Soft, citrusy-sweet sugar cookies are the perfect use for clementines, lemons, oranges, or any of your favorite citrus fruits. Bake a batch of buttery sugar cookies with a clementine kick for a unique and scrumptious anytime treat!
When I was pregnant last winter, I was clementine CRAY-ZAY. Well… let’s be honest, really addicted to all citrus in general. It was a problem.
Routine trips to the grocery store with a list consisting of bread, milk and Nutella (of course) would find me heaving 5-lb. bags of oranges, lemons and clementines into my cart. Plus a few melon-sized grapefruit. You know, in case I got snacky.
This sweet ‘n sour addiction didn’t subside until long after our little lady came into the picture. But, I’m happy to say, citrus and I are at a better place now. A healthier place. A cookie-er place.
Wait, I think that’s a contradiction. Is it? Let’s go with “no.”
Onto the cookies!
These soft, chewy sugar cookies with a sweet citrusy flavors are not only easy, they’re absolutely delicious. Such a unique treat to bring to a party table any time of year, too! You can use any citrus you prefer – you just need the zest and juice. Why not try a luscious lemon sugar cookie? Or a gorgeous coral-hued grapefruit batch? Oranges and limes will work, too!
They come together so quickly, sparkle with sugar and bake up buttery golden. These cookies also make a large batch and will remain soft for days. Keep some for yourself, and give some more away to a friend, neighbor, or someone who could use a smile!
Super Soft Clementine Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
- 1/2 teaspoon clementine zest, from 1-2 clementines
- 2 Tablespoons clementine juice, from 1-2 clementines
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- In a separate large bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Mix in egg, extract, zest and juice until well combined. Gradually stir in flour mixture until well combined.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls, then roll in granulated sugar. Place on baking sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned around edges. Let cool on baking sheet for 1-2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy!
Georgia, these are spectacular! You and I must have been on the same pregnancy frequency. Your grocery shopping cart sounds exactly like mine! I have about 10 pounds of grapefruit and 5 pounds of oranges in my fridge right now that won’t last very long. Then, I single handedly consumed an entire jar of hot fudge and Haagen Daz Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream. So good. ;-)
Thank you so much for the beautiful baby shower! It means so much to me and I’m just loving reading (and drooling) over all of these recipes! I hope you, your husband and baby L are doing great!
They’re so perfectly pillowy! And it’s funny to hear these pregnancy + citrus craving stories. I hope to crave something like that and not mac and cheese, pizza, chips and the usual junk I crave. ;)
I actually have an overabundance of clementines that just aren’t getting eating. These cookies must happen!
I love how soft and chewy these little delights look and the citrus is just lovely. Congrats Caroline. What a sweet way to celebrate!
I am a TOTAL sucker for sugar cookies, especially soft ones. One of my favorite recipes has a citrus zest in the dough and frosting, so I already know I am going to LOVE your recipe!!
Surprise, surprise, lovely Caroline! Hope you have a love-filled virtual shower day. We can’t wait to meet that little bundle!
So funny – I think all pregnant women go crazy for citrus!!! These are beautiful!!
These look and sound amazing! Such a cute little recipe for a baby shower surprise :D mmmm, it doesn’t take a lot of juice and zest to get them packed full with that delicious zinginess ^ ^
Love these! We’re going through a bag of clementines a day right now and if I bake these cookies that taste like them, my boys would go crazy! Can’t wait!
what a great cookie! i’m loving citrus this winter a lot :)
Yum! I can’t get enough citrus in the winter! It makes me think of warmer climates!
These look so soft and pillowy. I want to gobble up that whole tray!
I’m currently eating an orange right now and totally want a clementine cookie!
These look so good and so creative my dear!! How great!
I thought I had commented, but perhaps I didn’t. These look awesome, i love how creative they are. Great refreshing cookie during these winter months
Cookier places are kind of healthy places! Mentally, at least. You don’t see many sweet treats with clementines, but I am loving these!
These cookies look so cute.. and yummy of course :)
My boyfriend is not much of a dessert person but loves clementines, so I just baked these last night for his birthday! Excited to see what he thinks. Thanks for the recipe! :)
Could you roll this dough and use cookie cutters?
I have only made this recipe as written. You would need to add additional flour to the dough in order for these to be roll-able. But, that would make the cookies more dense and not as soft.
I’ve read the whole post and wondered what the asterisks by the extract and citrus juice mean? Am I missing something? Really excited to try this recipe, thanks!
Only taken the time to review a recipe once before but these were spectacular! I made these for friends, got great reviews and reports of binge eating. Will definitely make them again!!