These easy Orange Crescent Cookies are a simple cookie with the subtle flavour of orange. Buttery and crunchy it adds a delicious change to your Holiday Baking. Serve them for snack or even dessert with a cup of tea or coffee.

orange crescent cookies on a green tree plate with orange slices

Probably one of my favourite winter time fruits are oranges, if it’s possible for someone’s mouth to water for a fruit this one does it for me. So what better way to share my favourite fruit then with a cookie perfect for Christmas sharing. I hope this Orange Cookie is enjoyed by you too! This cookie can be made with a food processor , stand up mixer or even by hand, you decide.

How to make it

In the mixing bowl or food processor whisk together the flour, zest, salt and baking powder. Then add the sugar, butter, egg yolk and vanilla, beat together on medium speed or pulse together until almost combined. If making by hand then combine with a fork.

the dry ingredients whisked and adding the egg, butter and vanilla

Move the dough to a flat surface a gently knead a couple of time to bring the dough together to form a ball. Wrap it in plastic and refrigerate for 60 minutes.

Remove the dough from the fridge and form into small crescent shapes (I made 28 crescents). Place the crescents on the prepared cookie sheet and refrigerate while the oven is pre-heating.

forming into crescent shapes and placing on a cookie sheet

Bake and let cool slightly on the cookie sheets. Move to a wire rack to cool completely then dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Why do cookies spread

Cookies can spread for a number of reasons, the most common being that the dough has not been chilled, or that you are using a low protein flour. I find a flour with at least 11.5 and up of protein works perfectly. Never use pastry or cake flour for these types of cookies. Also using powdered sugar helps to keep cookies from spreading.

How to store them

The cookies should be stored in an air tight container, they can be kept at room temperature for up to 4 days, they can also be kept in the refrigerate for up to 7-8 days.

How to freeze the cookies

Freeze the cookies in a freezer safe bag or container, they will keep for up to 4 weeks. You can also freeze the dough, wrap it in plastic wrap then place in a freezer safe bag, it will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. Or you could freeze the already formed crescents. Freeze them until firm on a cookie sheet then move them to a freezer safe container separate the layers with parchment paper.

The already formed crescents can be baked directly from the freezer, just add a few extra minutes to the baking time.

What is the difference between zest and juice

The zest, the yellow or orange part of the peel only and not the white part which is quite bitter, consists of lemon oil, which is filled with the pure citrus flavour. Whereas the citrus juice, has the acidic, tart taste of the fruit. So depending on what you prefer you can either use one or both when baking. For this recipe I used zest. If you prefer the flavour of lemons rather than oranges that will work also, or even lime or mandarin orange.

So if you are on your last few days of Christmas baking and you are looking for a citrus cookie why not give these Orange Crescent Cookies a try and let me know how it goes. Happy Baking! Enjoy.