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Orange Clove Cookies Recipe

Orange Clove Cookies Recipe
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★★★★★

5.3 from 28 reviews

Delight in these aromatic Orange Clove Cookies, featuring a rich blend of warm spices, honey, molasses, and fresh orange zest. Finished with a luscious orange and Cointreau glaze infused with a hint of clove, these cookies offer a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors. They are wonderfully soft yet slightly crisp and ideal for any festive occasion or a cozy afternoon treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookies

  • 170 g butter, softened
  • 2 tbsp (40 g) honey
  • 2 tbsp (40 g) fancy molasses
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 large orange, zested
  • Few dehydrated orange rings, finely chopped (optional)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ginger or more, to taste
  • 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg or more, to taste
  • 1/4 tsp cardamom
  • A pinch of clove and allspice, each
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups flour (300 g)

Glaze

  • 1 1/4 cup (about 150 g) icing sugar
  • 2–3 tbsp (30–45 ml) orange juice
  • 2–3 tbsp (30–40 ml) Cointreau
  • A little pinch of clove

Instructions

  1. Creaming the Base: In a bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, cream together the softened butter, honey, molasses, vanilla extract, and salt for about one minute until smooth and fluffy.
  2. Adding Spices and Orange Zest: Add cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, clove, allspice, and orange zest to the creamed mixture. Beat for 10 seconds just to incorporate the spices evenly.
  3. Forming the Dough: Gradually add the flour, initially mixing with a whisk then switching to a spoon, until a soft, pliable, and slightly sticky dough forms. Adjust texture by dusting with flour or adding a few drops of water or milk if needed. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.
  4. Shaping the Cookies with Stamps: If using cookie stamps, shape small dough balls (1 tsp to 1 tbsp). Dust both the dough balls and the stamp lightly with flour. Firmly press the flour-dusted stamp onto the dough ball until it flattens and spreads to the full edge of the stamp. Carefully remove the dough from the stamp and place onto a lined baking sheet. Trim uneven edges using a small round cutter and reuse scraps.
  5. Shaping the Cookies without Stamps: If no stamps are available, roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface and cut into shapes using cookie cutters of your choice.
  6. Preheating and Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange the cookies on lined baking sheets. Bake for 10-14 minutes depending on size, until edges are lightly browned. It’s better to slightly underbake as cookies return to oven after glazing.
  7. Preparing the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together icing sugar, 2 tablespoons orange juice, 2 tablespoons Cointreau, and a pinch of clove. Adjust consistency with more juice or Cointreau as necessary to achieve a thick but runny glaze similar to runny honey. Substitute orange juice if avoiding alcohol.
  8. Glazing and Final Baking: When cookies are out of the oven and slightly cooled to handle, dip each cookie quickly into the glaze or pour glaze over them. Return the glazed cookies to the baking sheet and bake for 2 minutes. Reduce oven heat and leave for an additional minute, then remove. This creates a crisp, crackly glaze.
  9. Cooling and Storing: Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, transfer them to an airtight container for storage. Enjoy the delightful balance of citrus and spice in every bite!

Notes

  • If you prefer, substitute molasses with dark honey or maple syrup, but molasses adds unique depth.
  • Adjust spices according to taste; increasing clove or nutmeg will intensify warmth.
  • For a non-alcoholic glaze, replace Cointreau with additional orange juice or a splash of orange extract.
  • Refrigerating dough helps manage stickiness and enhances flavor melding.
  • Ensure cookies are only slightly underbaked before glazing to maintain a tender inside with a crispy glaze finish.
  • Use dehydrated orange rings finely chopped in the dough for textured orange notes, optional but recommended for enhanced flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: Orange Clove Cookies, Spiced Cookies, Orange Zest Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Glazed Cookies, Molasses Cookies, Spiced Dessert

Find it online: https://nayabaker.com/orange-clove-cookies-recipe/