Orange Sugar Zest Cookies (Print Version)

Buttery cookies bursting with fresh orange zest and finished with sparkling sugar for irresistible citrus sweetness.

# 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

# 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.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Add the egg, vanilla extract, orange zest, and orange juice. Beat until well combined.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated.
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.
08 - Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Press gently to flatten slightly.
09 - Bake 10-12 minutes, until the edges are just golden. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The orange zest creates this incredible aromatic experience that fills your whole house while baking
  • That sparkling sugar coating gives you the perfect crunch against the tender, buttery center
02 -
  • I once skipped the rolling sugar step because I was in a rush and honestly missed the whole point of these cookies
  • Room temperature butter makes or breaks this recipe, cold butter won't cream properly and you'll have dense cookies
03 -
  • Grate your zest directly over the bowl so you catch all those precious citrus oils
  • Use a microplane instead of a box grater for the finest, most aromatic zest possible

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