Description
Irresistible orange sugar cookies blend zesty citrus notes with sweet, buttery perfection. Delicate crumbs and bright glaze create a memorable dessert you’ll crave with afternoon tea.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¾ cups (358 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (255 grams) powdered sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ⅔ cup (150 grams) plant-based butter, softened
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 2 tsps orange extract
- 1 zest from 1 large navel orange
- 1 zest from up to 2 large navel oranges
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ cup (32 grams) corn starch
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C), line baking sheet with parchment paper, and bring eggs to room temperature by soaking in warm water.
- Mixing Base: Cream butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, then incorporate eggs, orange extract, and orange zest, blending until smooth and fragrant.
- Dry Ingredients: Sift baking powder, baking soda, corn starch, and flour, gently folding into wet mixture until just combined; let dough rest for 15 minutes to develop flavor and texture.
- Shaping Cookies: Scoop dough into rounded portions, place on prepared baking sheet, and gently flatten each cookie to ensure even baking.
- Baking Process: Bake for 9-10 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges that signal perfect doneness; allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring to wire rack.
- Glazing Finale: Whisk powdered sugar with orange extract and juice to create a smooth glaze, drizzle generously over completely cooled cookies, and sprinkle with additional orange zest for vibrant flavor and visual appeal.
- Storage: Let glaze set completely before storing cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness and softness.
Notes
- Egg Temperature Trick: Warm eggs blend more evenly, creating a smoother cookie dough texture and preventing ingredient separation.
- Gentle Mixing Matters: Avoid overmixing the flour to keep cookies tender and prevent tough, dense results.
- Resting Dough Magic: Allowing dough to rest helps flour absorb moisture, intensifying flavor and improving cookie structure.
- Glaze Setting Strategy: Let cookies cool completely before glazing to ensure a clean, crisp finish that doesn’t run or become soggy.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg