Orange Cookies Recipe with Creamsicle Frosting

Orange Cookies Recipe with Creamsicle Frosting

30 min

These orange cookies are like sunshine in dessert form - chewy, bright, sweet, and perfectly tart! Bursting with the flavors of freshly squeezed orange juice and vibrant orange zest, they’re topped with a velvety orange cream cheese frosting that takes them to a whole new level. Each bite is tender, luscious, and downright wonderful.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1½ cup + 2 tbsp gluten free all-purpose flour (with xanthan gum)
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 4 oz cream cheese (at room temperature)
  • 2 tbsp butter (at room temperature)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp orange juice (plus more if needed)
  • 1/2 tsp orange zest (plus more for garnish)

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. 2

    Add butter to a saucepan over medium heat. Melt then cook for 5-8 minutes while stirring often. The butter will begin to foam and turn golden brown. Once the foam reduces and you see brown milk solid bits at the bottom, pour into a large mixing bowl.

  3. 3

    Cool the browned butter for about 10 minutes, then add in brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, orange zest, orange juice, and egg yolk. Whisk until smooth.

  4. 4

    In a separate bowl, stir together gluten free flour, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt until combined.

  5. 5

    Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, and stir until just combined.

  6. 6

    Scoop dough with 1½ tbsp scoop and roll into balls with your hands. Place them on the parchment lined baking sheet, making sure they are about 2 inches apart (you may need to bake in 2 batches).

  7. 7

    Bake for 12-14 minutes until the edges are the golden and the centers are puffed up with slight cracks. Cool for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

  8. 8

    Combine all ingredients for the frosting in a bowl, and mix until smooth and creamy. Add a bit more orange juice if the mixture is too thick.

  9. 9

    Frost the cookies generously, then top with more orange zest if you wish.