Orange Clove Cookies with Spiced Orange Glaze Recipe
These Orange Clove Cookies are a delightful winter treat combining warm spices and fresh citrus zest. Soft, tender, and lightly glazed with a spiced orange icing, they offer an elegant flavor perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy tea times.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: About 18–25 cookies, depending on size 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the cookies:
- 170 g butter, softened
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp fancy molasses
- ½ tsp salt
- Zest of 1 large orange
- Optional: a few dehydrated orange rings, finely chopped
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp grated nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom
- A pinch of ground clove and allspice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
For the glaze:
- 1¼ cup icing sugar
- 3 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 2–3 tbsp Cointreau (or substitute with more orange juice for an alcohol-free version)
- A pinch of ground clove
Instructions
- Cream the butter and sweeteners: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, honey, molasses, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
- Add zest and spices: Mix in the orange zest and optional dehydrated orange, followed by all the spices—cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, clove, and allspice.
- Incorporate the flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing until a soft dough forms. The dough should be pliable and slightly sticky; adjust with a bit more flour if too sticky, or a splash of milk or water if too stiff.
- Chill the dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to firm it up, making it easier to shape and allowing the flavors to meld.
- Preheat oven and prepare cookies: Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Roll the dough into balls approximately 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon each, depending on desired cookie size. If using a cookie stamp, dust dough balls and stamp with flour before pressing down. Alternatively, roll the dough and use cookie cutters.
- Bake: Arrange cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10–14 minutes depending on size. Look for lightly golden edges and centers just set; slight underbaking keeps the texture tender.
- Make the glaze: While cookies bake, whisk together icing sugar, fresh orange juice, Cointreau (or extra orange juice for alcohol-free), and ground clove until thick yet pourable.
- Glaze and finish baking: Once cookies are cool enough to handle, dip or drizzle each with the glaze. Return to the oven for another 1–2 minutes to let the glaze set and crackle slightly.
- Cool and store: Let cookies cool completely on a wire rack, then store in an airtight container for up to one week to allow flavors to deepen.
Notes
- If you don’t have dehydrated orange rings, use extra orange zest for brightness.
- Chill dough longer for firmer texture and more developed spice flavors.
- Skip Cointreau and add extra orange juice in glaze for an alcohol-free version.
- If glaze is too runny, add more icing sugar; if too thick, thin with additional juice or water.
- These cookies pair beautifully with black tea, spiced chai, or mulled wine for a festive touch.
Keywords: orange clove cookies, spiced cookies, holiday cookies, winter cookies, citrus glaze, molasses cookies
