Orange Creamsicle Cookies
Orange Creamsicle Cookies
Orange Creamsicle Cookies are a grown up twist on a childhood favorite! I can still taste the faint wooden taste of the spoon from the orange creamsicle ice cream cups I ate in the summertime as a kid. So why put them in a cookie? Because just about everything is amazing in cookie form! When I first set out to make them I wanted to make sure that these cookies had more than a hint of fresh orange taste but not too overpowering. I think I have struck the perfect balance of tangy and sweet here with 2 tablespoons of orange zest in the dough, a teaspoon of zest in the frosting, and a sprinkle on top to make them extra pretty. They are topped with a smooth cream cheese frosting that give them that dreamy orange creamsicle flavor.
Orange Creamsicle Cookies
Now, this dough comes out very soft so it’s important to put it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before baking so that the cookies don’t spread out. Baking time is also really important. Bake them too little and the middle will be wet and the cookies won’t set. Bake for too long and they’ll be hard. You want to leave them in long enough for the edges to be clearly golden brown and then leave on the pan to finish baking for at least 10 minutes after you pull them out. I’ve found that 13 minutes is perfect. I am not a fan of really thick frosting and these orange creamsicle cookies have the perfect light but rich cream cheese frosting that combines butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and orange zest. Super easy! Another great thing about this recipe is that you can change it up with pretty much any kind of citrus zest you want! Lemon? Amazing! Lime? Put a little coconut milk in the frosting and hello summer flavor! You really can’t go wrong!
Orange Creamsicle Cookies
Orange Creamsicle Cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Bake Time: 13-14 minutes | Total Time: 23-24 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Butter Softened
- 2 Cups Granulated Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1/4 Cup Sour Cream
- 2.5tbsp Orange Zest
- 3 Cups Flour
- 1/2tsp Cornstarch
- 1/2tsp Baking Powder
- Pinch Salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/4 Butter Softened
- 4oz Cream Cheese Softened
- 1.5 Cups Powdered Sugar Sifted
- 1tsp Orange Zest Plus More For Garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium size mixing bowl mix together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in sour cream, eggs, and orange zest.
- Add in flour mixture and stir until combined.
- Chill dough for 30 minutes.
- Roll dough into one inch balls and drop on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 13-14 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
- Allow to cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes before moving to a cooling rack.
- For the frosting, with a hand mixer or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment cream together butter and cream cheese until smooth then sift in powdered sugar and add in orange zest. Mix until a well combined spreadable consistency is achieved.
- Spread or pipe frosting onto completely cooled cookies and garnish with orange zest.
- Store in an air tight container.
- Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
Dough- This dough is very soft so it’s important to chill it for long enough. About 30 minutes. Otherwise the cookies will spread out and turn out very thin and flat.
Baking- You have to watch these cookies carefully as they bake. If they are under baked the middle will be raw and they will fall apart. If they are over baked they will get very hard. You want the edges to be perfectly golden brown with a soft middle when you pull them out. Then leave them on the pan to finish baking for about 10 minutes. This will lead to a perfect soft in the middle crispy on the edges cookie.
Orange Zest- This is an area you can play with in the recipe. I don’t like an overpowering orange taste so the measurements listed are what I use. But they can be adjusted up or down based on preference.
Frosting- I am more of a less is more person when it comes to frosting, but if you like a thick frosting try adding more powdered sugar by the tablespoon until you reach the consistency you want. You can also double the recipe to add more frosting to each cookie.