If you love creamsicles, you’re gonna love these soft and chewy Orange Creamsicle Cookies. They are slightly crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, with a thick layer of creamsicle frosting—it’s cookie perfection in every bite! It’s everything you love about the classic creamcicle flavors, baked into a soft, chewy cookie treat.
These cuties are perfect for bake sales, family treats, or brightening up a dreary day. These cookies are easy to make and will disappear fast. If you love frosted sugar cookies with a twist, this recipe is your new go-to. Plus you can easily make them as bars for a browd or switch up the flavors for special occasions.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Nostalgic Flavors! Combines classic orange and vanilla for the ultimate creamsicle experience.
- Soft and Chewy. Crispy at the edges and perfectly tender inside, finished with creamy frosting.
- Quick to Make. Made with simple pantry ingredients, easy steps, and quick baking time. You can also turn them into bars or mini cookies for a fun switch-up.
Orange Creamsicle Cookies
If you love the flavor combo of orange and vanilla, these Orange Creamsicle Cookies are the cookie for you. They’ve got a soft and chewy cookie base with homemade frosting filled with fresh orange zest and smooth vanilla flavor.
The cookie dough is also flavored every so slightly with a little orange extract, just to really drive home that Creamsicle flavor. These also work great as cookie bars, so feel free to spread all of the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake until just barely golden on the edges, then frost the entire thing at once—easy peasy!
Key Ingredients
- Butter: Salted, room temperature butter is best for making these sugar cookies. You will also need some for the frosting so be sure to pull plenty out ahead of time so that it can get nice and soft.
- Vanilla: you will need pure vanilla extract for the cookie dough and for the frosting.
- Eggs: eggs are what actually holds the cookie dough together, but it also keeps them nice and soft.
- Powdered Sugar: powdered sugar is perfect for making frosting because it doesn’t have any grittiness.
- Fresh Oranges: you will need both the zest and the juice from fresh orange. During the winter when there are lots more varieties, you can try making this recipe with all kinds of orange. Cara cara are delicious, and even blood oranges would be great!
- Orange Extract: adding a little orange extract along with the fresh oranges really boosts the flavor.
Tips for The Best Cookies
- Use fresh Orange Zest: Maximize natural citrus flavor with zest and juice from fresh oranges.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the dough just until combined for soft, tender cookies.
- Bake Until Just Set: Cookies continue cooking on the sheet- take them out when the edges are barely golden.
- Cook Completely: Wait until your cookies are cool before frosting so the frosting doesn’t melt. You can use a butte knife to spread the frosting or use a piping bag with a tip for a fancy sweet treat.
- Room Tempreture Butter: Ensures a smooth, creamy frosting and even cookie texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can easily make the dough ahead of time. It will last in the fridge for a couple of weeks in an airtight container. Or, you can freeze the portioned dough and store for up to 2 months. When you are ready to bake, just pull to the fridge overnight.
While both refer to creamy frozen orange treats, creamsicles are made with ice cream while dreamsicles are made with ice milk. In the case of this recipe, you could really call these either because they are made with neither!
Recipe Variations
- Bar Version: Spread the cookie dough in a greased lined baking dish 9×13″ abke until golden and frost once the cookie bars have cooled for easy cookie bars.
- Other Citrus: swap orange for lemon or lime, or even blood orange zest and juice for new flavor twists.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: For a bit of a tang, use cream cheese in the frosting.
- Add White Chocolate Chips: Stir the chocolate chips into the dough for sweet creamy little burst.
- Funfetti: Top with rainbow sprinkles to jazz them up!
How to Make Orange Creamsicle Cookies
- Mix the cookie dough. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Add the eggs and then beat well again. Gradually mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture until all ingredients are combined.
- Portion cookies. Roll the cookie dough into balls, about 1 1/2″ cookie dough balls and place on a large greased baking sheet.
- Bake. Bake in a preheated 325-degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are barely golden brown.
- Cool. Let the cookies cool for a couple of minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire baking rack. Let the cookie cool completely before frosting.
- Make the frosting. In a large bowl, add the room temperature butter. Beat the butter until it is light and fluffy. Add in the powdered sugar and mix on low speed at first and then increase the speed to medium until the mixture is coming together. Slowly add in the orange juice, vanilla extract, orange extract, and orange zest. Continue to mix for another minute or so.
- Adjust if needed. If your frosting is a little too dense, add a teaspoon of orange juice. If your frosting is too runny, add another half cup of powdered sugar. You want your frosting to have stiff peaks but still be spreadable.
- Frost the cookies. Spread the Orange Creamsicle buttercream frosting on your cooled cookie and top with sprinkles. Enjoy!
Storing Instructions
- Refrigerator: store baked cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: store cookies in freezer bags or another airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.
More Orange Flavored Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
Orange Creamsicle Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 teaspoon orange extract
Orange Creamsicle Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl until creamy, then add the eggs and then beat well again. Gradually mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture until all ingredients are combined.
- Scoop and roll the cookie dough into 1½" cookie dough balls and place on a large greased baking sheet about 2" apart.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are barely golden brown.
- Let the cookies cool for a couple of minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire baking rack to cool completely.
- Meanwhile, add the softened butter to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until light and fluffy, then add the powdered sugar. Mix on low, then increase and mix again until fluffy. Add in orange juice, zest, vanilla extract, and orange extract until well-combined.
- Spread the orange cream frosting onto your cooled cookie and top with sprinkles. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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If you love creamsicles, you’re gonna love these soft and chewy Orange Creamsicle Cookies. They are slightly crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. They also have a thick layer of creamsicle frosting. It’s cookie perfection in every bite!
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