These soft, thick, and chewy orange sugar cookies are easy to make (no mixer required!), infused with a refreshing, light orange flavor, and topped with a decadent orange cream cheese frosting!
Course Dessert
Cuisine Cookie
Keyword frosted orange cookies, orange sugar cookies
¾cupunsalted butter (i.e. 1 ½ sticks)you will be melting this
½cupgranulated sugar
½cuppowdered sugar
1large egg
1egg yolk(you will be using 1 whole egg + 1 extra egg yolk)
2teaspoonsvanilla extract
¼teaspoonorange extract
1tablespoonorange zest(1 large orange will be enough for both the zest & juice in the frosting)
1 ½teaspoonsbaking powder
½teaspoonbaking soda
¼teaspoonsalt
2 ½cupsall-purpose flour
Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
¼cupunsalted butter (i.e. ½ stick)room temperature
4ouncescream cheesechilled (ie. straight from the fridge)
1teaspoonvanilla extract
¼teaspoonorange extract
1tablespoonfresh orange juice
2 ¼cupspowdered sugar
Topping
extra zest for topping, if desired
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350℉. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small glass bowl, microwave unsalted butter(¾ cups, i.e. 1 ½ sticks) until melted. Pour into large mixing bowl. Add in granulated sugar(½ cup) and powdered sugar(½ cup) and mix for 10 seconds.
Add 1 egg + 1 yolk, vanilla extract (2 teaspoons), orange extract(¼ teaspoon), andorangezest (1 tablespoon), then mix until combined.
Add baking powder(1 ½ teaspoons), bakingsoda(½ teaspoon) and salt (¼ teaspoon) and mix until combined.
Half cup at a time, add all-purpose flour(2 ½ cups) and mix until flour is just incorporated. Do not overmix.
Immediately after mixing, scoop dough into 3-tablespoon sized balls. Lightly flatten each ball before placing on cookie sheet. (Because this has melted butter, do not let the dough sit out before rolling into balls & baking, or your dough will become dry and crumbly.)
Bake at 350℉ for 8-10 minutes. (The magic number in my oven is 9 minutes) They may look underdone, but they will finish baking on the hot cookie sheet after you take it out of the oven. ((Of course, because ovens bake differently use your best judgement to keep them in a minute longer if they look severely underbaked.)
After removing from oven, allow the cookies to cool on the hot baking sheet for 10 minutes before removing them from cookie sheet. Allow cookies to fully cool before frosting.
To make frosting:
In a large bowl, beat the softened unsaltedbutter (¼ cup) and cream cheese(4-ounces) on medium speed using a hand or stand mixer (with paddle attachment) for 1-2 minutes (until light and creamy).
Keeping the mixer on medium speed, slowly add in vanillaextract (1 teaspoon), orangeextract(¼ teaspoon), freshorangejuice (1 tablespoon), and powderedsugar (1 ¼ cups). Once incorporated, turn mixer to high speed and beat for 2 minutes.
Spread or pipe frosting on cooled cookies and top with extra orange zest, if desired!
Notes
Storage: store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days; these are so good chilled!
Freezing: freeze no longer than 1-2 months for optimal freshness. If freezing these frosted, freeze on a cookie sheet in a single layer before stacking and storing.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.