Irresistible Soft Italian Orange Drop Cookies Recipe

Orange-infused Italian drop cookies deliver pure sunshine on a plate, melting hearts with their delicate texture and bright citrusy essence.

These tender, cloud-like treats represent a cherished tradition passed through generations of passionate bakers.

soft, pillowy, and delightfully fragrant, these cookies capture the warmth of Mediterranean kitchens with every single bite.

Italian pastry masters have perfected this recipe, reinventing simple ingredients into something magically reinventative.

Sweet zesty notes dance alongside subtle undertones, creating a sensory experience that transports you straight to a cozy Italian bakery.

Delicate yet robust, these cookies balance sweetness with sophisticated citrus complexity that makes them irresistibly addictive.

Their rustic charm speaks to comfort, celebration, and the simple joys of homemade goodness.

Soft Italian Orange Drop Cookies That Melt in Your Mouth

• Burst with Citrusy Charm: These cookies pack a vibrant orange punch that dances on your taste buds, delivering a fresh and zesty flavor profile that's both bright and sophisticated.
• Melt-in-Your-Mouth Magic: The combination of butter, olive oil, and carefully mixed flours creates an incredibly soft, tender texture that practically dissolves on your tongue with each delightful bite.
• Quick and Effortless Baking: Perfect for novice bakers and busy home cooks, this recipe requires minimal ingredients and simple mixing techniques, allowing you to whip up a batch of delicious cookies in under 30 minutes from start to finish.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Whether you're hosting a brunch, preparing a dessert for family gatherings, or craving a sweet afternoon treat, these Italian-inspired orange drop cookies are sure to impress with their elegant simplicity and irresistible taste.

Ingredients for Italian Orange Drop Cookies

• Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and helps in creating a soft texture.
• Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps bind the ingredients together, best when softened at room temperature.
• Orange Zest: Adds bright, fresh citrus flavor and aromatic notes to the cookies.
• Olive Oil: Contributes to the soft, tender cookie texture and provides subtle richness.
• Orange Extract, Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile with deep citrus and classic vanilla undertones.

• Egg: Helps bind the ingredients and provides structure to the cookie.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise and creates a light, soft texture.

• All-Purpose Flour, Almond Flour: Create the cookie's base structure, with almond flour adding a subtle nutty flavor and tender crumb.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates a smooth, sweet glaze for coating the cookies.
• Orange Juice: Provides liquid and citrus flavor for the glaze, helping to achieve the right consistency.

How to Bake Soft Italian Orange Drop Cookies

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Baking Sheets

Warm up the oven to 350°F (177°C). Position oven racks in the middle and lower-middle positions. Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: Create Cookie Base

• Sugar
• Softened butter
• Orange zest
• Olive oil
• Orange extract
• Vanilla extract
• Salt
• Baking powder

Use an electric mixer or strong spoon to combine ingredients thoroughly.

Step 3: Add Egg and Mix

Incorporate the egg into the mixture. Scrape down bowl sides with a rubber spatula to ensure complete blending.

Step 4: Combine Flour

• All-purpose flour
• Almond flour

Mix until dough becomes uniform and smooth.

Step 5: Shape Cookie Dough

Use a #30 cookie scoop to create 1-ounce balls. Place dough balls in size onto prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly.

Step 6: Bake Cookies

Bake for 14-16 minutes until cookies begin to puff slightly. Avoid overbaking.

Step 7: Cool Cookies

Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack.

Step 8: Prepare Orange Glaze

• Powdered sugar
• Orange juice

Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust juice as needed for desired consistency.

Step 9: Glaze and Store Cookies

Dip cooled cookie tops into glaze. Allow excess to drip off. Let glaze set completely before storing in an airtight container.

Tips to Keep Orange Drop Cookies Light and Airy

• Zest Like a Pro: Use a microplane or fine grater to collect bright orange zest without touching the bitter white pith underneath.
• Maximize Flavor Depth: Let the orange zest sit with sugar for 5-10 minutes before mixing to release essential oils and intensify citrus notes.
• Perfect Scoop Technique: Use a consistent cookie scoop for uniform size, ensuring even baking and professional-looking results.
• Prevent Overbaking: Watch cookies closely after 12 minutes; they should look slightly underdone since they'll continue cooking on the hot baking sheet.
• Glaze with Grace: Dip cookies at a slight angle and gently tap off excess glaze for a smooth, professional-looking finish that doesn't pool or drip excessively.

