Okay, so I’ve been seeing these orange sugar cookies all over my feed, and they looked so good. I finally caved and decided to try making them myself. Let me tell you, it was a bit of an adventure!
Getting Started
First things first, I needed a recipe. I found a few online, but honestly, I ended up kind of mashing a couple together. You know, taking a little bit from this one, a little bit from that one… I’m all about improvising in the kitchen.
I gathered all my ingredients. This is where things got a little interesting. I thought I had everything, but surprise, surprise, I was out of vanilla extract. Rookie mistake! I ended up using a tiny bit of almond extract instead. I figured, why not? It could add a fun little twist.
Mixing It Up
I started by creaming together the butter and sugar. I used my trusty stand mixer, but you could totally do this by hand if you’re feeling ambitious (or if your mixer is in the dishwasher, like mine sometimes is!). Then, I added in the eggs, one at a time, making sure they were all mixed in nicely. Next came the orange zest – and let me tell you, the smell was AMAZING. It instantly made the whole kitchen feel brighter.
In a separate bowl, I whisked together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. I gradually added the dry stuff to the wet stuff, mixing until it just came together. You don’t want to overmix it, or your cookies will be tough. Nobody wants tough cookies!
Chilling Out (Literally)
This part was the hardest – waiting! I wrapped the dough in plastic wrap and stuck it in the fridge for about an hour. The recipe said it needed to chill so it wouldn’t spread too much when baking. Patience is a virtue, they say… but it’s hard when you’re craving cookies!
Baking Time!
Finally, it was time to bake! I preheated the oven and lined my baking sheets with parchment paper (parchment paper is a lifesaver, seriously). I rolled the dough into little balls, and then I did something a little extra: I rolled each ball in some extra sugar. Because why not add more sugar, right?
I popped them in the oven and baked them until the edges were just starting to turn golden brown. The smell was even better than before – warm, citrusy, and sweet. I could hardly wait to try them!
The final Result
- I was very satisfied with the taste.
- I will try to do it again.
- Almond is good.
After they cooled down a bit (the hardest part, again!), I finally got to taste one. And… they were delicious! The orange flavor was bright and zesty, and the texture was perfect – soft and chewy with a slightly crispy edge. The almond extract was a happy accident, it added a subtle nutty flavor that went really well with the orange.
So, there you have it – my orange sugar cookie adventure! It wasn’t perfect, but it was fun, and the cookies were definitely worth the effort. I’d totally recommend giving them a try, even if you have to improvise a little along the way.
