Orange Sugar Zest Cookies (Printable)
Buttery orange cookies with fresh zest and sparkling sugar coating—ideal for afternoon tea.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 tsp baking powder
03 - 1/2 tsp salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
08 - 1 tbsp freshly grated orange zest
09 - 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
→ For Rolling
10 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
11 - 1 tsp orange zest
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and 1 cup sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Add the egg, vanilla extract, orange zest, and orange juice. Beat until thoroughly combined and smooth.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until incorporated. Do not overmix.
06 - In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp orange zest for rolling.
07 - Scoop tablespoonfuls of dough and roll into balls. Roll each ball in the orange sugar mixture until evenly coated.
08 - Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Press gently with the palm of your hand to flatten slightly.
09 - Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are just golden brown. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The orange sugar coating creates this irresistible crackly exterior that gives way to the most tender buttery crumb imaginable
- They come together in under 30 minutes but taste like something from an old European bakery
02 -
- I once tried skipping the sugar rolling step and the cookies were still delicious but missed that gorgeous crackly texture and visual sparkle that makes people ooh and aah
- Underbaking slightly is better than overbaking here—pull them when the edges are just barely golden because they continue cooking on the hot baking sheet
03 -
- Grate your zest right into the sugar before creaming it with the butter to help distribute the orange oils throughout the entire cookie
- Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it feels too sticky to roll—the warmth from your hands can make it difficult to work with