Orange creamsicles are a beloved summertime treat, but those vanilla and orange flavors don’t have to stay in the freezer. Orange creamsicle cookies transform the classic citrus-ice cream combination into a delightful treat that won’t melt in your hands.

These pudding cookies are almost like chocolate chip cookies, except they have plenty of orange zest and white chocolate chips incorporated into the dough. They’re moist, chewy and flavorful—truly the ideal nostalgic sweet. Make a batch (or several!) for a bake sale or put out a platter for your next backyard barbecue dessert table.

Ingredients for Orange Creamsicle Cookies

• Butter: Unsalted butter works best for this cookie dough. Be sure to soften the butter to room temperature before mixing for the best texture.
• Sugars: Both granulated sugar and brown sugar add sweetness, while the brown sugar also introduces a depth of flavor to the cookie dough.
• Eggs: Eggs bind the ingredients in the dough and help the cookies rise while baking. It’s best to use room-temperature eggs for baking.
• Orange zest: Use fresh zest from one orange to add vibrant flavor to the cookie dough.
• Vanilla extract: Using a good vanilla extract vs. imitation vanilla is better for the overall flavor of most baked goods.
• Orange extract: Orange extract works with the orange zest for a bigger citrus punch.
• All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour provides structure for these creamsicle orange cookies.
• Instant vanilla pudding: A package of pudding mix contributes to the cookies’ taste and texture. It provides rich moisture while incorporating plenty of vanilla for an ice cream-forward flavor.
• Baking soda: A small amount of baking soda goes a long way in creating excellent texture and shape for these cookies.
• White chocolate chips: White chocolate chips paired with orange zest create the ideal orange creamsicle combination.

Taste of Home

Spritz cookies are a holiday season favorite, known for their buttery flavor and light texture. While they’re often consumed during the winter months, we still crave these cookies throughout the rest of the year. We found an excuse to enjoy them during the summer months by drawing inspiration from a popular summer cocktail and turning them into cute little Aperol spritz cookies.

An Aperol spritz is a simple cocktail made up of Prosecco, soda water and Aperol, which is an Italian aperitif with notes of orange and a touch of bitterness. These cookies embrace the flavor of Aperol with fresh orange zest in the dough, along with an Aperol glaze to top them off. Serve the cookies for any occasion on their own, or pair them with a glass of Prosecco or an Aperol spritz for an orangey summer treat.

Aperol Spritz Cookie Ingredients

• Butter: The key ingredient in these buttery cookies is unsalted butter. Before you start baking, soften the butter to room temperature.
• Confectioners’ sugar: Confectioners’ sugar not only adds sweetness but also plays a role in the structure of these light and airy cookies. This type of sugar is also the base of the Aperol glaze.
• Salt: A touch of salt goes a long way in helping balance the flavor in these Aperol spritz cookies.
• Egg: Just one large room-temperature egg is added to the cookie dough. The egg binds the other ingredients and helps the cookies rise slightly while baking for a light, airy texture.
• Orange extract: Orange extract is key in this recipe. It enhances the overall taste of the cookie dough.
• Orange zest: Fresh orange zest enhances the flavors of Aperol in this orange dessert recipe. The zest is incorporated into both the cookie dough and the glaze. Zest an orange the same way you would zest a lemon: with a Microplane, a zester or a box grater.
• All-purpose flour: Finish the cookie dough with all-purpose flour. It provides a proper structure for the cookies.
• Aperol: Aperol is the inspiration for the cookies, but it isn’t incorporated into the dough. Instead, its herbaceous orange flavor is prominent in the glaze used to dress up these cookies.

Taste of Home