Orange Creamsicle Cookies are my Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies made with orange zest and added food coloring to remind you of an orange creamsicle treat. Although creamsicles are officially frozen popsicles, you can find everything from orange creamsicle pie to orange creamsicle mousse. There are even orange creamsicle cocktails, but I will stick to the cookies in this recipe.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Room Temperature Ingredients: For best results, be sure the ingredients, specifically butter, cream cheese, and egg, are at room temperature before mixing. Most refrigerated ingredients can get to room temperature in about 30 minutes, and they allow for more even baking and fewer lumps! Check out my egg substitutes if you don’t have any eggs on hand.
Extract: This recipe requires both vanilla extract and orange extract. While vanilla extract is a common ingredient in most kitchens, the orange extract may not be readily available. If you don’t have orange extract, you can try using orange juice as a substitute. I’ll cover this substitution in more detail shortly.
Food Coloring: You may notice I use red and yellow food coloring; that is because those are easy to find and together, they make the color orange.
Orange Extract vs. Fresh Orange Juice
Orange extract is a highly concentrated flavoring that gives recipes in cooking and baking a strong orange flavor. However, if you don’t have any on hand, don’t give up on this recipe. Since you are also using the zest of an orange, go ahead and substitute freshly squeezed orange juice for the extract. Here are a couple of guidelines if you need to make substitutions for orange extract.
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice = 1/2 teaspoon orange extract (Use about 2 tablespoons of juice for this recipe, adjusting to taste.)
You could also substitute orange zest for the extract.
- 1 teaspoon orange zest = 1 teaspoon orange extract
How to Store Orange Creamsicle Cookies
To store Orange Creamsicle Cookies, place them in an airtight container. They will last 3-4 days at room temperature or up to 6 days in the refrigerator.
Freezing Butter Cookies
Freezing the Dough: The very best way to freeze these cookies is to freeze the dough. Scoop out individual cookies, place them on a baking sheet, and then place them in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Once they are chilled through, transfer them to an airtight bag. Label them with the cookie name and date, as well as the baking instructions.
Freezing Baked Cookies: If you want to freeze the cookies after they are baked, allow them to cool completely. Then, lay them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place them in the freezer. Once the cookies are frozen, store them in a freezer-safe zipped bag, labeled and dated. They will keep for up to four weeks.
More Creamsicle Desserts
Orange Creamsicle Cookies
Ingredients
Creamsicle Cookie Recipe
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) salted butter, softened
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange extract, starting with ½ teaspoon and taste testing the dough
- 1 drop red food coloring, or more depending on how dark you want the orange to be
- 2 drops yellow food coloring, or more depending on how dark you want the orange to be
- 2 ¼ cups (282 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup (126 g) confectioners' sugar, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer, beat butter, cream cheese, orange zest, and granulated sugar until blended.
- Add in egg, vanilla, orange extract, and the red and yellow food coloring.
- Add in flour, baking powder, and ½ cup confectioners' sugar. With the mixer on low, gradually beat into a creamed mixture.
- Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, create balls and roll them in the remaining confectioners' sugar.
- Place the balls of dough onto the lined baking sheet. Using your hands or the bottom of a drinking glass flatten balls into rounds. Place approximately 6 dough balls on each sheet.
- Bake until they no longer appear wet on top, 8-11 minutes. After about 5 minutes cooling on the pan (they will be soft), place on cooling racks to cool completely.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
I made these this morning they turned out just like the picture and they are so soft and gooey love them IOrange Creamsicle cookie
I love your recipes.
2 tablespoons or 2 teaspoons of baking powder?
2 teaspoons!! Thanks for double-checking!!
I can’t wait to make these.
They look delicious. My husbands favorite treat is orange sherbert and vanilla ice cream. Would you be abke to add the juice ofca fresh clementine instead of orange extract?
You could, but I have never tested that so don’t know what it will taste like. 🙂
I have to try these but do not have orange extract. Wondering if I should add orange juice. If so, how much? (I see one person had already asked but maybe now you tested it out)
One more thing, I could just imagine making ice cream sandwiches with these!
Hi, Elisa! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. Orange juice is not the best substitute for orange extract because you need too much of it to get the same flavor. Your best bet would be to substitute orange zest for the orange extract. 1 teaspoon of orange zest = about 1/2 teaspoon of orange extract. We have not tested out either substitution, but I hope that helps. Have a great day!
These look absolutely delicious! Would love to try them except I can’t stand cream cheese ☹️ Please tell me there’s a substitution so I can make these. Thank you!
Sounds great ! I went on Amazon for the
Orange extract . It will be here in a few days . I can’t wait.
you wrote 2tbs of baking soda.. cookie dough is made and i no see you should have written 2 tsp !! also this dough is so soft it needs to be refrigerated in order to make the balls for rolling. you should add that to your recipe..
The recipe was always supposed to be 2 teaspoons. I shared the error on social media and tried to reach out to folks who had commented on the posts and expressed interest. It was an error that we fixed within 24 hours and I sincerely apologize. However, the dough should not be refrigerated before baking, that is correct in the recipe.
My 9 year old daughter loves to bake. I happened across this recipe and was excited to try it. She did most of the work and these cookies are divine! They are so unique and are honestly some of the tastiest cookies I have ever had. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe and keeping us busy during these crazy times. ❤️