Description
Sweet memories of childhood dance through these orange cream cookies, blending zesty citrus with nostalgic comfort. Creamy orange-infused dough promises a delightful treat that melts in your mouth, inviting warm moments of pure indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Binding and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring an even surface for cookie placement.
- Vigorously blend butter and sugar in a spacious mixing bowl, whipping until the mixture transforms into a pale, airy consistency with soft peaks forming.
- Incorporate egg, freshly grated orange zest, citrusy orange juice, and aromatic vanilla extract, stirring until the liquid ingredients harmonize seamlessly.
- Separately sift together flour, leavening agent, and mineral seasoning, creating a uniform dry mixture that will provide structure to the cookies.
- Carefully fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, intermittently introducing tangy sour cream, gently mixing until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop rounded portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them adequately to allow for slight spreading during baking.
- Transfer the sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges that signal the cookies are perfectly done.
- Remove from oven and allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to complete the cooling process.
Notes
- Zest matters most when using fresh oranges, ensuring vibrant citrus flavor throughout the cookies.
- Softened butter at room temperature blends more smoothly, creating a lighter, airier cookie texture.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and maintain cookie shape.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, keeping the same measurements.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 139
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 95 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg