Orange Sugar Cookies Recipe
These Orange Sugar Cookies offer a delightful citrus twist on classic sugar cookies with a zesty orange flavor and a sweet, creamy orange glaze. Soft and chewy with a tender crumb, these cookies are perfect for any occasion and easy to make from scratch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: About 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 4 teaspoons grated orange zest
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Orange Icing
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons 2% milk
- 3 drops orange food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Make the Dough: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, sugar, and salt until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, approximately 5-7 minutes. Then beat in the egg, grated orange zest, orange juice, and lemon extract until fully incorporated.
- Add the Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients, beating on low speed just until the flour is combined and the dough forms.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions, shape each into a disk, and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour or until firm enough to roll out.
- Prepare to Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). On a floured surface, roll each chilled dough disk to about 1/4-inch thickness. Using a floured 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out shapes from the dough.
- Bake the Cookies: Place the cut-out cookies 1 inch apart on greased baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn light brown.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to wire racks to cool completely before icing.
- Ice the Cookies: In a small bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar, 2% milk, and orange food coloring if desired, and mix until smooth. Pipe or spread this icing over the cooled cookies. Allow the icing to set completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming and better texture.
- Grate fresh orange zest for the best vibrant citrus flavor.
- Refrigerating the dough helps prevent spreading during baking and makes rolling easier.
- The optional orange food coloring enhances the icing’s color but does not affect flavor.
- Store iced cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Keywords: orange sugar cookies, citrus cookies, glazed sugar cookies, orange zest cookies, lemon extract cookies, homemade sugar cookies
Find it online: https://cookwithruby.com/orange-sugar-cookies-recipe/
