Orange Cookies (Sugar Cookies with Orange)
Best Orange Sugar Cookies Recipe – These bright and delicious orange cookies feature a classic soft, tender, lightly chewy sugar cookie base with a rich orange frosting. Finish them with an orange jelly slice candy on top for a kid-friendly treat that everyone loves!
Why We Love this Sugar Cookie Recipe
We love sugar cookies of all varieties – from classic and chocolate sugar cookies to festive frosted peppermint and cut out cookies. But these Orange Sugar Cookies with fresh orange juice and orange zest take the cake, so to speak!
They are a fabulous addition to any holiday cookie platter because they’re so unexpected in the mix of peppermint, chocolate, and classic Christmas treats like Linzer cookies. However, they’re also great for spring and summer parties!
Ingredients You Need
- All-purpose flour – for super soft cookies
- Baking powder – makes the treats slightly cake-y and tender
- Salt – to balance the sweetness
- Butter – softened
- Sugar – granulated white sugar or coconut sugar works best
- Eggs – room temperature
- Oranges – you need the zest and juice
- Food coloring – optional for a fun pop of color
For the Orange Frosting –
- Butter – softened
- Powdered sugar – for a rich yet smooth frosting consistency
- Orange juice – adds a splash of color and flavor
- Optional garnishes – top the cookies with orange jelly slice candies or colorful sprinkles
How to Make Orange Sugar Cookies with Orange Frosting
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper.
Set out a large mixing bowl. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
Set out an electric stand mixer. In the bowl, combine the butter and sugar. Beat on high for 3 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Do not skimp on the time!
Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula. Turn the mixer on low, and add in the eggs, orange zest, fresh orange juice, and food coloring.
Get the Complete (Printable) Sugar Cookies with Orange Recipe + VIDEO Below. Enjoy!
With the mixer running on low, slowly add the flour mixture. Once fully combined, scrape the bowl and beat again for just 20-30 seconds.
Pour some extra sugar into a small bowl to coat the cookies. Scoop the dough out and roll into 1-inch balls. Dunk each dough ball into the sugar.
Roll around to coat. Then set on the cookie sheets 2 inches apart.
Pro Tip: The dough will be soft and delicate, so try not to touch it too much after rolling the cookies.
Bake each sheet of sugar cookies for 9 to 10 minutes, until the edges are just slightly gold and the centers are barely set. Cool completely on the baking sheets.
For the orange frosting: Once the cookies are completely cool, clean out the mixing bowl. Beat the butter on high until light and fluffy. Turn the mixer on low and slowly alternate adding in the powdered sugar and orange juice. Scrape the bowl and beat again until the frosting is very smooth and fluffy.
Use a butter knife or spatula to spread the frosting on the cookies in a circular motion. Then decorate the tops as desired.
Recipe Variations
- Gluten-free – swap all-purpose flour for your favorite GF-friendly alternative
- Dairy-free – use a plant-based butter
- Lemon or lime – swap orange for other citrus fruit to make other yummy sugar cookie flavors
- Frosting – feel free to use store-bought canned frosting, or omit it altogether for a slightly lighter orange cookie recipe
- Halve the recipe – as-is this recipe makes 45 cookies; halve the ingredients to make roughly two dozen treats
Frequently Asked Questions
Add one or two drops at a time of orange food coloring to the mixture along with the orange juice and zest.
Rolling the dough in sugar before baking makes the cookies extra sweet, and adds a nice light crunch to the outside.
Keep the cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. For longer storage you can store them in the fridge for up to a week or so.
Yes, the cookies are great to freeze before adding the frosting! Let them cool completely, then place the cookies in an airtight plastic zip bag. If you are stacking them I suggest placing a piece of wax paper between the cookies to prevent them from sticking together. Freeze the orange sugar cookies for up to 3 months.
Looking for More Classic Cookie Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:
- Lemon Crinkle Cookies
- Fruity Pillow Cookies
- Blueberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Tangerine Shortbread Cookies
- Early Grey Cookies (Tea Cakes)
Orange Cookies (Sugar Cookies with Orange) Recipe + VIDEO
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups butter softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- Zest of 2 oranges
- 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed orange juice
- 2 drops orange food coloring optional
For the Orange Frosting –
- 1 cup butter softened
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh-squeezed orange juice
- Optional Garnishes: Orange jelly slice candies orange sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Set out a large mixing bowl. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
- Set out an electric stand mixer. In the bowl, combine the butter and sugar. Beat on high for 3 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Do not skimp on the time!
- Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula. Turn the mixer on low, and add in the eggs, orange zest, fresh orange juice, and food coloring.
- With the mixer running on low, slowly adding the flour mixture. Once fully combined, scrape the bowl and beat again for just 20-30 seconds.
- Pour some extra sugar into a small bowl to coat the cookies. Scoop the dough out and roll into 1 inch balls. Dunk each dough ball into the sugar and roll around to coat. Then set on the cookie sheets 2 inches apart. *The dough will be soft and delicate, so try not to touch it too much after rolling the cookies.
- Bake each sheet of sugar cookies for 9 to 10 minutes, until the edges are just slightly gold and the centers are barely set. Cool completely on the baking sheets.
- For the orange frosting: Once the cookies are completely cool, clean out the mixing bowl. Beat the butter on high until light and fluffy. Turn the mixer on low and slowly alternate adding in the powdered sugar and orange juice. Scrape the bowl and beat again until the frosting is very smooth and fluffy.
- Use a butter knife or spatula to spread the frosting on the cookies in a circular motion. Then decorate the tops as desired.
Love the fruity and refreshing flavor of these orange cookies! So vibrant and delicious!
Oh my goodness, these cookies were absolutely delicious! What a unique idea!
These cookies are just a happy treat. My kids loved them so much. They turned out soft and chewy. The jelly slices were the perfect final touch.