Add the cranberry sauce to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Transfer the cranberry sauce to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally for approximately 5–8 minutes, until the sauce thickens to a jam-like consistency.

Stir in the optional orange zest and remove from the heat. Allow the filling to cool completely before using.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add the softened butter and brown sugar. Cream together with a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2–3 minutes.

Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated.

In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, and salt.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft chocolate cookie dough forms.

Cover the cookie dough and refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes.

Using a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop, portion the dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving approximately 2 inches between each cookie.

Using your thumb or the back of a rounded measuring spoon, gently press an indentation into the center of each cookie dough ball.

Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are slightly soft.

Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, gently press the center of each cookie again using the back of a rounded measuring spoon to redefine the indentation.

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Let cool completely.

Once the cookies have completely cooled, spoon approximately ½–1 teaspoon of the prepared cranberry filling into the center of each cookie.

Melt the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring between each interval until smooth.

Transfer the melted white chocolate into a piping bag and snip a small hole at the end.

Drizzle the white chocolate over each cookie in a back-and-forth motion, allowing some of the cranberry filling to remain visible.

Allow the white chocolate to set before serving.

Enjoy!