Description
Delightful cookies enhanced with zesty orange and aromatic spices, perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- Zest of 1 orange
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon milk (if needed)
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder (for icing)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (for icing)
- 4 cups powdered sugar (for icing)
- Water (as needed for icing)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Sprinkles or crushed candy canes (for decoration)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract, and orange zest, mixing until smooth.
- Gradually incorporate the flour until a dough forms, adding milk if too dry.
- Roll out dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut into festive shapes with cookie cutters.
- Place cut cookies on baking sheets and chill in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack.
- For icing, whisk meringue powder, lemon juice, and water, gradually adding powdered sugar until glossy. Thin with water if needed.
- Divide icing for coloring as desired and decorate cookies, finishing with sprinkles or crushed candy canes. Let icing set.
Notes
Keep baked cookies in an airtight container for up to a week, or freeze unbaked dough for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg