Festive Orange Clove Christmas Cookies for Holiday Cheer Recipe
These Festive Orange Clove Christmas Cookies bring a delightful blend of warm spices and citrus zest, perfect for holiday celebrations. Softened butter, honey, and molasses create a rich base, enhanced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, clove, and allspice to fill your kitchen with seasonal aromas. Finished with a sweet orange glaze infused with Cointreau, these cookies are both flavorful and festive.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup Butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup Honey
- 1/4 cup Molasses
- 2 cups Flour
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon Cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon Clove
- 1/2 teaspoon Allspice
- 1 tablespoon Orange Zest
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
Glaze
- 1 cup Icing Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Orange Juice
- 1 tablespoon Cointreau (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Clove (for glaze)
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Honey: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and honey together until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, ensuring a light texture for the cookie dough.
- Add Molasses: Stir the molasses into the creamed mixture, blending well to incorporate its rich flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Gradually mix in the flour and salt, followed by the spices—cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, clove, and allspice—along with the orange zest and vanilla extract. Continue mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Chill the Dough: Shape the dough into a log or press it into a cookie stamp or cutter shape. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Preheat and Slice: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Remove the chilled dough and slice it into approximately 1/2 inch thick pieces. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes or until the edges are golden brown, indicating they are perfectly cooked.
- Prepare the Glaze: While the cookies bake, mix the icing sugar, orange juice, Cointreau (if using), and ground clove in a small bowl until smooth to create a fragrant glaze.
- Glaze and Final Bake: Remove the cookies from the oven and brush them with the prepared glaze. Return them to the oven for an additional 3-5 minutes to set the glaze and enhance the flavors.
Notes
- For a non-alcoholic version, omit the Cointreau in the glaze and substitute with extra orange juice.
- Ensure butter is properly softened for easier creaming and better texture.
- Chilling the dough helps in easier slicing and maintains cookie shape when baked.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- These cookies pair wonderfully with hot tea or mulled wine for festive gatherings.
Keywords: Christmas cookies, festive cookies, orange clove cookies, holiday baking, spiced cookies, glazed cookies
