May 25, 2023
Review RecipeOrange Cookies

Table of Contents
Bursting with the sweet and tangy flavor of oranges, these soft orange cookies are sure to delight the senses. The citrus creates an irresistible aroma that will make your mouth water in anticipation.

Orange Cookies Ingredients

Orange cookies have a delicious, sweet, and tangy taste that is sure to tantalize the taste buds.
The citrus flavor of the oranges creates a fresh and zesty aroma, while the icing completes the cookies in just the right way.
When bitten into, these soft orange cookies are bursting with a juicy sweetness that lingers on the tongue.
To make this delectable treat, you’ll need:
For The Cookies
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons of grated orange zest
- ½ cup of unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2½ cups of all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- ½ cup of buttermilk
- ½ cup of orange juice
For The Orange Icing
- 1½ cups of powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon of orange zest
- 4 to 5 tablespoons of heavy cream, as needed to thin
Substitutions And Additions
SPICE: For an additional flavor dimension in this orange cookie recipe, add ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon or nutmeg.
CITRUS: For more of an intense citrus flavor, use ½ cup of lemon juice instead of orange juice. Or try using a combination of both!
CHOCOLATE CHIPS: Add ½ cup of white chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips for an extra surprise.
NUTS AND SEEDS: To add crunch and texture to these orange cookies, stir in ¼ cup of chopped walnuts or almonds.
How To Make This Orange Cookies Recipe
These delicious cookies come together quickly by mixing up simple cookie dough. Scoop onto a baking sheet and bake. Finally, mix up the sweet orange glaze before spreading it on top of the cooled cookies.
Follow our step-by-step instructions below to make a batch of these yummy cookies.
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line sheet pans with parchment paper and set aside.
STEP TWO: In a small bowl, use your fingers to mix together the sugar and fresh orange zest, massaging the oils from the zest into the sugar granules.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
Massaging the orange zest into the sugar is a fantastic trick to really integrate the oils into the cookies. You can alternately use food-grade orange oil in the recipe.

STEP THREE: Place the softened butter and orange sugar into the large bowl of a stand mixer and beat for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the bottom and sides of the bowl.
STEP FOUR: Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat for 2 to 3 minutes more, on high speed, until the mixture pales in color and is fluffy and creamy.
PRO TIP:
Cream the butter, sugar, and eggs together well – this is important for achieving a cookie with the right texture. Although the dough will be very soft, it will hold its shape and form a soft, chewy cookie when baked.

STEP FIVE: Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a separate bowl. Then, add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture.
STEP SIX: Add part of the buttermilk and orange juice, followed by the remaining flour mixture and then the remaining liquids. Beat just until combined. The dough will be very soft.
PRO TIP:
This is a no-chill recipe. As soon as the orange cookie dough is made, you can scoop it onto the cookie sheet for baking.
STEP SEVEN: Scoop using a cookie scoop or teaspoons and place the scoops of dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, spacing cookies 2 inches apart.
STEP EIGHT: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, until the tops are set and appear dry on top.
PRO TIP:
Bake just until the cookies are set – they will spread while baking but form a nice little dome. The bottoms of the cookies should be just barely golden; if baked too long, the cookies will be dry.

STEP NINE: Cool the baked cookies for several minutes, and then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
STEP TEN: Beat together the frosting ingredients until smooth and fluffy.
STEP ELEVEN: Use an offset spatula or knife to spread the frosting over the tops of the cooled cookies. The frosting will set after 10 to 15 minutes.

How To Serve
Orange sugar cookies can be served with a variety of accompaniments, such as vanilla ice cream, fresh fruit, whipped cream, or even caramel sauce. These flavors will contrast and complement the rich flavor of the orange cookie itself.
To enhance the overall experience, serve your orange cookies for an afternoon snack with a hot beverage like coffee, tea, or a vanilla latte for an indulgent treat.
For even more recipes with oranges, have a look at our orange truffles and orange sherbet too.
MORE COOKIE RECIPES
Storage
ON THE COUNTER: Store the unfrosted cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Iced orange cookies can be stored on the countertop in an airtight container, stacked with sheets of parchment paper between. The frosting will crust over slightly but will not stay neat if cookies are stacked.
IN THE FREEZER: Freeze these sweet cookies in a tightly sealed airtight container for up to 3 months.

These buttery orange cookies are a delicious treat that you can easily make at home with just a few simple ingredients. Whether you’re serving them as an afternoon snack or adding some to your dessert repertoire, these orange cookies will surely please any citrus lover.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you would prefer to leave off the icing, these cookies are perfectly delicious on their own.
This orange cookie recipe can be stored on the counter for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
This great recipe for orange cookies can be frozen for up to three months, either as cookie dough or as baked cookies.
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- Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Almond Joy Cookies
- Cherry Cheesecake Cookies
- DoubleTree Cookies
- Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
- Rocky Road Cookies

Orange Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons grated orange zest
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup orange juice
Icing
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 4 to 5 tablespoons heavy cream, as needed to thin
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line sheet pans with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small bowl, use your fingers to mix together the sugar and orange zest, massaging the oils from the zest into the sugar granules.
- Place the softened butter and orange sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer and beat for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat for 2 to 3 minutes more, on high speed, until the mixture pales in color and is fluffy and creamy.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a separate bowl. Then, add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture.
- Add part of the buttermilk and orange juice, followed by the remaining flour mixture and then the remaining liquids. Beat just until combined. The dough will be very soft.
- Scoop using a cookie scoop or teaspoons and place the scoops of dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, spacing cookies 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10 minutes, until the tops are set and appear dry on top.
- Cool for several minutes, and then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Beat together the frosting ingredients until smooth and fluffy.
- Use an offset spatula or knife to spread the frosting over the tops of the cookies. The frosting will set after 10 to 15 minutes.
Notes
- Massaging the orange zest into the sugar is a fantastic trick to really integrate the oils into the cookies. You can alternately use food-grade orange oil in the recipe.
- Cream the butter, sugar, and eggs together well – this is important for achieving a cookie with the right texture. Although the dough will be very soft, it will hold its shape and form a soft, chewy cookie when baked.
- This is a no-chill recipe. As soon as the orange cookie dough is made, you can scoop it onto the cookie sheet for baking.
- Bake just until the cookies are set – they will spread while baking but form a nice little dome. The bottoms of the cookies should be just barely golden; if baked too long, the cookies will be dry.
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