Orange Spice Cookies

These orange spice cookies are perfect for the holidays. They look plain but once you bite into them the amazing flavors just keep developing over and over. You'll not want to eat anything after these just so you can keep that taste in your mouth. That's how good they are. Try it for yourself and see.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 131 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon orange extract
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons cream cheese
• 1 ¼ cups dark brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon maple extract (Optional)
• 6 tablespoons grated orange zest, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2

Drop spoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.

Step 3

Beat both sugars, 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, and cream cheese together until creamy, at least 5 minutes. Add egg and mix well. Mix in molasses. Mix in vanilla, orange, and maple extracts.

Step 4

Stir flour, orange zest, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, cloves, and nutmeg together in another bowl until well combined and no clumps of zest remain. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir together just until incorporated; don't overmix.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden, about 12 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet briefly before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.