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These Orange Creamsicle Cookies taste like your favorite orange creamsicles on a hot summer day. A little scoop of sunshine in each bite!
You get the chewy cookies texture we all love, plus bursts of fresh orange flavor dancing with sweet white chocolate chips. Orange Creamsicle Cookies are a thing to behold.
And let’s not forget the touch of vanilla extract that makes these cookies taste almost like a swirl of orange creamsicle ice cream. They’re bright, sweet, and super fun to make.
That popsicle flavor that we all love goes so well with cookies. It’s kinda mind boggling actually.
I first made them for a bunch of friends at a book group I went to. The results were so good, my friends practically inhaled them. Big win!
Whether you’re a fan of bold citrus or you like a “sneaky fruit” taste in your homemade cookies, these are sure to be a big hit with kids and adults alike.
Bake them for a time of year that needs a pop of color—like a rainy day or when you’re dreaming of summer beach weather.
You can even serve them at a party or tuck them into lunchboxes for a sweet surprise. Ready to find out why these Orange Creamsicle Cookies rock and how to whip them up? Keep reading!
Some of our other favorite COOKIE RECIPES we have on our site include: Copycat Crumbl Golden Oreo Cookies Recipe, Chocolate Drizzled Potato Chip Cookies Recipe, and Best Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe.
Jump to:
- WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- HOW TO MAKE ORANGE CREAMSICLE COOKIES:
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
- WHAT IS A CREAMSICLE?
- CAN THESE BE MADE AHEAD?
- ANY ADDITIONS?
- ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
- HOW TO STORE:
- DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Easy Orange Creamsicle Cookies Recipe
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- Fresh Orange Zest and Extract:
Using both fresh orange zest and orange extract means you get a vibrant, true-orange flavor. - Cream Cheese Makes Them Soft:
A little cream cheese in the dough helps keep the cookies from drying out, giving you chewy cookies that stay soft for days. - Easy to Customize:
You can play with food coloring to get that classic orange color, or skip it entirely if you prefer the natural look.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- Unsalted butter
- Cream cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Large egg
- Navel orange zest
- Baking powder
- Orange extract
- Vanilla extract
- Fine sea salt
- All-purpose flour
- Red gel food coloring (optional)
- Yellow gel food coloring (optional)
- White chocolate chips
- Granulated sugar
HOW TO MAKE ORANGE CREAMSICLE COOKIES:
- In the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar to the bowl a little at a time until mixed in. Add the egg, orange zest, baking powder, orange extract, vanilla extract, and salt, mix to combine.
- Add in the flour and stir to combine until there are no dry patches, scrape down the sides as needed.
- Add equal parts red gel food coloring and yellow gel food coloring until you get your desired color, optional.
- Stir in the white chocolate chips.
- Line a sheet tray with parchment paper. Take 1 & ½ tablespoons of the cookie dough and dollop them on to the sheet tray, they can be close together. Place into the fridge for 1 hour to chill.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line sheet trays with parchment paper. Add the granulated sugar to a small bowl.
- Roll the dough balls in your hands to form balls, roll in the granulated sugar. Only work with a few cookies at a time so the dough doesn’t warm up too much.
- Place the coated dough balls about 3 inches apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes until they are puffed up, lightly golden brown on the bottom and they appear dry on top.
- Let cool on the sheet tray for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
WHAT IS A CREAMSICLE?
A creamsicle is a frozen treat made from a layer of orange ice (like a popsicle) on the outside and creamy vanilla on the inside.
It’s that sweet mix of orange flavor plus creamy vanilla that inspired these cookies.
They remind people of those classic orange popsicles that you might find at a grocery store in the summer.
CAN THESE BE MADE AHEAD?
Yes! You can mix up the cookie dough ball and store it in the fridge for a day or two before baking.
That way, the flavors meld, and you can have fresh cookies whenever you want.
Just let the dough soften at room temperature for about 15 minutes before scooping and baking.
ANY ADDITIONS?
Feel like spicing things up? Go right ahead!
- Dark chocolate chips instead of white chocolate if you prefer a bolder contrast.
- Chopped nuts (like almonds or pistachios) for a crunchy twist.
- Extra orange zest if you want to really amp up the citrus flavor.
- Cinnamon sugar dusted on top for a warm note.
- Sprinkles in orange and white for a festive look.
- Mini marshmallows folded in if you like a gooey surprise.
- Cocoa powder (a tablespoon or two) added to half the dough to make “swirled” cookies.
- Buttercream or vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two cookies for an ice cream sandwich treat.
