The holiday season is here and what better way to get into the festive spirit than with some homemade orange cookies?
These orange star cookies are a delightful twist on classic shortbread biscuits.
With a burst of fresh orange flavor from orange rind and they’re just perfect for leaving out for Santa—or enjoying with a cup of hot chocolate!
Orange star shortbread cookies recipe
If you're looking for delicious cookies that are easy to make and bursting with flavor, these orange star cookies are the perfect choice.
They have a lovely balance of sweet and citrusy flavours.
They can be taken up a notch with a dip in dark chocolate making them even more irresistible!
They’re the perfect biscuits to add to your Christmas baking list or as a gift for friends and family.
I think Santa would enjoy a little plate of these cookies waiting by the tree on Christmas Eve.
What a lucky man to be given treats at all the houses he visits!
If you’re very good, there might even be a few leftover for you to have.
You can also make the dough in advance and freeze it for last minute baking.
It’s a rainbow of white to orange and all colours in between in this recipe.
I advise measuring out all the ingredients before you start baking so you don't forget anything.
Like so many baked goodies, this one starts with beating the butter and sugar together until they are fluffy.
Add the eggs and beat them through.
Now it's time to put the orange in orange star cookies.
Tip in the orange zest and mix it through until just combined.
Sift the flour into the batter and stir it through.
Stir the cornmeal into the batter too.
Tip the dough out onto a lightly-floured surface and knead it until it all comes together.
Roll the dough out to about 1cm thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut 3cm stars in the dough.
Re-roll the offcuts until you have used all the dough.
Place the stars on lined baking trays at least 3cm apart and bake them at 160C for 15-20 minutes .
Leave the baked stars to cool on the trays for a few minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack.
As soon as you put them on the rack, dust them with icing sugar.
Leave the cookies to cool completely on the rack.
Whether you're baking them to share with friends or leaving them out for Santa, these cookies will certainly spread holiday cheer.
Enjoy these shortbread stars, and happy baking!
Other decorating ideas
If you want something a little fancier than icing sugar dust here are some more ideas:
Melted chocolate - dip the edges in melted chocolate or dip in. Let them set on a wire rack.
Orange glaze - make cookie icing and add orange zest to it.
Orange drizzle - combine icing sugar and orange juice and drizzle over the cookies.
Tips for perfect orange star cookies
- Room temperature butter is key to getting that smooth, creamy texture. If your butter is too cold, it won’t cream properly.
- The cookie dough can be a bit crumbly at first, but it will come together once you start working it.
- Star anise can also be added for a lovely hint of spice, especially if you like your cookies with a little extra depth of flavour.
- Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or freeze them for longer storage.
Recipe
Orange star cookies - a treat for Santa
Ingredients
- 125 g 4.5oz unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 115 g ½ c caster (superfine) sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 large orange for zest - save the orange and juice it for later
- 155 g 1 ½ c plain all purpose flour
- 110 g 4oz coarse corn meal (I used polenta)
- icing sugar to dust
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 160C(320F) fan-forced and line two baking trays or a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream the butter: In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl using a wooden spoon, beat the unsalted butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg yolks, and zest of the large orange. Mix until smooth.
- Remove the bowl from the stand and stir in the sifted flour and the cornmeal.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly-floured bench and knead it until it all comes together.
- Roll it out to 1cm thickness on a lightly floured surface.
- Cut out star shape (or any shape you wish) using a 3cm cutter.
- Place the biscuits on the lined trays at least 3cm apart.
- Bake them for 15-20 minutes or until they start to turn golden.
- Let them cool on the trays for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack and dust with icing sugar.
- Leave them to cool completely before serving or wrapping them up.
- Orange stars will keep for up to 5 days if stored in an air-tight container.
Jennifer (Delicieux) says
Yum!! Lucky Santa!!! As you say, it's a good thing he's not watching his figure given all the treats I'm sure people will leave out for him ;)
Claire says
He has all year to work it off too!
Glamorous Glutton says
I'm not sure Santa would get a look in at this house. The Glam Teens would have them all - well, I have to have someone to blame! GG
Claire says
It's good to have someone to blame!
Lizzy (Good Things) says
Yummy, may I please have three with a cup of tea xoxo
Claire says
Sure Lizzy! x