Orange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (2024)

Orange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (1)

Dessert

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Hey everyone, it’s Sierra here! Today I’m sharing with you a recipe for orange gingerbread cookies that is perfect for the holidays!

Who doesn’t love gingerbread cookies around Christmas? The smell of the warm spices baking in the oven wafting throughout the house is simply irresistible. For these orange gingerbread cookies, I added a slight twist to the classic gingerbread cookie by adding orange zest in the cookie and orange juice in the icing. The addition of orange adds just a hint of tanginess to the cookies to complement the sweet and spicy flavors, and it breathes new life into this timeless dessert.

Orange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (2)

What makes a good gingerbread cookie?

It’s in the nameit should taste like ginger! Not as much as eating a knob of ginger, but there should be an unmistakable ginger flavor in every bite.

However, it would taste terrible if it just tasted like ginger. That’s where the rest of the warm, spicy flavors come in. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice all bring these complementary flavors that reduce the kick of the ginger while adding their own unique flavors. The resulting flavor is exciting and will definitely wake up your taste buds!

The texture of a gingerbread cookie should be crisp on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside. Too many store-bought cookies end up being hard and dry, so when you make these at home, make sure to not overbake!

Orange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (3)

What’s with the orange?

The orange zest in the cookie itself and the orange juice in the icing add just a hint of vibrant and bright flavors to this otherwise warm cookie. I specifically chose orange instead of another citrus, like lemon, because it is the perfect balance of bright citrusy flavors and sweetness.

For the gingerbread cookie, I used orange zest because I didn’t want a very strong flavor, just the fragrance of the orange. For the icing, however, I used orange juice for a more intense orange flavor. This combination yielded the best texture for the cookies and just the right amount of orange notes overall.

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Tips

Before we get started, here are a few tips to help you get it right on the first try! This recipe is very easy and should turn out great no matter what, but with these tips, you’ll get the right texture and flavor every time.

  • Add the dry ingredients to the dough mixture in batches. I accidentally added all of the dry ingredients to the dough all at once, and I ended up with a dough that was way too dry to roll out. Make sure to add the dry ingredients about 1/4 cup at a time and fully incorporate it before adding the next batch.
  • When rolling the dough out, very lightly flour the surface. Just a small amount of flour should prevent the dough from sticking when rolled out. If you add too much flour, the cookie will end up too dry as the flour will get incorporated into the dough.
  • Don’t overbake! The cookie should be baked just enough so that the outside is crispy. Keep in mind that for that to happen, the cookie may still look a little soft when you take it out of the oven. Don’t worry, once it cools, it will harden!

These orange gingerbread cookies are so easy and are a great winter snack/dessert! Let’s get started on the recipe!

Orange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (5)

Looking for more winter desserts?

  • Cast Iron Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Bourbon Frosting
  • Candied Pecan Bourbon Bread Pudding
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Babka
Orange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (6)

Orange Gingerbread Cookies

3 from 5 votes

Recipe by Sierra ParkCourse: Dessert, SnackCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

18

4x3in cookies

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

8

minutes

Refrigeration Time

8

hours

These orange gingerbread cookies are the perfect winter dessert! They are crispy on the outside with a soft and chewy center, and they are brimming with warm spicy flavors. The orange zest in the cookie and orange juice in the icing breathe new life into this classic dessert by adding a hint of their bright and tangy taste!

Ingredients

  • Orange Gingerbread Cookies
  • 8 tablespoons butter (softened at room temperature; 112 grams)

  • 3/4 cup brown sugar

  • 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses

  • 1 egg (room temperature)

  • 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour (390 grams)

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice

  • 1 tablespoon orange zest (2 for more citrus flavor)

  • Orange Icing
  • 6 tablespoons confectioners sugar (45 grams)

  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/2 tablespoon orange juice

  • Equipment
  • Mixing bowls

  • Stand mixer/hand mixer/whisk

  • Rolling pin

  • Cookie cutter

Directions

  • Orange Gingerbread Cookies
  • Sift the dry ingredients together into a large mixing bowl
  • Beat the butter in a stand mixer or mixing bowl with whisk/hand mixer until creamy. Do not overbeat as you will add sugar and beat more. This step is just to make sure sugar will incorporate better into the butterOrange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (7)
  • Add brown sugar and molasses and beat on medium-low speed until combined and creamy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combinedOrange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (8)
  • Slowly add the dry ingredients while beating on low speed (add about 1/4 cup at a time). Make sure the previous batch is fully incorporated before adding more dry ingredients. On the last batch, add in the orange zest as well and beat until everything is fully combined and nothing is sticking to the bowl. The end result should be slightly fluffy and not stick to your hands too much. If the dough is too sticky, add 1 tablespoon of flour at a time and beat until the dough stops stickingOrange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (9)Orange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (10)
  • Divide the dough in half. Form each half into a ball, then flatten into a disk. Wrap separately with cling wrap and store in fridge for at least 8 hours, or overnightOrange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (11)
  • When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F
  • Take out one disk of dough from the fridge. Roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it’s about 1/4 inch thick. Using your favorite cookie cutter, cut out as many cookies as you can! Orange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (12)
  • Place the cut out cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before adding icingOrange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (13)
  • Repeat with the second batch
  • Orange Icing
  • Sift powdered sugar in a bowl. Add the vanilla extract and orange juiceOrange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (14)
  • Using a fork or small whisk, mix together until fully combined
  • Spoon or pipe the icing onto the cooled cookies. Enjoy!Orange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (15)

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We are Sierra and Kevin, and we love to cook and bake! This is our website to share our recipes where we create delicious food with minimal ingredients. We believe that everyone, no matter their budget or size of their kitchen, should be able to experience the joy of making good food. Hop on the boat!

