Get ready for a sweet treat with plenty of bright citrus flavor. These Orange Sugar Cookies have the perfect soft, chewy texture and have instantly become a new favorite in our house.There's no reason to save these for a special occasion. The recipe card below has all the details you need to bake a batch today!
This just might be the perfect sugar cookie recipe. While I'm a fan of a good ol' classic sugar cookie, I'm obsessed with how the orange flavor really stands out in these. Each bite gives you a pop of fresh citrus without being too overpowering.
I've found that the best way to handle a sweet tooth craving is to keep the simple ingredients for cookies like these on hand. When the craving strikes, I can bake a batch and have warm cookies ready in no time.
Be sure to try my Lime Sugar Cookies and this Single Serve Sugar Cookie for two other delicious options.
Ingredients
- Salted butter - Melt the butter before adding it to the dough. If you have unsalted butter, add an extra pinch of salt.
- Granulated sugar - Adds sweetness and gives these cookies that classic sugar cookie flavor.
- Brown sugar - For sweetness and also adds a golden coloring and chewy texture to the cookies.
- Egg - To help bind everything together.
- Pure vanilla extract - For flavor.
- Fresh orange zest - This is where that fresh orange flavor comes from.
- All-purpose flour - The main ingredient to make the sugar cookie dough.
- Baking powder - Helps with the texture and rise.
- Baking soda - Helps the cookies spread and brown.
- Kosher salt - Brings out the other flavors.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Orange Sugar Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add parchment paper to two baking sheets.
Step One: Add the butter and sugars to a large bowl. Mix well.
Step Two: Add the vanilla extract, egg, and orange zest.
Step Three: Mix well. It should be smooth and creamy.
Step Four: Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt on top of the butter and sugar. Give it a gentle stir.
Step Five: Then, mix in the flour mixture just until the cookie dough comes together. Don't overmix.
Step Six: Use a cookie scoop to portion balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Leave some room between the cookies so they have space to spread while baking. Roll the balls in extra sugar, if desired.
Step Seven: Bake until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly shiny. For crisper cookies, bake until the center is golden brown.
Step Eight: Remove the orange cookies from the oven and let the cookies cool right on the cookie sheets.
Top Tip
Watch the last couple minutes closely. Even an extra 2 minutes can give these cookies a crisper texture. For soft, chewy cookies, pull them when the centers still look slightly underdone.
Substitutions
- Orange extract - If you don't have enough fresh orange zest or want a stronger orange flavor, you can add a small amount of orange extract.
Variations
- Sugar coating - Roll the cookie dough balls in granulated sugar before baking for a slightly crisp, sparkly outside.
- Orange glaze - Drizzle the cooled cookies with a simple orange glaze for even more citrus flavor. Just mix powdered sugar and fresh orange juice.
- Chocolate - Orange and chocolate are always good together. Try adding some white chocolate, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips to the dough.
- Lemon - Swap in lemon zest to make lemon sugar cookies.
See these Birthday Sugar Cookies for one of our other favorites!
Equipment
You don't need a stand mixer for this recipe. Since the butter is melted, a large mixing bowl and spoon or rubber spatula work just fine. You'll also need baking sheets, parchment paper, measuring cups and spoons, and a cookie scoop.
Storage
Once the cookies have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. The keep well on the counter for 3-4 days. You can also keep them in the fridge if you prefer.
Orange sugar cookies freeze well, too. Let them cool completely before transferring them to a freezer-safe container or bag. I like to wrap them individually in plastic wrap so I can grab one for a quick treat.
Common Questions
Yes! Rolling the dough balls in granulated sugar gives the outside a little extra sweetness and texture. It's an easy addition if you want more of that classic sugar cookie finish.
Absolutely. I like the amount in the recipe because you get a noticeable orange flavor without it taking over. If you really love citrus, though, you can add a little more zest to your next batch.
That's intentional. The centers should still look a little shiny when you take the cookies out of the oven. They'll continue to set from the heat of the baking sheet as they cool. If you wait until the centers look completely done in the oven, the cookies can end up firmer than you want.
I wouldn't. They're very soft when they first come out of the oven and can break if you try to move them too soon. Let them cool and firm up on the baking sheet first.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Lemon Raspberry Cookies
- Birthday Sugar Cookies
- Pineapple Coconut Cookies
📖 Recipe
Orange Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter melted
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix the butter and sugars.
- Add the egg, vanilla, and orange zest and mix well.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt on top of the butter. Give them a little mix. (This saves the step of mixing them in a separate bowl).
- Now, mix the dry ingredients in just until they are incorporated. Stop as soon as they are mixed in.
- Using a medium cookie scoop drop balls of dough on the prepared trays.
- Optional: Roll each dough ball lightly in the sugar before placing it on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 12 minutes or until barely set. The center should still be a bit shiny.
- Remove from the oven.
- Let cool on the baking sheets.
Nutrition
Like what you see? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Love this recipe? Leave a comment & a 5-star rating right here! Make sure you don’t miss new recipes by getting email updates!
Comments
No Comments