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Orange Clove Cookies Recipe

4.5 from 147 reviews

These Orange Clove Cookies are a delightful seasonal treat combining winter spices and bright citrus flavors. Soft and tender with a slightly sticky dough, they are baked to perfection and finished with a fragrant orange and clove glaze that adds a beautiful crackle and festive touch. Perfect for holiday cookie platters or cozy afternoons with tea.

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
  • 23 tbsp Cointreau (or substitute with more orange juice for alcohol-free)
  • A pinch of ground clove

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. Add zest and spices: Mix in the orange zest (and dehydrated orange if using), followed by all the spices including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, clove, and allspice.
  3. Incorporate the flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing until a soft dough forms. The dough should be pliable and slightly sticky. Adjust consistency with a bit more flour if too sticky, or a splash of milk or water if too stiff.
  4. Chill the dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to firm it up. This helps with shaping and flavor development.
  5. Preheat oven and prepare cookies: Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Roll the dough into balls about 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon each depending on desired cookie size. If using, dust dough balls and cookie stamp with flour before pressing or roll dough and use cookie cutters.
  6. Bake: Arrange cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10–14 minutes, until edges are lightly golden and centers just set. Slight underbaking keeps cookies tender.
  7. Make the glaze: While cookies bake, whisk together icing sugar, fresh orange juice, Cointreau (or extra juice for alcohol-free), and ground clove until thick yet pourable.
  8. Glaze and finish baking: Once cookies are cool enough to handle, dip or drizzle each with the glaze. Return to oven for 1–2 minutes to set and create a crackled finish.
  9. Cool and store: Let cookies cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container for up to one week. Flavors deepen after a day or two.

Notes

  • If dehydrated orange rings are unavailable, use extra orange zest for bright flavor.
  • Chilling dough longer intensifies spice flavor and firms texture.
  • For alcohol-free glaze, omit Cointreau and increase orange juice.
  • Adjust glaze consistency by adding more icing sugar if too runny, or thinning with juice/water if too thick.
  • These cookies pair wonderfully with black tea, spiced chai, or mulled wine.

Keywords: Orange clove cookies, spiced cookies, holiday cookies, orange zest cookies, glazed cookies, winter spice dessert