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Ingredients Needed for Orange Creamsicle Cookies
This cookie recipe has all of your standard cookie ingredients with some fresh orange zest for natural orange flavor and white chocolate chips for creamy vanilla goodness. Here is what you will need:
- Flour: just regular all-purpose flour
- Corn Starch: the addition of just a little corn starch keeps the cookies tender but still crumbly
- Baking Soda: the leavening agent that gives the cookies their fluffiness
- Salt: enhances all the flavors
- Orange Zest: rub the zest with the white sugar to release oils for smell and flavor
- Sugar: adds sweetness
- Brown Sugar: make sure it is firmly packed and it adds richness to cookies
- Butter: unsalted and softened
- Shortening: you can use all butter if you want but you will get a fluffier cookie with some shortening added
- Egg: gives the cookies structure as they bake
- Vanilla: adds flavor
- Orange Extract: totally optional, I prefer the cookies without it but it won’t have as strong an orange flavor. Never use orange juice.
- White Chocolate: chunks or chips, I used Ghirardelli white chocolate chunks.
The measurements for each ingredient are listed in the recipe card below along with the instructions for how to make these cookies.
How to Make Creamsicle Orange Cookies
- Preheat oven.
- Chop the white chocolate chunks.
- Combine dry ingredients.
- Activate the orange zest by rubbing it with the white sugar in a small bowl.
- Cream together the butter with the brown sugar and white sugar (with orange zest).
- Add the remaining wet ingredients and mix until combined.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just combined.
- Stir in the white chocolate chunks.
- Bake.
Tips for the Best Cookies
- Don’t overmix the cookie dough after combining the wet and dry ingredients. Stop mixing as soon as everything is combined. Overmixing will result in tougher cookies.
- Rub the zest and sugar together to release the natural oils in the orange zest. This boosts the flavor and scent of the zest in the cookies.
- Don’t press down the dough before baking. These cookies will be thick and chewy.
- Don’t overbake the cookies. They are perfect when they are just starting to get golden around the edges. Let them cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet to finish baking.
Variations for Orange Creamsicle Cookies
If you really want to live on the wild side, you could swap the orange zest (and extract) with lemon or with lime.
Lemon: These cookies with a lemon spin on them are seriously delicious! If you want to try a similar cookie, try our glazed lemon cookies.
Lime: I am a huge fan of lime desserts (our lime cheesecake with berry sauce is one of my all time faves), but I will be honest here, the lime zest sort of resembles grass when it is mixed into the dough and bakes (insert monkey covering eyes emoji). They taste amazing, but they aren’t going to look as appetizing as the orange or lemon versions. Oh man, they taste so good though! I was so bummed when they ended up looking like grass cookies…haha!
Storage Tips
Storing: Properly stored, fresh baked cookies will last 2-3 weeks in the pantry.
Freezing: If you want them to last longer you can freeze these cookies either before or after baking. Before baking, scoop them into balls and place the dough balls on a cookie sheet and place them into the freezer for at least a half hour (up to an hour) then place the balls into a freezer safe container or ziplock bag. They will keep for up to 3 months. You can thaw them before baking or bake straight from frozen. You’ll just need to add a few more minutes to the bake time.
After baking, let them cool completely and then place in a freezer safe container or ziplock bag. They will keep for up to 3 months. Let them come to room temperature before eating.
Take a step back into those carefree days of youth and bite into one (or five) of these thick and chewy orange creamsicle cookies! The flavors will be familiar and irresistible!
More Unique Cookie Recipes from Oh Sweet Basil
- White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies
- Biscoff Stuffed Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Nutella and Dulce de Leche Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Bakery Style Chocolate Cookies
- Glazed Lemon Cookies
- Strawberries and Cream Pudding Cookies
- Lemon Drop Cookies
Orange Creamsicle Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 Cups Flour
- 4 teaspoons EZ Gel, or 2 teaspoons corn starch
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Orange Zest
- 3/4 Cup Sugar
- 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened
- 1/2 Cup Shortening, or see note
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar, firmly packed
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 teaspoon Orange Extract, optional
- 2 Cups White Chocolate, chopped, I use Ghirardelli but any bar or white chocolate chips works
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Chop the white chocolate and set aside.2 Cups White Chocolate
- In a bowl, combine flour, EZ Gel, baking soda, and salt; set aside.2 1/2 Cups Flour, 4 teaspoons EZ Gel, 1 teaspoon Baking Soda, 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- In a small bowl, rub together the orange zest and sugar until fragrant.2 Tablespoons Orange Zest, 3/4 Cup Sugar
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening and sugars (including the orange zest) until light and fluffy.1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, 1/2 Cup Shortening, 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- Beat in the egg, vanilla, and orange extract (optional) until smooth.1 Large Egg, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, 1/2 teaspoon Orange Extract
- Slowly add flour mixture until combined.
- Stir in white chocolate chunks or vanilla chips.2 Cups White Chocolate
- Drop rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, Do not flatten cookies.
- Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown around edges. Do not overcook! Cookies will be plump.
- Cool for several minutes on cookie sheets before transferring to rack to cool completely.
Recipe Notes
- All butter can easily be used, but they are fluffier with shortening
- Store in an airtight container
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I just put some cookies in the oven, and I sure am wishing it were these!!
I love creamsicle! And I love the citrus flavor that the orange brought to these wonderful cookies! It’s really something that I should try. Love it!
Thank you Maureen!
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It's so CLEAN! 🙂
I love Harmons meat department. The butchers are sooo helpful!
Let's see, what DON'T I love about Harmons?
I am looking forward to shopping at the new Harmons in Farmington. I don't shop anywhere else when I am down in St. George. It is a fabulous store. Love your blog and wonderful recipes.
I love Harmons because they are so close to me and it is clean and friendly! I have only used the drive up and put your groceries in your car once, not sure why i havent used it more, but makes so much sense when it is snowing outside!
I love creamsicle, but alas Harmons grocery does not exist where I live. If you love creamsicle flavor, though you should try this flavoring called fiori di sicilia. I get it from King Arthur Flour and it smells and makes things taste just like a creamsicle. I love it. I add it to blueberry bread, angel food cake, anything. Yummy, and I am so making these cookies adding that instead of vanilla!
I just became of follower of your blog–although I read through google reader, I am now official 🙂