If you’ve never tried an Orange Sugar Cookie then you’re in for a treat, because these cookies are seriously good and easily a new family favorite. Packed with orange zest and almond extract, they’re super flavorful and soft and chewy enough to stay fresh for days.
I put a little less sugar in these than my other sugar cookies, and I made them nice and thick by using only baking powder. The dough comes together in no time, and then it goes into the refrigerator for a couple of hours to firm up.
I’ve made this recipe in a few different varieties, so I think it’s pretty fail-proof. As long as you follow the method below, you’ll end up with delicious, soft Orange Sugar Cookies!
Once your cookies come out of the oven, feel free to sprinkle them with a bit of sugar or extra orange zest, or leave them as-is – I’m confident you’ll enjoy them either way!
Some of the ingredients I love for this recipe:
Cane sugar is much lighter in color than coconut sugar, so I opted to use an unrefined cane sugar for this recipe. I didn’t want brown Orange cookies!
Baking powder is what gives these cookies their thickness. Make sure you don’t use baking soda, which will make the cookies spread too much.
Extra light olive oil is light in flavor and color, which helps these cookies keep their pretty orange color. I don’t recommend using coconut oil in this recipe as I don’t know how it will affect the cookies.
Egg + egg yolk gives these cookies their chewy and soft texture. I added an extra yolk for moisture and ultimate chewiness!
Almond extract makes for a delicious pairing with orange! Since the orange zest is such a strong flavor, you’ll add 2 whole teaspoons of almond extract to make sure both flavors comes through.
Soft & Chewy Orange Sugar Cookies
Thick and chewy sugar cookies packed with fresh orange zest and a touch of almond extract. Made dairy-free and with less sugar than a traditional sugar cookie, these cookies have easily become one of my new favorites!
Ingredients
- 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk, room temp
- 1 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup cane sugar*
- 1/3 cup extra light olive oil
- 2 tsp pure almond extract
- 3 Tbsp orange zest (2-3 medium oranges)
Instructions
- Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for around 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. (Now is a good time to zest your oranges!)
- In a medium bowl, mix together the sugar, olive oil, and almond extract. Whisk in the egg + egg yolk until mixture is totally smooth. Stir in the fresh orange zest. Add liquid ingredients to dry and gently mix with a wooden spoon or large spatula until no flour streaks remain. Cover and chill for at least two hours.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop cookies (six at a time) 1.5 Tbsp in size, rolling them into smooth balls. I like to scoop all six of my cookies first and then roll each one smooth before placing it on my baking sheet. Slightly press down on each dough ball.
- Bake at 350°F for 6-8 minutes. The cookies will puff up in the oven, and you'll know they're done when the centers no longer look wet. If you like your cookies extra chewy, then take them out when the centers look slightly wet/shiny.
- Allow cookies to rest for 2 minutes on the baking sheet before gently moving them to a cooling rack. If you'd like, you can sprinkle sugar and/or orange zest over the tops of each cookie. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
*I like using Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar since it's unrefined, but you can also use regular white cane sugar or even coconut sugar. The dark color of coconut sugar will make your cookies brown - I didn't want brown Orange Cookies!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
13Serving Size:
1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 168Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 139mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 3g
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Hi, these really looks yummy! Can I substitute the oil with butter? And also cane sugar with normal brown sugar?
Hi Ivy! So the oil is what helps give these cookies their extra chewy texture. You can try using melted butter in place of the oil, but I’m not sure how they will turn out. Brown sugar should be okay, though the cookies may come out slightly flatter (since brown sugar has more moisture) and a little darker in color.
Are there directions for this recipe?
Yes! You should be able to see them now. Sorry about that!
I can’t see the method/instructions?
Oops! You should be able to see them now 🙂
For some reason my device isn’t showing any instructions other than the ingredients.
What temp do you bake these at and for how long? They look delicious!
You should be able to see all of the info now, Laurie! These bake at 350°F for 6-8 minutes 🙂