Get the App

Recipes

Find a Recipe Blue Ribbon Recipes Pinch It!™ Feed Browse All Recipes

Editorial

Food Bites & Articles Videos What is a Blue Ribbon? Meet the Test Kitchen

Community

Member Recipes Groups Sweepstakes Contests Shopping

aunt bessie's frosted fresh orange cookies

(6)
kathiecc avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Kathie Carr
@kathiecc
North Liberty, IN

This recipe came from my Great Aunt Bessie McEndarfer. She lived in a big, old-fashioned brick house just down the road from my mom and dad in the 1950s. Aunt Bessie had a big family. She was a great cook and all her kids and grandkids remember and crave these cookies. This recipe makes a big batch of cookies which I'm sure Aunt Bessie needed to feed everyone. I'm posting this recipe in memory of a wonderful lady, Great Aunt Bessie.

read more

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Aunt Bessie's frosted fresh orange cookies are delightfully light, refreshing, and filled with bright citrus flavor. Tender and buttery, they melt in your mouth and are filled with fresh flavor from orange zest. We suggest not skipping the icing. It adds another punch of orange flavor. A wonderful addition to a dessert table any time of the year.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(6)
yield 32 serving(s)
prep time 15 Min
cook time 10 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For aunt bessie's frosted fresh orange cookies

  • COOKIES
  • 3 c
    all-purpose flour
  • 1 pinch
    salt
  • 1 tsp
    baking powder
  • 1 tsp
    baking soda
  • 1 c
    softened butter
  • 2 c
    brown sugar
  • 2 lg
    eggs
  • 1 lg
    orange, zested and juiced, divided
  • 1/4 c
    buttermilk or sour milk
  • ICING:
  • 1 c
    powdered sugar
  • orange zest
  • 1 Tbsp
    orange juice, more if needed
  • 2 - 3
    drops yellow food coloring, optional

How To Make aunt bessie's frosted fresh orange cookies

  • Flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl.
    1
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl.
  • Cream brown sugar and butter. Add eggs one at a time.
    2
    Cream the brown sugar and butter in a separate bowl. Add one at a time, beating in between.
  • Beat in half the orange zest.
    3
    Beat in half of the orange zest.
  • Incorporate half the flour.
    4
    Incorporate half of the flour mixture.
  • Mix in the buttermilk.
    5
    Mix in the buttermilk.
  • Add remaining flour.
    6
    Add the remaining flour and mix until just combined.
  • Drop dough onto a baking sheet.
    7
    Drop dough onto the baking sheet.
  • Bake the cookies.
    8
    Bake in the preheated oven for 9 - 11 minutes.
  • Cool the cookies.
    9
    Once the edges are golden, remove them from the oven. Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.
  • Combine powdered sugar, orange zest, and orange juice.
    10
    Once the cookies are cooled, prepare the icing. Mix powdered sugar and leftover orange rind with enough orange juice to form a glaze type icing. Add food coloring if using.
  • Spread icing on the cookies.
    11
    Spread the icing on the cookies and allow them to dry.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
ADVERTISEMENT