Orange Crinkle Cookies Recipe

These soft, chewy orange crinkle cookies with real orange zest are incredibly addictive. And best of all, you can easily make them with a cake mix!

Feeling lazy but craving a tasty dessert? Take out your cake mix from the pantry and try these chewy and delicious orange crinkle cookies.

This easy and fun orange crinkle cookies recipe only needs a cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, orange zest, icing sugar, granulated sugar, and a bit of orange gel food coloring to get that mouthwatering orange color.

The genius thing about these orange crinkles is their texture! Imagine biting into something between a cake and a cookie with the right amount of sugary sweetness and fresh orange flavor.

What Are Orange Crinkle Cookies?

Orange crinkle cookies are a variation of the classic chocolate crinkles.

You can make orange crinkles from a basic cookie dough recipe of flour, baking soda, baking powder, butter, sugar, and eggs, then add orange juice and zest.

But why go through the trouble of completing these ingredients if you can achieve soft, chewy, tasty, and melt-in-the-mouth orange crinkle cookies from a cake mix?

You don’t need to measure the dry ingredients meticulously, and you can get started on your dough in a snap!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This is your sign to try this orange crinkle cookies recipe.

You probably have all the ingredients, and you’ll be surprised how easy it is to bake homemade orange crinkles in a couple of minutes.

Here are some amazing things about this recipe:

• Easy and Affordable Homemade Goodies: These easy orange crinkles are made from cake mix, so you don’t have to measure the dry ingredients meticulously. This also means you don’t need to buy multiple ingredients to enjoy these orange treats.
• Delicious Taste Even for Picky Eaters: Try a crinkle cookie that’s not chocolate this time. The citrus taste and fragrant aroma from the chewy orange cookies will surely be enjoyed even by someone, not into desserts.
• Versatile Recipe for Different Flavors: If you’re feeling creative, experiment with different ingredient additions and substitutions in this orange crinkle cookie recipe. Read below on what else you can add and if it’s possible to make lemon crinkle cookies.

What Does Orange Crinkles Taste Like?

Orange crinkle cookies taste fresh and citrusy, making them enjoyable for everybody.

Unlike classic chocolate crinkles’ sweet and rich taste, orange ones are lighter and not too overwhelming, especially if you don’t like very sweet desserts.

The orange zest balances the sweetness of the soft, moist, and chewy crinkle cookie. Combining the powdered and granulated sugar in this recipe also creates an experience in mouthfeel.

You’ll get some crunch from the granulated sugar, and then the delicious orange crinkle will melt in the mouth with the icing sugar.

It’s like biting into an orange cookie and cake at once!

Are Orange Crinkle Cookies From Cake Mix Healthy?

Sugar triggers the release of the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine, so enjoying a piece or two of these orange crinkle cookies might be the cheer-up you’re looking for on a stressful day.

But like any other sugary cookie, manage your portions when you eat these scrumptious orange cookies to avoid overconsuming calories. You can also search for “healthier” box cake mixes like those free from preservatives or artificial colors.

Finally, why not enjoy these orange crinkles with a healthy drink on a cozy day? The fresh and zesty taste of soft and chewy orange crinkle cookies should pair deliciously with a cup of your favorite healthy green tea.

What Are The Benefits Of This Orange Crinkle Cookies Recipe?

The best thing about orange crinkle cookies from cake mix is that they’re made from a cake mix, and you don’t need many helpful baking tools!

This makes the recipe much easier since you’re bypassing the need to measure dry and wet ingredients to ensure the best cookie texture and structure.

These yummy orange crinkles are also light and citrusy, so they’re guaranteed to please even family and friends who call themselves “not a fan of sweet things.”

And because this recipe uses few common ingredients, you don’t need to spend extra bucks and time at the grocery store. Check your pantry; you might already have the ingredients for these easy, chewy, and tasty orange cookies.

Ingredients For Orange Crinkle Cookies

• Vanilla cake mix – Use store-bought boxed vanilla cake mix for these orange crinkle cookies. There are also gluten-free brands made from almond flour.
• Eggs – Eggs add structure to the crinkle cookies. Make sure to crack them in a separate bowl in case they’re no longer fresh.
• Vegetable oil – The best oil for orange crinkle cookies is vegetable because it has a neutral flavor for highlighting the orange zest. No need for unsalted butter in this recipe.
• Orange – Use a grater with small holes to get the fresh zest from an orange. Avoid over-grating, as you might get the bitter white part of the peel.
• Orange gel food coloring – You only need a drop to get the mouthwatering orange color on these crinkles.
• Granulated sugar – Coat the orange crinkles in granulated sugar before the icing sugar for texture and to ensure an even powdered sugar coating on the cracked cookies.
• Icing sugar – The classic coating for crinkle cookies and also helps with the melt-in-the-mouth texture.

Tools Needed To Prepare Orange Crinkles

• Oven for baking the orange crinkle cookies
• Baking sheet for arranging the orange crinkles in the oven
• Parchment paper for lining the baking sheet
• Mixing bowl for blending all the ingredients for the cookie dough
• Plastic wrap for wrapping the dough before chilling
• Cookie scoop for portioning the dough into balls
• Wire rack for cooling the orange crinkles

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Orange Crinkle Cookies

Orange extract

Want more citrus flavor on the orange crinkles? Add half a teaspoon of orange extract for taste without accidentally changing the number of liquids in the dough as with using orange juice.

