This Orange Snowball Cookies Recipe is a fresh new spin on a holiday classic that is sure to make Santa extra happy this Christmas Eve.
Fresh orange juice and orange zest bring new life to a timeless holiday classic.
Orange Snowball Cookies Recipe
Oranges have long been connected with Christmas, thanks to St. Nicholas who is credited by many for starting the tradition of leaving these as gifts in stockings that were hung above the fireplace.
Back in the days of the Great Depression when money was scarce, oranges were commonly passed along as a gift of a rare luxury and nutritious food.
- Fresh citrus zest will add life to just about any recipe.
- We all know that reindeer love sugar, wait till they try this orange-laced stuff!
The holiday season is often associated with falling snow, special cookies and a time of gift giving. This Orange Snowball Cookies Recipe combines all of these elements into a delicious holiday cookie.
Our Snowball Christmas Cookies that we put together with Scott’s mom a while back have been getting a lot of attention all over the Internet, lately.
There’s a very good reason for this: They’re mouthwatering and delicious. Recently when our friends from The Daily Meal asked us to come up with snow-themed recipe, we used these cookies as a base and jazzed them up a notch or two.
These orange-laced beauties go together in minutes.
Using our handy kitchen microplane, we gave these snowball cookies a whole new flavor, using the zest of a fresh orange.
Candy canes are optional of course but they pair very nicely with these holiday cookies!
Ingredients
- Butter
- Powdered Sugar
- Flour
- Orange Zest
- Orange Juice
- Granulated Sugar
This Orange Snowball Cookies Recipe could hardly be any easier or more delicious and we hope you give them a try this holiday season. Santa will thank you for these and its very possible that Rudolph will fall for these as well, who could blame him?
Give Santa something to remember this year, with a plate of these Orange Snowball Cookies.
Orange Snowball Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened to room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- tablespoons juice from ½ of a small orange about 2 .
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons Edible glitter (yellow or white.) Optional.
- 1 tbsp Orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 °F.
- Using bowl mixer, combine butter and powdered sugar until creamed together.
- Next, add 1 tablespoon of orange peel, reserving the remaining.
- Mix in orange juice, then gradually add flour and mix until well incorporated.
- Roll dough into small (golf ball size) rounds and place on non-greased baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until firm.
- While cookies are baking, combine granulated sugar and remaining orange peel, place in small food processor and incorporate fully. If you don't have a food processor, mix the two together in a small bowl.
- When the cookies are finished baking, allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet. While cookies are still warm, roll them in the sugar and orange peel mixture.
- Garnish with optional edible glitter and/or some orange zest.
Notes
Nutrition
2 Sisters Recipes says
Dan, we love lemon, but using Orange in these snowball cookies is a great idea, and I ( anna ) will definitely try this recipe using orange – a nice change from all the other flavors. Thanks for sharing.
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
Snowball cookies are so fun! I LOVE the orange addition, that’s one of my favorite flavors this time of year.
J @ B says
What a fun spin! I bet that the orange is so tasty and refreshing!
Jovita @ Yummy Addiction says
These look like perfect Christmas cookies! They would surely make Santa (me) happy, ha!
Dan from Platter Talk says
I’m thinking you’re right about that!
Elizabeth says
Such an unusual cookie recipe – I bet it tastes absolutely amazing! I don’t have a microplane, but I’m sure a small grater would work well too?
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
I remember my favorite aunt making a similar cookie in lemon and they were so good. I love how easy these are and they look like they are full of flavor!
Katie \ Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
I love snowball cookies, so I am sure I would love this orange version of them.
Jessy @ The Life Jolie says
I love snowball cookies so much but I’ve never thought to add other flavors. I bet they amazing with orange!!
Lisa | Garlic + Zest says
Zest is like a “thing” for me — I love the color and sparkle of these cookies, but I think I’d love that citrus aroma that’s sure to hit you when using fresh zest — even more!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
These look like festive little bites. Perfect for the cookie tray. I know they would disappear fast!!
Raia says
Snowball cookies are one of my favs. I love the addition of the orange peel!
Amanda says
These are beautiful. Oranges are a so much a part of the season. It wouldn’t be complete without a trip to a local grove (Pell’s Citrus & Nursery). Nothing like just picked citrus for eating or recipes. I love you explaining the tradition. I can’t wait to make this tasty treat for the the holidays! (The star rating is not working 🙁 This is a 5 star recipe.)
Kristine says
I love how simple this recipe is and they cookies look amaze-balls! Thanks!
valentina says
These look so fun and delicious! LOVE citrus in the winter. 🙂
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says
I love orange zest! These sound delicious!!!
linda spiker says
Oh wow. Those look so delicate and delicious!
Sandhya Hariharan says
These snowballs look absolutely refreshing with all the citrus zest. I would love to have them for the upcoming parties.
Ilona @ Ilona's Passion says
These snowballs will be great for any party during winter months!
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry says
These look so fresh zesty and amazing. Would love to make a batch of these