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Orange Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? ›

Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? Soft gingerbread biscuits are ideal. They ought to be flexible. However, they should still be somewhat elastic, and if you hold them too firmly because you're so excited to eat them, you might even be able to leave your fingerprints on the cookie!

How do I know when gingerbread cookies are done? ›

Gingerbread Cookies are done when they are set and begin to brown slightly at the edges. They will harden further as they cool, so avoid overbaking so you don't end up with hard, crunchy gingerbread! Underbake slightly to achieve soft, slightly chewy gingerbread cookies.

Why are my ginger cookies so hard? ›

“There are some gingerbread recipes that are hard right after baking and need to sit for a few days to soften. Molasses and honey hardens gingerbread, but as the sugar absorbs moisture, it will get softer.”

Why do my gingerbread cookies fall apart? ›

From doubling up on molasses to using too much flour, there is a lot that can go wrong. Forgetting the molasses resulted in a crumbly cookie that was light in color. Combining all ingredients at once created lumps in the finished product.

How long to rest gingerbread dough? ›

Make sure you rest it overnight in the fridge then bring it out to come to room temp before you start rolling it out. You will be cursing at it if you try to roll it out straight after making it. This Gingerbread will last for months in cello bags or in airtight containers.

Can I use golden syrup instead of molasses? ›

Golden syrup, also known as "light treacle," is made from the evaporation of sugarcane, which creates a light, golden syrup very reminiscent of honey. Lyle's is a popular brand of golden syrup. Try using 1 cup golden syrup for every 1 cup molasses in a recipe.

Why is my gingerbread cookie dough so dry? ›

If your cookie dough is too dry and crumbly, it might not have enough fat. This is a common problem with recipes that use all-purpose flour. To fix this, you can add more fat to the dough. This can be in the form of butter, shortening, or even olive oil.

Which molasses is best for gingerbread? ›

Medium Or Dark Molasses

“It adds enough bold flavor and sweet notes with a hint of bitterness to any recipe, which is exactly what you want for making gingerbread cookies.”

Are gingerbread cookies supposed to be crunchy? ›

First, the texture of the cookie needs to be fairly crispy along the outside with a semi-soft, cake-like inside, and like all "perfect" cut-out cookies, they definitely need to keep their shape when baked. Secondly, they must taste sweet but notably spicy, and have a rich molasses flavour.

What are the three types of gingerbread? ›

The three distinct types of gingerbread are brown gingerbread, wafer-based gingerbread and honey gingerbread.
  • BROWN GINGERBREAD.
  • WAFER GINGERBREAD.
  • HONEY GINGERBREAD.

What is the trick to soften hard cookies? ›

Another way to soften cookies is by placing the cookies in an airtight container with a damp paper towel. The paper towel will release moisture and help to soften the cookies without making them too soft or mushy. Another way is to place the cookies in a plastic bag with a slice of apple or a damp tea towel.

What is the difference between ginger snaps and gingerbread cookies? ›

They're known for their crisper quality; their “snap” if you will. Introduced in colonial times, the main differences between Gingerbread and Ginger Snaps are a longer bake time for an extra crisp and the use of molasses versus sugar.

Why refrigerate gingerbread cookie dough? ›

Chilling it for at least two hours or overnight gives the ingredients a chance to absorb one another, making it a whole lot easier to roll out the dough without it cracking. Follow this tip: Let the dough chill in the refrigerator, well-wrapped, for at least two hours or overnight before rolling it out.

How do you firm up gingerbread dough? ›

Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm. Or, if you plan to bake cookies immediately after making the dough, roll the dough between two pieces of parchment paper until 1/4 inch thick. Refrigerate about 15 minutes until firm.

How to harden gingerbread? ›

My suggestion is to put it back into the oven for up to 10 minutes. The temp of the oven should be around 325 degrees.

Should cookies be hard or soft? ›

You can take a bite or break off a piece. Either way, when you taste it, you'll know for certain if it's done. A cookie that's fully done shouldn't be doughy, nor should it be overly crunchy (unless you're making a really crunchy type of cookie). It should be soft, crumbly, and perfect when freshly baked.

Should cookie dough be soft or hard? ›

The perfect cookie dough consistency should be soft and pliable, but sometimes the texture of our cookie dough comes out dry and crumbly, which may lead to some dry cookies. Some of the common reasons you may have dry, crumbly dough include: Not Enough Fat. Not Enough Liquid.

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