the pans halfway through. Remember, they keep baking a little after leaving the oven.

Getting the Right Texture

Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, then mix gently once the flour is added. If your kitchen is warm, chill the dough for 15 to 30 minutes so the cookies spread less and stay thicker. Let them rest on the tray for a few minutes before moving to a rack.

Substitutions for Common Ingredients

If you don’t have orange juice, you can swap in milk or apple juice, though the orange flavor will be lighter. For a less sweet option, use unsweetened dried cranberries, but remember that they will taste more tart since many store-bought cranberries have added sugar. If you prefer not to use white chocolate, replace it with chopped dark chocolate or leave it out.

Serving Suggestions

Perfect with Coffee or Tea

These cookies taste amazing with a warm drink. The citrus and cranberry flavors pair well with herbal tea or balance out the richness of coffee. Try them with Earl Grey because the bergamot blends smoothly with the orange zest. Their soft texture makes them easy to dip without falling apart.

As a Holiday Treat

Farkleberry cookies are a holiday favorite in Pittsburgh, often enjoyed between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Baking them at home is a great way to start your own tradition. Add them to a festive cookie tray with classics like gingerbread or thumbprints. The powdered sugar gives them a snowy look, making them a natural fit for winter gatherings.

Kid-Friendly Snack Option

Children love the bright cranberries and sweet white chocolate chips. The soft texture makes them easy to eat, and the gentle orange flavor is a nice introduction to citrus. Kids can also join in the fun by helping measure ingredients or dusting the cookies with sugar, turning baking into a memory-making activity.

How to Store Your Farkleberry Cookies

Keeping Cookies Fresh at Room Temperature

Place cooled cookies in an airtight container and keep them at room temperature for up to five days. To protect the powdered sugar, layer the cookies between sheets of wax paper. If the sugar melts into the cookies, simply dust them again before serving.

Freezing the Dough or Finished Cookies

You can freeze the dough or the baked cookies. For dough, scoop portions onto a tray and freeze until solid, then move them to a freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen at 375 °F, adding two extra minutes to the baking time. For baked cookies, wrap them in plastic wrap, place them in an airtight container, and freeze. 

Let them thaw at room temperature, then dust with fresh sugar before serving.

Nutrition Information

Vitamins from Farkleberries

Farkleberries are related to blueberries and huckleberries, but since these cookies use cranberries, the nutrition reflects cranberries instead. Cranberries are made up mostly of water and provide vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, and manganese. They are also high in antioxidants like anthocyanins and flavanols, which give them their rich color. These compounds are linked to health benefits such as supporting urinary tract health and helping reduce inflammation.

Calorie and Sugar Balance

Each cookie has about 120 calories, though the exact number can change based on the size of the cookie and how much chocolate is used. Dried cranberries often contain added sugar, with one serving holding around 25 grams. The dusting of powdered sugar also adds sweetness. To lower the sugar, you can use unsweetened dried cranberries and keep the sugar topping light.

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