- Maple syrup drizzle for a sweet swirl on top.
- Froot Loops crushed on top for a silly, fruity crunch (hey, anything goes!).
ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
Need to tweak something? I know how it goes. Here are a few ideas for ya.
- Brown sugar in place of some powdered sugar for a deeper sweetness—just watch the texture.
- Lemon zest or lime zest if oranges aren’t your thing (though they won’t be “creamsicle,” it’s still a good citrus cookie).
- Vegetable oil or melted butter if you’re short on softened butter—though the texture might change a bit.
- Low-fat cream cheese or “neufchâtel” cheese to lighten things up slightly.
- Coconut sugar instead of granulated sugar for rolling, giving a little toasty flavor and color difference.
HOW TO STORE:
Refrigerator:
Put cooled cookies in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
This keeps the cream cheese in the dough fresher, plus it helps them stay soft.
Let them come to room temperature before enjoying, or eat them cold if you like a denser bite.
Freezer:
You can freeze the cookie dough ball before baking or freeze fully baked cookies.
For the dough, shape them into dough balls, place them on a baking sheet until solid, then store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
When you’re craving that orange creamsicle cookie recipe, just bake from frozen for an extra 1-2 minutes of bake time.
If you freeze baked cookies, wrap them in plastic wrap or place them in a freezer-safe container.
DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Chill the Dough: Let the dough rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour to help flavors develop and keep cookies from spreading too much.
- Don’t Overbake: These cookies should still look slightly soft in the center of the cookie when you remove them from the oven.
- Test a Single Cookie: If you’re worried about color or sweetness, bake one cookie first, taste it, and adjust if needed.
- Use Gel Food Coloring: Gel coloring is stronger than regular food dye, so you need only a tiny bit to get a bright, orange color.
- Make ‘Em Chewy: If you like chewy orange creamsicle cookies, take them out of the oven at the 11-minute mark. If you like them crispier, leave them a minute longer.
- Experiment with Extracts: If you want a deeper vanilla flavor, use half a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste in place of the usual extract for a more luxurious taste.
Now you’ve got a batch of Orange Creamsicle Cookies that’s bursting with bright citrus flavor and creamy sweetness.
Are you drooling yet? I sure am… Happy baking, and enjoy every sweet, tangy bite!
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
Easy Orange Creamsicle Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon navel orange zest
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons orange extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅛ teaspoon red gel food coloring optional
- ⅛ teaspoon yellow gel food coloring optional
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- In the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth.½ cup unsalted butter, 4 ounces cream cheese
- Add the powdered sugar to the bowl a little at a time until mixed in. Add the egg, orange zest, baking powder, orange extract, vanilla extract, and salt, mix to combine.1 ½ cups powdered sugar, 1 large egg, 1 tablespoon navel orange zest, ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1 ½ teaspoons orange extract, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Add in the flour and stir to combine until there are no dry patches, scrape down the sides as needed.1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- Add equal parts red gel food coloring and yellow gel food coloring until you get your desired color, optional.⅛ teaspoon red gel food coloring, ⅛ teaspoon yellow gel food coloring
- Stir in the white chocolate chips.1 cup white chocolate chips
- Line a sheet tray with parchment paper. Take 1 & ½ tablespoons of the cookie dough and dollop them on to the sheet tray, they can be close together. Place into the fridge for 1 hour to chill.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line sheet trays with parchment paper. Add the granulated sugar to a small bowl.¼ cup granulated sugar
- Roll the dough balls in your hands to form balls, roll in the granulated sugar. Only work with a few cookies at a time so the dough doesn’t warm up too much.
- Place the coated dough balls about 3 inches apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes until they are puffed up, lightly golden brown on the bottom and they appear dry on top.
- Let cool on the sheet tray for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Chill the Dough: Let the dough rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour to help flavors develop and keep cookies from spreading too much.
- Don’t Overbake: These cookies should still look slightly soft in the center of the cookie when you remove them from the oven.
- Test a Single Cookie: If you’re worried about color or sweetness, bake one cookie first, taste it, and adjust if needed.
- Use Gel Food Coloring: Gel coloring is stronger than regular food dye, so you need only a tiny bit to get a bright, orange color.
- Make ‘Em Chewy: If you like chewy orange creamsicle cookies, take them out of the oven at the 11-minute mark. If you like them crispier, leave them a minute longer.
- Experiment with Extracts: If you want a deeper vanilla flavor, use half a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste in place of the usual extract for a more luxurious taste.
Nutrition
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