Orange Shortbread Cookies for Tea Time and Holiday Trays
Nothing wakes up a kitchen like fresh orange zest. One scrape of the peel, and the whole room smells sunny. That smell is the heart of these orange shortbread cookies.
The cookies are buttery, crisp and tender, with bright citrus in every bite. A light orange glaze on top adds a little extra sweet-tart zing. It is a simple orange zest shortbread that tastes fancy, even though you only need a handful of things.
Looking for more cookie tray ideas? See our full round-up of holiday shortbread cookies.
You mix, chill, slice and bake. Winter is orange season, so this is the perfect time to make a batch.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Real orange flavor from fresh zest, not fake extract
- Just 8 simple ingredients
- Slice and bake, so no cookie cutters needed
- A shiny orange glaze that looks pretty and tastes bright
- Dough keeps in the fridge for 3 days or in the freezer for 2 months
- A lovely cookie for tea, gifts and holiday trays
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- Unsalted butter: 1 cup (226 g), softened
- Powdered sugar: 2/3 cup (80 g)
- Orange zest: 2 tbsp (from 2 medium oranges)
- Vanilla extract: 1 tsp
- Fine salt: 1/4 tsp
- All-purpose flour: 2 cups (250 g)
- Cornstarch: 2 tbsp
For the orange glaze:
- Powdered sugar: 1 cup (120 g)
- Fresh orange juice: 2 to 3 tbsp
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Oranges: Navel oranges are easy to zest and very sweet. Wash and dry them well, then zest only the orange part. The white pith tastes bitter.
- Butter: Set it out about 30 minutes ahead. It should dent when pressed, but not look shiny or melty.
- Cornstarch: It keeps the cookies soft inside. No cornstarch? Use 2 tbsp more flour for a slightly sturdier cookie.
- Juice: Use fresh juice for the glaze. It tastes much brighter than bottled juice.
- Other citrus: Love lemon? Try our Lemon Shortbread Cookies.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Rub the Zest Into the Sugar
Add the powdered sugar and orange zest to a large bowl. Rub them together with your fingers for about 30 seconds, until the sugar looks pale orange and smells amazing. This pulls the oils out of the zest.
Step 2: Cream the Butter
Add the soft butter, vanilla and salt. Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, until pale and fluffy.
Step 3: Add the Flour
Add the flour and cornstarch. Mix on low speed just until the dough comes together. It will look crumbly at first, then it will hold when pressed. Do not overmix.
Step 4: Shape the Log
Place the dough on a sheet of parchment paper. Roll it into a log about 2 inches (5 cm) wide and 8 inches (20 cm) long. Wrap it tight.
Step 5: Chill the Dough
Chill the log in the fridge for at least 1 hour. The dough must be firm so the cookies keep their round shape.
Step 6: Slice the Cookies
Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice the log into rounds about 1/3 inch (8 mm) thick. Place them 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart on the sheets.
Step 7: Bake
Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until the edges are just golden. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes. Then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 8: Glaze the Cookies
In a small bowl, whisk the powdered sugar and 2 tbsp of orange juice until smooth. Add more juice, a little at a time, until the glaze is thick but pourable. Dip the tops of the cooled cookies in the glaze, or drizzle it over. Let the glaze set for 30 minutes.
Tips for the Best Results
- Rub the zest into the sugar. It makes the flavor much stronger.
- Zest the oranges before you juice them. It is much easier that way.
- Keep the butter soft but not greasy. Melty butter makes cookies spread.
- Chill the dough fully. It makes slicing easy and keeps the shape neat.
- Cool the cookies all the way before glazing, or the glaze will melt and run.
- Add the glaze juice slowly. A thin glaze goes see-through, and a thick one is hard to spread.
Variations and Add-ins
- Sparkly edges: Roll the log in coarse sugar before slicing.
- Orange poppy seed: Mix in 1 tbsp of poppy seeds with the flour.
- Chocolate dipped: Dip half of each cooled cookie in melted dark chocolate.
- Orange and almond: Swap the vanilla for 1/2 tsp of almond extract.
- Plain and simple: Skip the glaze and dust the cookies with powdered sugar.
What to Serve With It
- A hot cup of black tea or chai
- A fresh cup of coffee
- A mug of hot chocolate
- A cold glass of milk
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream
- A creamy Orange Creamsicle for a full orange dessert table
Easy Orange Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Rub the powdered sugar and orange zest together in a large bowl for 30 seconds, until pale orange.
- Add the soft butter, vanilla and salt. Beat for 2 minutes, until fluffy.
- Add the flour and cornstarch. Mix on low speed just until the dough comes together.
- Shape the dough into a log about 2 inches wide and 8 inches long. Wrap it tight.
- Chill the log for at least 1 hour.
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice the log into rounds about 1/3 inch thick and place them 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until the edges are just golden. Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Whisk the glaze sugar and 2 tbsp of juice until smooth, adding more juice if needed. Dip or drizzle the cooled cookies. Let the glaze set for 30 minutes.
Notes
- Store the cooled, glazed cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freeze the dough log for up to 2 months. Slice it straight from the freezer and add 1 to 2 minutes to the bake time.
- Zest the oranges first, then juice them for the glaze.
That is the whole story. These orange shortbread cookies are buttery, bright and so easy. A little zest does the heavy lifting.
My favorite way to make them is to shape the dough log early in the week. When you want fresh cookies, slice a few, bake them, and glaze them while you sip your tea. Your home will smell like a sunny orange grove.
They also look lovely in a gift tin. Add a ribbon and a few dried orange slices, and you have a cute present.
For more shortbread cookie recipes you will love:
- Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
- Lemon Shortbread Cookies
- Scottish Shortbread Cookies
- Cranberry Shortbread Cookies
- Whipped Shortbread Cookies
- Cranberry Orange Cookies
Want more ideas? See all of our holiday shortbread cookie recipes in one place.
