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