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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Orange Creamsicle Cookies

    Published: May 30, 2023 by brooke · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    75 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Orange creamsicle cookies are a soft, chewy sugar cookie loaded with bright orange & vanilla flavor and topped with a creamy orange buttercream.

    a side view of 4 orange creamsicle cookies with orange zest on top.

    These orange creamsicle cookies are the perfect spring and summer cookie. They're soft and buttery, and bursting with sweet citrus in the best way!

    If you're wanting to try more citrus cookies you should also try my lemon coconut white chocolate cookies, key lime cookies, or my lemon coolers.

    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Recipe
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • Expert Baking Tips
    • FAQ
    • Storing and Freezing
    • Other Recipes to Try
    • Orange Creamsicle Cookies

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    EASY & QUICK: These cookies are so much easier to make then they look. They require no chill time, and very few ingredients.

    SWEET & TART: The sweet sugar cookie paired with the orange juice is the perfect pair.

    PERFECT FOR SUMMER: These cookies are the perfect spring and summer treat to bring and share with others.

    Ingredient Notes

    Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

    • Sugar: I love rubbing together the zest with the sugar before starting to mix, but if you don't want to do that extra step you can just add them both and mix.
    • Oil: I love using melted coconut oil, but any neutral oil will work.
    • Flour: Weighing flour is best if you have a scale, if you don't, lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup.
    • Sour Cream: You can also use greek yogurt for the frosting if you have that on hand.
    all the ingredients to make orange creamsicle cookies.

    Step by Step Instructions

    Step 1: Place granulated sugar and zest from a large orange in the bowl of a stand mixer and rub together until very fragrant.

    Step 2: Add butter, oil and powdered sugar and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add egg, vanilla and orange juice and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.

    sugar and orange zest mixed together.
    all wet ingredients.
    cookie dough done.

    Step 3: Add baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and flour to the bowl and mix on low, being careful not to overmix. The dough will seem crumbly, but it's fine as long as it will hold in a ball. If you need to, add a bit more orange juice til it will hold.

    Step 4: Scoop the dough into large balls. I like to use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop. Place 8 cookie balls on your baking sheet. Flatten cookie balls with a glass until they are about ½ inch thick. I like to spray the bottom of my glass with cooking spray and dip in sugar before flattening. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. You're looking for a barely light golden brown outside rim. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

    cookie rolled into a ball.
    the cup pressing down on the cookie dough ball.
    the cookie all pressed.

    Step 5: Mix together butter, sour cream, salt and 2 cups of powdered sugar on low until completely combined. Add vanilla, orange juice, zest and another 1-2 cups of powdered sugar and mix on medium-high for about 2 minutes. Add more orange juice or powdered sugar to get desired consistency. Frost on cooled cookies.

    frosting in the bowl.
    cookies after baking.
    cookies after frosting.

    Expert Baking Tips

    I like smooshing the dough with a cup to give the little ridges on the end, you can push them down with your hands though if you prefer.

    I prefer these cookies to be chilled before eating. It is not necessary to chill them, but might be worth a try for you to see if that's how you prefer them too! 

    If you would rather use a regular buttercream frosting you can swap the lime juice and zest for milk and add a little vanilla to the recipe.

    FAQ

    What do I do if my dough is too crumbly?

    The easiest way to fix crumbly dough is to add a little bit of moisture or liquid. Add a few teaspoons more of orange juice or water and that should help..

    How do I know if my cookies are done baking?

    The best way to tell if your cookies are baked all the way is to make sure that the middle is not glossy at all, and the edges or bottom have a slight golden brown.

    Can I make these cookies with other citrus?

    Yes, these cookies are great with lemon, lime and grapefruit.

    one orange creamsicle cookie with a bite missing.

    Storing and Freezing

    Store orange creamsicle cookies at room temperature, or in the fridge, in an airtight container. They will keep fresh this way for 3-4 days.

    These cookies freeze great. You can freeze them before or after frosting. When freezing them already frosted, flash freeze them on something flat and then once they are frozen stack them and store them in an airtight container.

    a view of all the cookies lined up.

    Other Recipes to Try

    Brown Butter Sugar Cookies

    Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars

    Blueberry Blondies

    For more yummy treats follow me on instagram @thesaltedsweets. And be sure to tag me and comment below if you make them and love them as much as I do. 

    Make sure to leave a star review below!

    a side view of 4 orange creamsicle cookies with orange zest on top.

    Orange Creamsicle Cookies

    brooke
    Orange creamsicle cookies are a soft, chewy sugar cookie loaded with bright orange & vanilla flavor and topped with a creamy orange buttercream.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 minutes mins
    Total Time 28 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 14
    Calories 370 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    Cookies

    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • zest from a large orange
    • ¼ cup butter room temp
    • ⅓ cup melted coconut oil any vegetable oil will work if you don't like coconut
    • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
    • 1 tablespoon orange juice
    • 1 large egg room temp
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • ½ tsp baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2¾ cups all-purpose flour

    Frosting

    • ½ cup butter room temp
    • 2 tablespoon sour cream
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3-4 cups powdered sugar
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla
    • 2 tablespoon orange juice and zest from half an orange

    Instructions
     

    To make cookies:

    • Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • Place granulated sugar and zest from a large orange in the bowl of a stand mixer and rub together until very fragrant. Add butter, oil and powdered sugar and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
    • Add egg, vanilla and orange juice and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
    • Add baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and flour to the bowl and mix on low, being careful not to overmix. The dough will seem crumbly, but it's fine as long as it will hold in a ball. If you need to, add a bit more orange juice til it will hold.
    • Scoop the dough into large balls. I like to use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop.
    • Place 8 cookie balls on your baking sheet. Flatten cookie balls with a glass until they are about ½ inch thick. I like to spray the bottom of my glass with cooking spray and dip in sugar before flattening. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. You're looking for a barely light golden brown outside rim. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

    To make frosting:

    • Mix together butter, sour cream, salt and 2 cups of powdered sugar on low until completely combined. Add vanilla, orange juice, zest and another 1-2 cups of powdered sugar and mix on medium-high for about 2 minutes. Add more orange juice or powdered sugar to get desired consistency. Frost on cooled cookies.
    • I like to eat these cookies chilled, but whatever you prefer is great!

    Notes

    I prefer these cookies to be chilled before eating. It is not necessary to chill them, but might be worth a try for you to see if that's how you prefer them too! Just place them in an airtight container after the frosting has set and they should keep fresh in there for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for longer.
    If your dough is a bit crumbly, just add a teaspoon or two of orange juice to help.
    It is best for butter and eggs to be at room temperature before starting to mix.
    If you would rather use a regular buttercream frosting you can swap the orange juice and zest for milk.
    I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 370kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 3gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 249mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 1gSugar: 39gVitamin A: 334IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword orange cream cookies, orange creamsicle cookies, orange sugar cookies
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah

      June 04, 2023 at 3:35 pm

      5 stars
      Okay… these are the BEST. So different but so good. And almost refreshing for summer? My hubby doesn’t like orange and loved them.

      Reply
      • brooke

        June 04, 2023 at 9:19 pm

        Yay!!! Thank you so much! I love when people who least expect it love something!

        Reply

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