Refreshing orange creamsicle cookies fall apart in your mouth, bursting with the zippy flavors of your favorite summertime treat. They are soft cookies, flavored with both orange juice and zest and a touch of vanilla, finished off with a sweet orange glaze.
FYI - This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. All links are products I use when making my recipes
Table of Contents
Summer Treats
Nothing reminds me more of summer than the ice cream truck, playing its recognizable song, with kids from all over the neighborhood running out to greet it and getting my favorite - the creamsicle.
I can taste it now - that first lick of icy orange sherbet followed by that first bite of cold creamy vanilla ice cream - OK, now I so want one! The saddest part was seeing him leave at the end of summer and not return until the following year.
These creamsicle cookies bring me back to creamsicles and summer vacation. A soft cookie flavored with orange juice and zest with just a touch of vanilla then glazed with a sweet orange glaze. They're easy to make and taste so good you might want to hide a few from the kids so you get some too. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Of course, if you love creamsicles as much as I do, you just have to try my Creamsicle Smoothie. It has all that rich, creamy, orangey (is that a word?) flavor that you associate with this favorite frozen summer treat with the added bonus that it's actually good for you!
And the perfect orange treat to go with coffee or tea is my Orange Pistachio Biscotti.
Why You'll Love These Creamsicle Cookies
The best thing about orange zest cookies is this simple, easy-to-make recipe.
The cookies are soft and pillowy, like a chiffon cake in cookie form.
The natural ingredients are what make all the difference in the taste! They are flavored with fresh orange juice and orange zest, which gives them that naturally bold citrus flavor.
Not to mention that sweet orange glaze that just makes the flavor pop in your mouth. Honestly, this is the perfect icing for cookies. It's so good that you'll find excuses to use it on other cookies too!
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need for the cookies:
- Butter
- White granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Oranges for the fresh-squeezed orange juice and zest
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
Here's what you'll need for the orange cookie glaze:
- Powdered sugar
- Orange for the juice and zest
- Vanilla extract
How to Make Orange Cookies
Steps for making orange creamsicle cookies:
- Place sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl.
- Beat until fluffy then add eggs and vanilla extract.
- Continue beating until creamy.
- Slowly add in the orange juice and orange zest.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt and add to the butter mixture.
- Beat until smooth. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour to make working with dough easier.
- Use a small cookie scoop and scoop dough onto cookie sheets. Roll into balls with your hands making sure to place them 2" apart.
- Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 12-14 minutes. You just want them lightly browned around the edges. Place cookie sheets on wire racks to cool slightly.
While the cookie dough is chilling, make the orange icing for cookies.
- Place powdered sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl.
- Whisk until smooth.
To finish:
- Spoon orange glaze over cookies, lightly spreading to cover the cookie completely. Let sit a few minutes then remove cookies from cookie sheets to wire racks to cool completely.
Recipe Tips
- Have all ingredients at room temperature.
- For deeper orange-colored cookies that are great for Halloween, add a few drops of orange food coloring.
- For a more intense orange flavor, use orange juice concentrate or boil ½ cup of orange juice until it is reduced by half. You can also rub the orange zest into the sugar with your fingers to release the oil.
- Don't overbake the cookies. You want them to be soft and chewy.
Recipe Variations
- Add white chocolate chips, either regular-sized or mini ones.
- Add nuts - Almonds, cashews, or macadamia nuts pair nicely with orange.
- Substitute a quarter of half of the white sugar with brown sugar for extra richness.
Make Ahead
Prepare the cookies but instead of baking them, place the baking sheet with the dough balls on it in the freezer. Once frozen, store the frozen dough balls in a plastic freezer bag for up to 3 months.
You can bake the frozen dough balls, just add a few minutes to the baking time.
How to Store
Place the cookies in an airtight container and store them at room temperature for up to 6 days. Put wax or parchment paper between the layers to prevent the glazed cookies from sticking together.
For extended storage, you can freeze the cookies for up to 3 months. Freeze them in a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag. Thaw them in the fridge or at room temperature.
More Summer Cookie Recipes
- Coconut Lime Cookies
- Key Lime Cookies
- Pastel Butter Cookies
- Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
- Strawberry Mint Cookies
Find more easy cookies on 2CM!
LOVE QUICK & EASY RECIPES? FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, & PINTEREST FOR ALL THE LATEST RECIPE INSPIRATION! PLUS JOIN MY EMAIL LIST AND RECEIVE A FREE E-BOOK.
Orange Creamsicle Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- ½ cup 1 stick butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 ⅔ Tablespoons orange juice
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Orange Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons orange juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
Cookies
- Cream butter & sugar together in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until creamy. Slowly beat in 3 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons orange juice, and zest.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture and beat until smooth.
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
Orange Glaze
- Prepare glaze while cookies are chilling. Mix powdered sugar with orange juice, vanilla extract, and zest. Set aside.
To finish
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with silicone mat, parchment paper, or spray with non-stick spray.
- Using a small cookie scoop, scoop cookie dough then roll into balls with hands. Place 2" apart on prepared cookie sheets. (if using the same cookie sheet, place dough back in refrigerator in-between baking)
- Bake 12-14 minutes or until just a light golden brown around the edges. Place cookie sheets on wire racks and let cool for several minutes.
- Spoon orange glaze over cookies, spreading lightly to cover completely. Let sit another minute then move cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated with new photos and step-by-step instructions. It was first posted on August 16, 2016.