Storing and Reheating Orange Drop Cookies the Right Way

• Refrigerate cooled cookies in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. These soft orange cookies stay fresh for 4-5 days when properly sealed. Freeze glazed cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 weeks, placing wax paper between each layer to maintain their delicate texture. Thaw frozen cookies at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving, ensuring they retain their delightful orange flavor and tender crumb.

What to Enjoy with Orange Drop Cookies

• Pair with Citrusy White Wine: Complement the orange-infused cookies with a crisp Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, enhancing the bright citrus notes and creating a refreshing taste experience.
• Match with Italian Espresso: Serve alongside a rich, dark espresso to balance the cookie's sweetness and highlight the traditional Italian flavor profile, creating a delightful afternoon treat.
• Enjoy with Mascarpone Cream: Create a luxurious dessert by serving the cookies with a dollop of smooth mascarpone cream, amplifying the subtle almond and orange undertones for a decadent pairing.
• Combine with Candied Orange Slices: Garnish the plate with delicate candied orange slices to intensify the citrus essence and add a gourmet touch to the simple yet elegant cookie presentation.

Twists on Classic Italian Orange Drop Cookies

• Lemon Lavender Cookies: Swap orange zest with lemon zest and add 1 teaspoon of dried lavender buds to the dough for a floral, citrusy flavor profile.
• Almond Cardamom Cookies: Replace orange extract with almond extract and incorporate ground cardamom for a warm, aromatic Middle Eastern-inspired treat.
• Chocolate Orange Cookies: Mix in 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to the dry ingredients and use dark chocolate glaze instead of the orange juice glaze for a rich, decadent version.
• Pistachio Citrus Cookies: Fold chopped pistachios into the dough and use a lime juice glaze for a nutty, zesty alternative that adds beautiful green specks.

Soft Italian Orange Drop Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 36 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Delightful Italian orange drop cookies bring zesty sunshine to sweet treat lovers. Moist, pillowy rounds infused with citrus essence melt in your mouth, transporting you to a charming Italian bakery with each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 large egg (room temperature)
• ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1–¾ cups (210 grams) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (75 grams) almond flour

Flavoring Ingredients:

• ¼ cup orange zest (from about 2 large or 4 small navel oranges)
• 2 tablespoons (28 grams) olive oil
• 2 teaspoons orange extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Finishing and Binding Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon (2 grams) coarse kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup (115 grams) powdered sugar for glaze
• 2–3 tablespoons fresh orange juice, for glaze

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Instructions

1. Prepare workspace by positioning oven racks in middle and lower-middle positions and preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius).
2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine granulated sugar, softened unsalted butter, fresh orange zest, olive oil, orange extract, vanilla extract, salt, and baking powder.
4. Blend ingredients using an electric mixer or sturdy wooden spoon until thoroughly incorporated.
5. Crack one whole egg into the mixture and continue mixing, using a rubber spatula to scrape down bowl sides and bottom.
6. Gradually incorporate all-purpose flour and almond flour, mixing until a uniform, cohesive dough forms.
7. Using a #30 cookie scoop (approximately or 30 milliliters), portion dough into rounded balls, each about in size.
8. Arrange cookie dough balls evenly on prepared baking sheets, leaving adequate spacing between each.
9. Bake for 14-16 minutes, watching carefully until cookies begin to puff slightly but before edges brown.
10. Remove from oven and let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes.
11. Transfer cookies to wire cooling rack and allow complete cooling.
12. Prepare glaze by whisking powdered sugar with fresh orange juice until smooth and creamy.
13. Adjust glaze consistency by adding more juice if needed for ideal drizzling texture.
14. Dip cooled cookie tops into glaze, allowing excess to drip off naturally.
15. Place glazed cookies on rack and permit glaze to set completely before storing in airtight container.

Notes

• Capture the vibrant essence of Italy with these delightful orange-infused cookies that burst with citrusy brightness and delicate texture.
• Achieve perfect consistency by softening butter at room temperature and using a precise 1-ounce cookie scoop for uniform sizing.
• Prevent dry cookies by carefully monitoring baking time, removing them from the oven when they just start to puff and before edges brown.
• Create a silky smooth glaze by whisking powdered sugar and orange juice gradually, adjusting liquid for ideal drizzling consistency.
• Store these tender cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, maintaining their soft, melt-in-your-mouth quality.
• Experiment with almond flour for added richness and a subtle nutty undertone that complements the bright orange flavor profile.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 16 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 120 kcal
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg