Vegan Orange Cardamom Sugar Cookies Recipe
Delightfully fragrant and soft, these Vegan Orange Cardamom Sugar Cookies combine the zesty brightness of fresh orange with the warm spice of cardamom. Rolled in sugar and topped with a tangy orange glaze, these cookies are perfect for a flavorful, plant-based treat that’s easy to make and sure to impress.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 29 minutes
- Yield: About 18 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Vegan, American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Orange Cardamom Cookies
- ½ cup vegan butter
- ½ cup organic sugar (for dough)
- 2 Tablespoons organic sugar (for rolling)
- 1 Tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1 cup + 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt (only if using unsalted butter)
Orange Glaze
- 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
- ½ cup powdered sugar (sifted)
- 1 teaspoon orange zest (optional, to top glaze/cookies)
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a bowl, combine the vegan butter, ½ cup sugar, orange zest, and cardamom. Cream together using a hand mixer or by hand until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the freshly squeezed orange juice and ground flaxseed into the creamed butter mixture until evenly combined.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt (if using unsalted butter). Gradually add these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a smooth, thick cookie batter forms. Avoid overmixing to ensure tender cookies.
- Chill Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to 1 hour to firm up and develop flavors.
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the fridge and use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop (about 40 grams) to portion the dough.
- Shape and Coat Cookies: Roll each portion into a ball between your palms, then roll each ball in the reserved 2 tablespoons of sugar to coat evenly.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the sugar-coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. For flatter cookies, gently press each ball with the palm of your hand.
- Bake Cookies: Bake for 11-14 minutes until the bottoms are lightly browned and the centers appear soft but no longer glossy or raw. The cookies will continue to cook slightly once out of the oven.
- Create Textured Surface: Remove the tray from the oven and immediately tap it on the counter to create a wrinkly texture on the cookies. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes; they will deflate naturally and set.
- Make Orange Glaze: While the cookies cool, whisk together the orange juice and powdered sugar in a small bowl until a thick glaze forms.
- Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the glaze over fully cooled cookies. Optionally, sprinkle with additional orange zest. Let the glaze set for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For perfectly round cookies, gently swirl the warm cookies inside a round pastry or cookie cutter before they cool completely.
- Store cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-4 days, or freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw frozen cookies at room temperature before serving.
- Cookies can be refrigerated in a closed container for up to 2 weeks, though this may lessen chewiness.
- If making smaller cookies (1.5 tablespoon scoop), reduce baking time to approximately 10-13 minutes. Adjust cooking times accordingly for other sizes.
