Description
Sweet Orange Sugar Cookies deliver a zesty twist on classic comfort. Delicate citrus notes dance through buttery, tender cookies that transport palates to sunny Mediterranean kitchens with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups (255 grams) powdered sugar
- 2 ¾ cups (358 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup (150 grams) plant-based butter, softened
- Zest from 1 large navel orange
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup (32 grams) corn starch
Flavoring and Icing Components:
- 2 teaspoons orange extract
- Zest from up to 2 large navel oranges
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal cookie preparation.
- Submerge eggs in warm water for 10 minutes to reach room temperature, ensuring even mixing.
- Cream softened butter and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl until the mixture becomes light and airy.
- Gently fold in eggs, integrating orange extract and freshly grated orange zest until thoroughly combined.
- Sift together baking powder, baking soda, and corn starch, then gradually incorporate flour into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Allow the dough to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes, enabling ingredients to meld and flour to hydrate.
- Using a tablespoon, portion the dough into 3-tablespoon (45 milliliters) rounds, placing them on the prepared baking sheet and gently flattening each cookie.
- Bake for 9-10 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges as an indicator of perfect doneness.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Prepare the glaze by whisking powdered sugar with orange extract and fresh orange juice until smooth and drizzling consistency is achieved.
- Generously drizzle the orange glaze over completely cooled cookies and sprinkle additional orange zest on top for enhanced flavor and visual appeal.
- Allow the glaze to set completely before storing cookies in an airtight container.
Notes
- Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading and ensures a perfectly soft, tender cookie texture.
- Orange zest provides intense citrus flavor that elevates these sugar cookies from ordinary to extraordinary.
- Room temperature ingredients guarantee smoother mixing and more consistent cookie results.
- Corn starch contributes to the ultra-soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes these cookies irresistible.
- Letting the dough rest allows gluten to relax, creating a more tender and less dense final product.
- Drizzling the bright orange icing adds a beautiful finishing touch that makes these cookies visually stunning and bursting with citrus flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: <1 g
- Protein: <2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg