Frosted Orange Juice Cookies are soft, citrusy treats made with orange juice concentrate baked right into the cookie dough and the frosting!
These vibrant, flavorful cookies are incredibly simple to make, requiring no chilling and just a handful of pantry ingredients. They’re a bright and refreshing twist on traditional cookies—and a perfect pick-me-up any time of year.
Recipe Highlights
- Big orange flavor – Orange juice concentrate packs more flavor than fresh juice, giving the cookies and frosting a strong citrus punch.
- No chilling required – The dough comes together quickly and goes straight into the oven, making this a fast, fuss-free bake.
- Soft and frosted – These cookies have a tender, cake-like texture and are topped with a creamy orange buttercream.
- Simple ingredients – You only need basic pantry staples plus one can of frozen orange juice concentrate.
- Great for any occasion – These are perfect for spring gatherings, baby showers, or whenever you need a cookie that’s a little different.
INGREDIENTS IN FROSTED ORANGE JUICE COOKIES
Sugar – Can’t have cookies without sugar! Many cookie recipes call for granulated sugar and brown sugar, but this cookie recipe only calls for regular granulated sugar.
Butter – You will need 2 1/2 sticks of butter to make these cookies. Real butter works best. Make sure that the butter is softened to room temperature before adding to the sugar.
Eggs – 2 large eggs will help bind everything together and bake properly.
Flour – All-purpose flour works best for cookies.
Frozen orange juice concentrate – For the cookie recipe, you will need a 6 ounce can of frozen orange juice concentrate. You will use all of it in the cookie dough except for 2 tablespoons that you will need to remove and reserve to use for the frosting. I just put it in the dough frozen, but you can let it thaw for a few minutes if you’d like.
Baking soda – The baking soda acts as the leavening agent in the cookies, so for best results, make sure your baking soda isn’t old or expired.
ORANGE JUICE FROSTING INGREDIENTS
Powdered sugar – 3 cups of powdered sugar provide all the sweetness you’ll need and help to make the frosting smooth.
Butter – Again, real butter works best. Soften completely to room temperature before adding to the powdered sugar.
Reserved frozen orange juice concentrate – Use the reserved 2 tablespoons of orange juice concentrate to add that delicious orange flavor to the frosting.
Vanilla – A little bit of vanilla extract adds a delicious flavor to the frosting. The higher the quality of the vanilla, the better!
Milk – You only need 1-2 tablespoons of milk to get the frosting to the perfect, spreadable consistency. Any type of milk will work just fine!
Orange sugar – If you want to add a little bit of decoration, use a little bit of orange sugar or sprinkles to sprinkle on top of the frosting!
Helpful Tips
Full instructions can be found on the recipe card below, but here are a few tips and tricks for making these cookies.
- Don’t overbake: The cookies should look slightly underbaked when you pull them from the oven—they’ll finish cooking on the baking sheet.
- Check your dough texture: If the dough seems too sticky to handle, add a bit more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Don’t melt the butter: Melted butter will cause the cookies to spread too much. Stick to room temperature butter for the perfect soft texture.
- Cream thoroughly: Spend a full 2–3 minutes mixing the butter, sugar, and eggs. This helps aerate the dough and gives a lighter cookie.
- Use a cookie scoop: For evenly sized, perfectly shaped cookies that bake evenly.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
Store frosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days. If stacking, place wax paper between layers to avoid smudging the frosting.
To freeze: Freeze unfrosted cookies in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw and frost just before serving. The frosting can also be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 1 week—just bring it to room temperature before using.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use fresh orange juice instead of concentrate?
No, fresh orange juice won’t give the same level of flavor intensity. Orange juice concentrate is key to getting that punchy citrus taste.
Can I color the frosting?
Absolutely! Add a drop or two of orange food coloring for a more vibrant look.
What if I accidentally use up all the concentrate in the dough?
No worries—just substitute the 2 tablespoons needed for the frosting with a mix of fresh orange juice and a little zest to boost the flavor.
MORE ORANGE DESSERTS THAT WE LOVE:
- Obviously, we love cookies! Orange Creamsicle Cookies, Orange Shortbread Cookies, and Orange Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies are some of our favorite cookie recipes.
- Cake is another popular dessert. Orange Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is made with fresh orange juice, and Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake is made with orange soda and orange Jello!
- Glazed Orange Brownies and No-Bake Orange Creamsicle Pie are both simple and packed with orange flavor!
Frosted Orange Juice Cookies made with orange juice concentrate in both the cookies and the frosting! Simple orange cookie recipe packed with orange flavor!
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