Grandma Brubaker’s Orange Cookies

Name: Grandma Brubaker's Orange Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: about 6 dozen.
Ingredients: 1 cup shortening; 2 cups sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature, separated; 1 cup buttermilk; 5 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 2 teaspoons baking soda; Pinch salt; Juice and grated zest of 2 medium navel oranges; ICING:; 2 cups confectioners' sugar; 1/4 cup orange juice; 1 tablespoon butter; 1 tablespoon grated orange zest

At least two generations of my family have enjoyed the recipe for these delicate orange-flavored cookies. —Sheri DeBolt, Huntington, Indiana

Ingredients

1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature, separated
1 cup buttermilk
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
Pinch salt
Juice and grated zest of 2 medium navel oranges
ICING:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon grated orange zest

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°. In a bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Beat in egg yolks and buttermilk. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with orange juice and zest. Add egg whites and beat until smooth.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake until set, about 10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
For icing, combine all ingredients and beat until smooth. Frost cooled cookies.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 97 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 6mg cholesterol, 58mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.

Originally published as Grandma Brubaker's Orange Cookies in Grandma's Great Desserts Cookbook

Reviews

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Potempa

May 26, 2018

Made them for my friends and they loved them. I followed the recipe exactly as said, wonderful. I loved the orange taste of the frosting and the cookie.
Donut Queen

Jan 24, 2018

I halved the recipe, used real butter in both the cookie and icing, and didn't bother separating the egg, and the cookies turned out wonderfully. Thanks for sharing this tasty recipe!
DecadentDessertLady

Dec 12, 2017

Baked these for the first time last year; now it's one of my favorites. The orange flavoring is not overpowering and that's what I love about it. A delicious soft cookie! Thank you Grandma Brubaker wherever you are!
heartinsa

Sep 30, 2017

This is the same recipe as old family recipe we have and love except this makes more cookies. Bright orange flavor, soft, moist. Wonderful cookie. For the lady asking about the temperature, our recipe says to bake at 350 for 12 minutes or until light brown.
Moemoe67

Apr 2, 2017

Halved recipe for 3 dozen cookies. DELICIOUS with the fresh OJ & orange peel. Just added a bit more powdered sugar, and a few Tbsp's of milk to firm up frosting a bit. Kept in fridge and I THINK next day they were even better!!THANK YOU this is a keeper!
tammycookblogsbooks

Jan 23, 2017

There is such a good orange flavor in both the cookie and the icing. I didn't have any oranges so I substituted orange juice in the batter. I was glad I did have some grated orange peel in the freezer for the icing. These are delicious cookies!
Yonko57

May 4, 2016

Great tasting, but is 325* correct temp?Baked according time then added two minutes, still limp and soft. Will try again at 375* as most cookies are baked.
debstub

Mar 24, 2016

I omitted the orange rind because we like a milder flavor and it was very good!
justmbeth

Nov 15, 2015

Family absolutely loved these. The orange flavor is very similar to our family favorite pizzelle recipe, which is made with lemon and orange flavors rather than anise. I think my icing turned out a bit too runny in retrospect. Next time I may adjust accordingly.
papa60

Oct 17, 2015

Omg to die for so soft an so much flavor I will be making these for many years !!!!