Description
These Orange Almond Cookies are a delightful blend of nutty almond flour and fresh citrus flavors. Sweetened with unrefined cane sugar and infused with orange juice and zest, these cookies are naturally gluten-free and feature a crunchy almond coating that adds a perfect texture contrast. Simple to prepare and baked to golden perfection, they make a deliciously light treat ideal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups Almond Flour
- 3/4 cup Unrefined Sugar
Wet Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Orange Juice
- 1-2 teaspoons Orange Zest
- 1/4 teaspoon Almond Extract (optional)
Toppings
- 1/2 cup Sliced Almonds
- Cooking oil spray (for greasing)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper, then lightly oil the parchment paper with cooking oil spray to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- Prepare almonds: Pour the sliced almonds into a small bowl; these will be used later to coat the cookies.
- Make the dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, unrefined cane sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and almond extract if using. Stir until the dough becomes sticky and has a consistent texture.
- Form dough balls: Using a small cookie dough scoop or tablespoon, scoop out dough and roll into balls with lightly greased hands. This recipe yields about 12 cookie dough balls.
- Coat dough balls in almonds: Generously oil your hands again and roll each dough ball between your palms until smooth. Then press each side of the ball into the sliced almonds so they stick all around. If needed, gently re-roll the dough to improve almond adhesion.
- Arrange cookies: Place all almond-coated dough balls onto the prepared cookie sheet, spacing them about one inch apart.
- Flatten cookies: Lightly press down the top of each cookie ball with the palm of your hand to flatten slightly.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes until the sliced almonds turn a nice golden brown.
- Cool on sheet: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet at room temperature for 20 minutes without moving them, as they are soft initially and will firm up as they cool.
- Final cooling: Transfer the cookies carefully to a cooling rack and cool for an additional 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Using almond flour makes these cookies naturally gluten-free and adds a rich, nutty flavor.
- Unrefined sugar gives a deeper, more complex sweetness than regular white sugar.
- Orange zest can be adjusted to your preference for more or less citrus intensity.
- If almond extract is unavailable, you can omit it; the cookies will still have great flavor from the orange.
- Ensure hands are well-oiled to prevent sticking when shaping the dough balls.
- Allow cookies to cool fully on a rack to achieve the best texture before storing.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