Walnuts

Make your orange crinkle cookies look more appetizing and enjoyable to eat with each crunch from chopped walnuts. Of course, you can use any nuts, but walnuts’ mild, rich flavor complements the orange taste.

Lemon zest

Can’t find an orange? You can switch the orange to lemon zest and use a yellow gel food color rather than orange for an easy lemon crinkle cookies recipe. 

How to Make Orange Crinkle Cookies From Cake Mix

Ingredients:

• 1 box vanilla cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• Orange zest from one orange
• Orange gel food coloring
• Granulated sugar
• Icing sugar

Tools you need:

• Oven
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowl
• Plastic wrap
• Cookie scoop
• Wire rack

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather all the ingredients for the orange crinkle cookies.

STEP 2: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line the baking sheet with parchment paper.

STEP 3: Combine the vanilla cake mix, eggs, oil, and orange zest in a large bowl to make the cookie dough. 

STEP 4: Add a dot of orange gel food coloring to the dough and mix until the color is distributed evenly.

STEP 5: Wrap the orange cookie dough in plastic and chill for 20 minutes in the fridge. You can also keep the wrapped dough in a medium bowl, so it doesn’t get contaminated by other fridge items. 

STEP 6: Scoop out the cookie dough and form 1 ½-inch balls. Next, roll the balls in granulated sugar before powdered sugar.

STEP 7: Arrange the coated cookie dough balls on the lined baking sheet with two inches of space from each other for their expansion.

STEP 8: Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until the cookies get the signature “cracked” look.

STEP 9: Leave the orange crinkle cookies on sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling. Store the cool cookies in an air-tight container at room temperature for two weeks.

What To Serve With Orange Crinkles

Freshly baked cookies will taste delightfully with any warm beverage while relaxing at home. This could be your favorite green tea or brewed coffee.

You can also serve these cookies with hints of citrus as desserts to cleanse the palate after a heavy meal.

Or, if you’re hosting a party, delight your guests with different cookie flavors and colors besides these sugar orange cookies.

Make a cookie table with these delicious and easy recipes! Arrange them in different platters with your orange crinkles.

• Chewy Turtle Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Fall-Inspired Chai Spiced Sugar Cookies
• Sweet and Savory Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies

Tips About Making Orange Crinkle Cookies

This orange crinkle cookies recipe is easy because you’re not measuring the all-purpose flour and other dry ingredients. But to avoid common baking mistakes and achieve soft, moist, and chewy crinkles with the signature “cracked” look, remember these:

• Use gel food coloring only because it won’t affect the number of liquids in the cookie batter. If you have runny dough, the cookies might puddle in the oven, and you won’t have soft and chewy cookies.
• Rolling the cookie balls in granulated sugar before coating them with icing sugar is important. Otherwise, the powdered sugar can dissolve into the orange crinkles or form sugar patches on the cookies.
• Switch orange to lemon zest and use yellow gel food coloring rather than orange for a quick and easy lemon crinkle cookie recipe.

How To Store Orange Crinkles

Here are some storage guidelines to help you enjoy these fresh orange crinkle cookies for longer:

Fridge: After the freshly baked orange crinkle cookies cool completely, you can store them in an airtight container for one week in the fridge.

Freezer: Save prep time by making a batch of dough in advance. Freeze the dough balls in a freezer-safe container and bake within two months.

Reheating: Let the frozen cookie dough sit at room temperature while you preheat the oven. Bake as usual but add a minute or two to the cooking time.

How Can I Get The Orange Flavor In Cookies Without Zest?

Bottled orange extract lets you get the orange flavor on these amazing cookies without zest. This is helpful if you don’t have a fresh orange at hand.

Are Crinkle Cookies Soft Or Hard?

Crinkle cookies are soft and chewy. However, going over the recommended bake time can lead to hard cookies, and they won’t form the signature “cracks” on the crinkle.

Why Are My Crinkle Cookies Flat?

Always chill your crinkle cookie dough before baking to avoid flat crinkles. You should also check if the ingredients are measured correctly as the dough can run on the baking sheet and form flat cookies if it’s too thin. 

Why Is My Crinkle Cookie Dough Sticky?

Following the required flour amount in the crinkle cookie recipe is crucial, or your dough can get sticky. This orange crinkle cookie recipe made from boxed cake eliminates the risk of this mistake because everything is pre-mixed.

FAQ About Orange Crinkle Cookies

Conclusion

You can impress loved ones with leveled-up chewy and soft orange crinkle cookies. Each bite is the perfect middle between cake and cookie with a fresh and light orange taste.

Even people who usually refuse a cookie will be tempted to try these orange crinkles!

And best of all, they’re orange crinkle cookies made from cake mix, so you don’t need to worry about the flour ratio for the perfect cookie texture and structure.

Want more citrus-related information? You might find these posts helpful:

• Homemade Mixed Citrus Liqueur
• How to Tell if an Orange is Bad
• DIY Moisturizing Orange Face Mask
• List of Fruits That Start with O