Description
Creamsicle Orange Cookies deliver a delightful twist on classic summer treats that bring sunshine to your cookie jar. Packed with zesty orange flavor and a smooth vanilla undertone, these cookies taste exactly like the nostalgic frozen pop we all adore.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 teaspoons orange extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
Dry Stabilizers:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Frosting Ingredients:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Orange food coloring
Instructions
- Whisk 2 ¼ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt together in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Cream 1 cup softened butter with ¾ cup granulated sugar and ¾ cup brown sugar in a large mixer bowl until fluffy and light, about 4 minutes at medium speed.
- Add 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk individually, mixing completely after each addition. Incorporate 1 tablespoon orange zest, 2 teaspoons orange extract, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Slowly blend dry ingredients into wet mixture at low speed, stopping when just combined. Avoid overmixing your dough.
- Fold ½ cup white chocolate chips gently into the cookie dough until evenly distributed.
- Cover dough bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours at 40F to firm up the mixture.
- Preheat oven to 350F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons of chilled dough, spacing each cookie 2 inches apart on prepared sheets.
- Bake cookies for 11 minutes at 350F until edges turn golden brown and centers appear set.
- Transfer cookies to wire rack and allow them to cool completely for 30 minutes.
- Beat 1 cup softened butter in mixer until smooth and creamy, approximately 3 minutes.
- Gradually incorporate 4 cups powdered sugar, mixing at low speed and scraping bowl sides frequently.
- Pour ¼ cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon orange extract, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract into buttercream. Mix thoroughly.
- Add orange gel food coloring drop by drop until desired shade is achieved.
- Whip frosting for an additional 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Match cooled cookies into pairs of similar size and shape.
- Spread 2 tablespoons frosting on flat side of one cookie in each pair.
- Gently press matching cookie on top to create sandwich, applying light pressure.
- Refrigerate assembled cookies for 45 minutes to help frosting set.
- Serve cookies chilled or at room temperature for best flavor.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to help prevent spreading and create a more concentrated flavor profile during baking.
- When measuring flour, use the spoon and level method to ensure accurate measurements and prevent dense cookies.
- Use fresh orange zest for the most vibrant citrus flavor, and don’t skimp on the extracts to enhance the creamsicle essence.
- Store these sandwich cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain their texture and keep the filling firm.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 296 kcal
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg