Creamsicle Cookies Recipe
Orange cream cookies. Sweet citrus treats.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 41 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Take your butter and eggs out so they can come to room temperature. Preheat your oven to 375Β°F (190Β°C) and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- In a separate, larger bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale, usually about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, incorporating each fully before adding the next, then stir in the vanilla extract, orange zest, and orange extract. The mixture should smell wonderfully aromatic and look thick and creamy at this stage.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined; be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. The dough will be soft but shouldn’t be overly sticky.
- Scoop generous tablespoons of dough, or use a medium cookie scoop, and roll them into uniform balls. Place them about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are still slightly soft-looking. Let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While your fantastic cookies are cooling, letβs whip up that absolutely divine Cream Cheese Orange Glaze! In a medium bowl, ensure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature. With an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until itβs perfectly smooth and creamy, without any lumps. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until fully incorporated and smooth. Next, slowly drizzle in the milk, orange juice, and vanilla extract, beating on low speed until the glaze reaches your desired drizzling consistency. You might need to adjust the liquid slightly, adding a tiny bit more milk or orange juice if it’s too thick, or a touch more powdered sugar if it’s too thin.
- Once your glorious Creamsicle Cookies are completely cooled, drizzle the Cream Cheese Orange Glaze over each cookie using a spoon, or gently dip the top of each cookie into the glaze. Place them back on the wire rack over a sheet of parchment paper to catch any drips and allow the glaze to set. For an extra pop of color and flavor, immediately sprinkle a tiny bit more fresh orange zest over the still-wet glaze.
Notes
Imagine the nostalgic dance of creamy vanilla and zesty orange, perfectly encapsulated in a tender, chewy cookie that melts in your mouth. These aren’t just any cookies; they’re a little bite of sunshine, a sweet escape that brings back childhood memories of icy, refreshing treats on a hot summer day.