These Orange Cookies are soft and sweet cookies made with whole wheat flour, gram flour, fresh orange juice and orange zest. They have a moist texture and a pleasant citrus flavor without being overly sweet. In India, these can also be described as orange biscuits, though their texture is softer than most bakery-style biscuits. The recipe is made with simple ingredients that are easily available.

About Orange Biscuits Recipe

Orange cookies are simple citrus flavored cookies made with fresh Orange Juice, orange zest, flour and sugar. They are easy to prepare and need no special equipment.

This orange biscuits recipe is eggless and vegan. Sunflower oil replaces butter, making the cookies light and moist. You can also make these biscuits with melted butter, which gives them a richer flavor and a slightly different texture.

Unlike crisp biscuits, these cookies have a soft texture. They are neither chewy nor crumbly. Fresh orange juice gives a natural citrus flavor. Orange zest adds more aroma and depth.

I have used a combination of whole wheat flour and gram flour. The gram flour adds a subtle nutty taste and flavor.

These orange biscuits are also a good way to use fresh seasonal oranges. If needed, packaged orange juice can be used.

The tops naturally crack while baking, giving them a crinkled appearance. A light dusting of icing sugar makes them look even more attractive.

The recipe is straightforward and suitable for beginner bakers. The dough comes together quickly and does not require chilling.

Serve these orange cookies with tea, coffee or milk. They also make a nice homemade snack for children and adults alike.

If you enjoy baking with oranges, do try my Orange Cake and Orange Muffins recipes too. Both are made with fresh orange juice and have a lovely citrus flavor.

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How To Make Orange Cookies (Stepwise)

Prepare Orange Juice

1. Rinse and dry 1 medium orange thoroughly. Using a fine grater, grate the orange peel to get about 1 teaspoon orange zest.

Grate only the orange-colored part and avoid the white pith as it tastes bitter.

2. Peel the orange and roughly chop the segments. As you chop, remove any seeds you come across. Add the chopped orange pieces to a blender jar.

Blend until smooth. You can also use a juicer if preferred.

3. Strain the juice through a fine sieve into a bowl or measuring cup. Press the pulp with the back of a spoon to extract as much juice as possible.

Keep the juice and zest aside. You will need ⅓ cup of fresh orange juice.

Make Cookie Dough

4. In a mixing bowl, combine ⅓ cup fresh orange juice, ½ cup sugar and ½ cup sunflower oil.

5. Whisk well until the sugar dissolves and the mixture looks uniform.

6. Place a sieve over the bowl and sift the following dry ingredients directly into the wet mixture:

• 1½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (called cornflour in India & UK)
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 pinch of salt

7. Add the reserved orange zest.

8. Mix lightly with a spoon. Add ½ cup gram flour (besan).

9. Bring everything together and gently form into a soft dough. Do not knead.

Bake Orange Biscuits

10. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit) for 15 minutes.

Divide the dough into 12 to 14 equal portions and roll each portion into a small ball. Slightly flatten each ball.

Arrange them on a lightly greased or parchment lined baking tray, leaving some space between each cookie. As the cookies bake, they spread slightly and develop their characteristic crinkled tops.

11. Bake in the preheated oven at 200 degrees celsius/392 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cookies are golden.

If using a convection oven, bake at 180 degrees Celsius/356 degrees Fahrenheit for about the same time.

Since oven temperatures vary, keep an eye on the cookies during the last few minutes of baking.

Remove the tray from the oven using oven mitts or oven gloves.

12. Using a spatula, transfer the orange biscuits to a wire rack and cool completely.

13. Once cooled, dust lightly with icing sugar or powdered sugar using a small tea strainer if preferred.

Serving Suggestions

Serve orange biscuits with tea, coffee, Hot Chocolate or milk.

They can also be packed into lunch boxes or served as a light evening snack. For festive occasions, dust the cookies with icing sugar just before serving.

Storage

Store the homemade orange cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They keep well for about 2 to 3 days depending on the weather and humidity.

In humid climates, refrigerate them in an airtight container and bring to room temperature before serving.

Dassana’s Recipe Tips

1. Use Fresh Oranges: Fresh orange juice and zest give the best flavor. Choose ripe and sweet oranges for a naturally pleasant citrus taste.
2. Avoid The White Pith: While zesting, grate only the orange-colored skin. The white layer underneath can make the cookies bitter.
3. Do Not Overwork The Dough: Mix and combine the ingredients only until the dough comes together. Kneading can make the biscuits dense.
4. Adjust Sugar As Needed: Depending on the sweetness of the oranges, you can slightly reduce or increase the sugar.
5. Packaged Juice Works Too: If fresh oranges are not available, use a good-quality orange juice without added artificial flavors or added sugar.
6. Watch The Baking Time: Every oven behaves differently. Bake only until the cookies are golden.
7. Crinkled Appearance: The characteristic cracks on these orange cookies form naturally during baking. Once cooled, you can dust them lightly with icing sugar for a more classic look.
8. Using Butter: You can substitute the sunflower oil with an equal amount of melted butter. Butter adds a richer taste and aroma, while sunflower oil gives a lighter texture and allows the orange flavor to stand out more clearly.
9. Cool Before Storing: Let the cookies cool completely before transferring them to a container to prevent moisture buildup.