Orange Sugar Cookies are soft, chewy, and made all in two bowls. Loaded with refreshing pops of orange flavor, these soft-baked, vegan sugar cookies will surely have you reaching for more!
If you’re like me, you love anything orange-flavored. Zested into baked-goods, infused in drinks, the actual fruit… give me everything orange-flavored! These chewy orange sugar cookies are simply the BEST vegan soft-baked cookies I have ever made. They melt in your mouth and have the slightest hint of orange flavoring that greets your tastebuds. So refreshing and delicious!
And what scent can compare to that of sugar cookies baking in the oven?? 🙂
These orange sugar cookies remind me of the ones in the bakery section of the grocery store, but 10x better. They’re SO soft and chewy. I love that they’re completely vegan but still resemble a traditional sugar cookie with their perfectly rounded tops and melt-in-your-mouth center. Any orange-lover will be obsessed with these!
The Secret to Soft Orange Cookies:
The trick to getting these cookies super soft and chewy is in two parts: 1) The flax egg, and 2) chilling the dough. The flax egg is meant to take place of a real egg. It contains the same volume and texture of a real egg when you let it sit for several minutes. It’s very simple to make, all you need is 1 part ground flax and 3 parts water for every egg substituted.
The second secret to making these cookies ultra-chewy is to chill the dough. The minimum time you should let it sit in the refrigerator is 1 hour, but you can also make these the night before and let it chill for up to 24 hours if you prefer. I know, you may be tempted to skip this step, but if you want the softest cookies ever, it’s so worth the wait. So, CHILL. THE. DOUGH! 🙂
How to Make Orange Sugar Cookies:
You only need two bowls for these insanely delicious orange cookies. Here’s how to make them:
Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough
- Prepare a flax egg by combining ground flax seeds and water. Set the mixture in the refrigerator while you prepare the cookie dough.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar together until creamy. Add the flax egg, orange zest, juice from half an orange, and beat for an additional minute. Slowly add in the dry mixture and stir until everything is evenly combined. Add orange food coloring if desired.
Step 2: Prepare the Cookies
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Once the dough has chilled, scoop the dough out and roll into balls. Roll the balls in powdered sugar and space evenly on a baking tray.
Step 3: Bake
- Bake the cookies in an oven preheated at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes. Remove them from the oven when they are still slightly underbaked and allow them to set and cool for at least 3-5 minutes before transferring off the tray.
What type of oranges should I use?
Since I only had small “Cuties” on hand, I used those. However, I do recommend the larger oranges over smaller once because they are easier to zest and squeeze out the juice. So if you’re looking for a specific orange to use, I recommend navel oranges.
Can I store the dough for later?
Yep! You can chill the dough for up to 24 hours before baking and they will be super soft and chewy. This dough also keeps well in the freezer for up to 36 hours.
More Cookie Recipes:
Orange Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp Ground Flax Seed
- 3 Tbsp Water
- 1 1/2 Cups All-purpose Flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/8 tsp Salt
- 1/2 Cup Softened Butter (1 Stick, can sub with vegan butter)
- 3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Orange (1/4 cup squeezed juice and zested to taste)
- Orange Food Coloring (optional)
- 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar , for rolling
Instructions
- In a small bowl, prepare the flax egg by combining ground flax and water. Place in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar together. Add the flax egg, orange zest, and juice of half an orange. Beat for one minute. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and beat until evenly combined. (Optional: beat in orange food coloring.) Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough chill for at least 1 hour.
- Once the dough is chilled, remove from the refrigerator and form into balls. Roll each ball in powdered sugar. Space out the cookie dough on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cookies bake on the tray for an extra 2-3 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack or plate.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes, preferably 1 hour. This step is vital for chewy cookies!
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WOW! I put a batch in the oven as soon as I found your recipe. Thank you for the great tips. They smell fantastic!
These cookies are just my kind. I love the orange flavor all around and I agree that the flax meal is the best substitute when making egg less cookies. Thanks for the tip about letting the dough chill. That makes it very easy to make the dough before and bake when needed.
I love cookies! These look so delicious!
These sugar cookies are so yummy! The hint of orange with the sugar tastes delicious and they came out perfectly soft.
This is so different. I’ve never had orange cookies before and these look INCREDIBLE. I love that they are vegan (my kind of baking!). I can’t wait to try these tonight, I have all the ingredients!