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–+ servings
a close up shot of Orange Cookies stacked on top of each other with one having a bite taken out
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Orange Cookies

Orange cookies are a delicious treat with the indulgent and refreshing flavor combination of citrusy orange and creamy frosting.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cranberry Orange Cookies Recipe
Servings: 38
Calories: 107kcal

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 137IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.4mg