Orangette Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed, divided use
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 orange, zested (See Cook’s Tip)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high for about 3 minutes or until mixture lightens in color.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, until fully combined. Add 1/2 cup orange juice concentrate, vanilla extract, and orange zest. Mix on low until well blended.
4. Sift in flour, baking soda, and salt. Fold mixture together, blending until well combined.
5. Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop 1-inch diameter dough balls onto prepared baking sheets, placing them about 2 inches apart. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, rotating pans after 5 minutes. Cookies are ready when bottoms are golden brown.
6. While cookies are baking, make orange icing. Place powdered sugar in a small bowl. Add 1/4 cup orange concentrate and stir to combine. If icing seems too thick or too thin, stir in more concentrate or more powdered sugar until desired consistency.
7. As cookies come out of the oven, top each with 1/2 teaspoon icing. Transfer cookies from pan to cooling rack.
8. Place chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until chocolate is melted. Use a fork or piping bag to drizzle melted chocolate onto iced cookies.
9. Cook’s Tip:
10. 1 teaspoon orange extract can be substituted for fresh orange zest.