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These orange crinkle cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with fresh orange flavor that screams summer. Easily pull off these gorgeous treats with a cake mix!
Is there anything more iconic than crinkle cookies?
From those beautiful cracks that give you a peek at their soft, moist centers to that generous coating of sugar that makes them just as pretty as they are delicious, it’s no surprise they deserve a permanent spot in your baking repertoire.
But this summer, let me teach you how to make orange crinkle cookies.
This bright variation of the classic chocolate crinkle cookie recipe uses real orange zest to wake up the crinkles’ flavor. Using a boxed cake mix also makes it one of those cookie recipes you’ll come back to again and again.
Everything else is likely already in your pantry, and before you know it, your orange crinkles are ready to be devoured!
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Looking for more cookie inspiration beyond the usual chocolate chip?
Check out our TikTok blueberry cookies!
And since we’re already on the topic of orange cookies, you don’t want to miss out on orange Creamsicle cookies.
Why You’ll Love This Orange Crinkle Cookies Recipe
- These orange crinkle cookies have the perfect soft-chewy texture and bright citrus flavor. They’re not overly rich, but they’ll still hit that sweet spot when you want something rewarding.
- Because we’re making these orange cookies with cake mix, you can skip the stress of precise measurements that usually come with scratch baking. It takes the pressure off and helps you avoid dry or flat cookies!
- From summer gatherings to holiday dessert tables, these citrus crinkle cookies are an easy way to upgrade your menu. And since these cake mix crinkle cookies come together so quickly, you can honestly whip them up anytime the cravings hit.
Ingredients
Boxed vanilla cake mix – This is your shortcut to soft and chewy orange crinkle cookies. Just use whatever brand you have on hand.
Eggs – These give the orange cake mix cookies structure and help the dough hold its shape when baked.
Vegetable oil – Oil keeps things quick and easy since there’s no need to wait for anything to soften. It also keeps the cake mix crinkle cookies soft and moist!
Orange zest – Fresh zest gives these orange crinkle cookies that bright aroma you expect from orange desserts. No nasty, synthetic citrus flavor here.
Orange gel food coloring – A little goes a long way to give the orange crinkles a boost in color.
Granulated sugar and powdered sugar – The double sugar coating is what creates those signature cracks!
Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Orange Crinkles
Red food coloring
If blood oranges are in season, definitely try them for these orange cookies from cake mix! They bring a sweet-tart flavor that’s a bit more complex.
For true blood orange-colored cookies, you can add a touch of red food coloring to achieve that deep orange hue.
Almond extract
Orange recipes could always use a little almond extract!
It adds a subtle nuttiness that balances the citrus flavor, making the cookies taste a little more bakery-worthy without overdoing it.
White chocolate chips
These orange cookies from cake mix are honestly so fun to play around with if you’ve got a bit of imagination.
Love creamsicles? Stir white chocolate chips into the dough for a yummy, creamy twist on your orange crinkles.
Tips For Making This Recipe
Get the Perfect Crinkles
For the best-looking orange crinkle cookies, roll each dough ball in both granulated and powdered sugar, not just one. Make sure each cookie is fully coated for that classic crackled finish!
Amp Up the Orange Flavor
If you want a stronger citrus flavor in your orange cake mix cookies, add 1/2 teaspoon of orange extract. I haven’t tested using orange juice since it might add too much moisture to the dough.
Use a Different Citrus
This recipe also works with lemon! Just swap in lemon zest instead of orange zest and use yellow food coloring instead of orange.
Orange Cake Mix Cookies Recipe FAQs
Why are my orange cookies so flat?
Because we’re making crinkle cookies with cake mix, you don’t have to stress too much about incorrect ingredient measurements that can lead to flat cookies. That said, chilling the dough is important so your cookies don’t spread too much in the oven!
Why didn’t my orange cake mix crinkles crack?
Your orange crinkles won’t have those classic cracked tops if you skip rolling the dough in granulated AND powdered sugar. I also recommend double-checking your oven temperature with an oven thermometer. Even a small difference can affect how the cookies spread and crack!
Why did my orange cookies with cake mix come out hard?
This recipe for orange crinkle cookies is beginner-friendly, but it’s important not to overbake the crinkles. If you leave them in too long, the cookies can turn out dry and hard instead of soft and chewy. You can take them out as soon as the tops look set because they will continue to firm up as they cool.
Can you double this orange crinkle cookies recipe?
Absolutely! These cake mix orange crinkles are perfect for big-batch baking. Just double all the ingredients and mix everything in a larger bowl.
How to store orange crinkles?
You can keep your orange crinkle cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 5 days to prevent them from drying out. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 2 months. They just won’t look as pretty since the powdered sugar coating can melt once the cookies thaw.
More Yummy Cookies
- Banana Pudding Cookies
- Italian Peach Cookies
- Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
- Apple Butter Cookies
- Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies
I found this recipe for Coconut Lime Cookies that I HAVE to try!
Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey – If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below.
Orange Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 orange for the zest
- Orange gel food coloring
- Granulated sugar
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients for the orange crinkle cookies.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, eggs, oil, and orange zest until a soft dough forms.
- Add a small dot of orange gel food coloring and mix until the color is evenly blended into the dough.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and chill it in the fridge for 20 minutes.
- Scoop out the dough and roll it into 1 1/2-inch balls. Roll each ball in granulated sugar, then in powdered sugar.
- Place the coated cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each to allow for spreading.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the cookies develop cracked tops.
- Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For the best-looking orange crinkle cookies, roll each dough ball in both granulated and powdered sugar, not just one. Make sure each cookie is fully coated for that classic crackled finish!
- If you want a stronger citrus flavor in your orange cake mix cookies, add 1/2 teaspoon of orange extract. I haven’t tested using orange juice since it might add too much moisture to the dough.
- This recipe also works with lemon! Just swap in lemon zest instead of orange zest and use yellow food coloring instead of orange.
Nutrition
PIN FOR LATER!
