ORANGE SUGAR COOKIES
Orange Sugar Cookies feature buttery, citrus-infused dough with a soft, tender texture from cream cheese. Topped with orange icing and green sugar, they're a festive, delicious treat perfect for decorating and holiday baking.
Equipment
- Stand Mixer or Handheld Mixer
- Parchment paper
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie Cutters
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour plus more as needed for rolling
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk room temperature
- 2 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 50 ml fresh orange juice room temperature
- 1 1/2 tablespoons orange zest (finely grated - about 1 orange)
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Orange Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
- 4 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice
Decoration:
- Sprinkles or coarse sugar crystals
Instructions
Cookie dough
- In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Whisk thoroughly to evenly distribute the baking powder. Set aside.
- Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the sugar and mix until light and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Next, add the egg, egg yolk, orange zest, orange juice, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, then beat again as needed to ensure everything is fully incorporated.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing briefly in short bursts, just until incorporated. Divide the dough into 2 equal portions and flatten each into a thick disk. Wrap each portion tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes, or until firm. This will make the dough easier to roll and cut.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F and line large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove one portion of chilled dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Dust with a little flour to prevent sticking if necessary. Use Christmas cookie cutters or your preferred cutters to shape the dough. Arrange the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a 1-inch gap between them. Gently gather the excess dough, roll it back into a ball, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Set aside to roll out again for another batch.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 to 13 minutes, or until very lightly golden around the edges. If your oven has hot spots, rotate the baking sheet halfway through the bake time. Once baked, remove from the oven and cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely before decorating. Repeat the process of rolling, cutting, baking, and cooling until all the dough is used.
Orange Glaze:
- Using a fork, stir the powdered sugar and orange juice together in a medium shallow bowl until smooth and well combined. If the glaze is too thick, add more orange juice; if it's too thin, add more powdered sugar.Dip each cookie into the orange glaze, face down, by holding the edges and dipping only the surface. Lift the cookie, allowing the excess glaze to drizzle back into the bowl. Then flip the cookie over and place it on a cooling rack with the glazed side facing up. Grasp the edges and give it a quick back-and-forth shake to level out the glaze.Decorate your cookies as desired. If you're adding sprinkles or coarse sugar crystals, do so immediately after applying the glaze. Allow the icing to set, and your delicious orange cut-out cookies are ready to be enjoyed!
Notes
Storing Instructions: Cover and store decorated cookies for up to 5 days at room temperature. For longer storage, cover and refrigerate for up to 10 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 79kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 13mgPotassium: 18mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 144IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 0.3mg
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