Easy Orange Spiced Sugar Cookies

Orange spiced sugar cookies are delightfully bright and cozy with a blend of sweet orange and spicy cinnamon. A unique twist on the traditional sugar cookie, these are the perfect treat for the winter and holiday season that pairs beautifully with a cup of hot tea or coffee.

** POST UPDATED DECEMBER 10, 2021 **

Sugar cookies are a classic treat around the holidays. And while they’re a classic, I liked to switch things up a bit and try adding different flavors to basic recipes. To me, orange and cinnamon are two flavors that are wonderful for the holidays and winter time. There’s something about the sweet and citrus scent of oranges combined with the warm, spicy scent of cinnamon. I enjoy diffusing orange and cinnamon essential oils, as well as adding them into things like sugar body scrubs and other homemade items.

Orange and cinnamon are flavors that aren’t typically put together in baked goods, but if you haven’t tried combining them, you are missing out. I never knew how good they could be together until I tried out this recipe! The orange flavor makes these cookies taste nice and bright, but there are hints of spicy cinnamon that gives a bit of warmth as well.

Like some of my other cookie recipes, these orange spiced sugar cookies are inspired by a vintage sugar cookie recipe I found in an old cookbook I was gifted by my husband’s grandmother. I enjoyed adding some special tweaks and making this recipe my own. This cookie recipe is by far one of my absolute favorites and I hope you enjoy them too!

PIN FOR LATER!

TOOLS YOU MAY NEED

• Stand mixer or electric mixer and medium mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Microplane or cheese grater
• Baking sheets
• Tablespoon measuring spoon
• Cooling rack
• Small mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Icing spatula or butter knife

INGREDIENTS

Orange Spiced Cookies

• 1/2cup softened butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tbsp milk or cream
• 1 1/4cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp all spice or pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Zest of half an orange

Orange Spiced Cookie Icing

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract optional
• 2 1/2tbsp juice of an orange the one you zested
• Zest of half an orange
• Dash of cinnamon

HOW TO MAKE ORANGE SPICED COOKIE ICING

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, salt, vanilla extract, orange juice, orange zest and cinnamon. Set aside.

HOW TO MAKE ORANGE SPICED SUGAR COOKIES

With your stand mixer or electric mixer, cream together softened butter and sugar until fluffy (30 seconds to 1 minute). Then, add in the egg and vanilla and beat thoroughly.

Add flour, salt, baking powder, all spice or pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and the zest of half an orange and mix.

Using a tablespoon measure, scoop and drop dough onto prepared cookie sheet. I like to roll the dough into little balls, but you don’t have to do that! These are drop cookies, which means you can just drop the dough right onto the baking sheet, so whichever way you decide to do it is up to you!

Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes or until just golden brown. Then allow them to cool completely before you ice! You could also freeze the cookies at this point or wait to freeze after you’ve iced them.

NOTES

• Refrigerate dough for 1 hour before baking
• Allow cookies to cool completely before icing
• Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving so the icing hardens a bit.

HOW TO STORE THESE COOKIES

• FREEZING: Roll into balls and place on a cookie sheet in the freezer for 1 hour. Put the dough into a gallon freezer baggie and freeze. You can also bake the cookies, allow them to cool completely. You can then ice these cookies before freezing or wait until you’re ready to use them. Place them in a gallon freezer bag or airtight container and put them in the freezer.
• When you’re ready to eat them, take them out of the freezer and allow to thaw for an hour. Use prior to 4 months for the best taste.
• STORAGE: These cookies are best stored in an airtight container or gallon baggie in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES?

Looking for more Christmas cookie recipes like these orange spiced sugar cookies? Check these out!

• Norwegian Butter Cookies
• Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies
• Chocolate Cutout Sugar Cookies
• Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies

Did you make these orange spiced sugar cookies? If you enjoyed them, I’d really appreciate if you came back and gave the recipe a five star rating! Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own recreation of this recipe!