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Perfect Halloween Orange Sugar Cookie Sandwiches

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These soft and chewy orange sugar cookies are filled with a creamy orange buttercream, making them the perfect Halloween treat. They’re fun, festive, and filled with a bright citrus flavor that stands out from the usual chocolate-heavy sweets.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest (from about 2 large oranges)
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (for filling)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest (for filling)
  • Pinch of salt (for filling)
  • Orange sanding sugar or sprinkles (optional, for decoration)
  • Black gel food coloring (optional, for decoration)

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter and sugars: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar together on medium speed until light, fluffy, and pale in color, about 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through.
  2. Add the wet ingredients: Beat in the egg, orange zest, and orange extract until just combined. The mixture might look slightly curdled; that’s normal.
  3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined, with a few streaks of flour remaining. Finish folding together with a rubber spatula. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
  4. Chill the dough: Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a flat disc about 1-inch thick, and wrap each disc tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 2 days.
  5. Preheat and prep: When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  6. Roll and cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use Halloween cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Re-roll scraps and cut more shapes. Aim for about 24-30 cookies (12-15 sandwiches).
  7. Bake: Place cookies about 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. If desired, gently press cut-out dough into orange sanding sugar before placing on sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes, until edges are just barely golden brown. Centers will still look soft and slightly puffy.
  8. Cool completely: Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Make the filling: In a clean mixer bowl, beat softened butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, about ½ cup at a time, beating on low speed. Add orange juice, orange zest, and a pinch of salt. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 2-3 minutes until light, fluffy, and spreadable.
  10. Assemble the sandwiches: Pair up cooled cookies by size and shape. Transfer buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a round tip (or a zip-top bag with a snipped corner). Pipe a generous swirl of frosting onto the flat side of one cookie. Gently press the flat side of its matching cookie on top.
  11. Decorate (optional): For a fun Halloween touch, use a tiny bit of black gel food coloring mixed with a drop of water to pipe a simple spiderweb or spooky face on top of each sandwich. Let decorating icing set for about 15 minutes before serving or storing.

Notes

The dough must be chilled for at least 1 hour to prevent spreading. For best results, chill cut-out shapes on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before baking. Cookies are better the next day as flavors meld. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Unfilled cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween cookies, orange sugar cookies, cookie sandwiches, buttercream, fall baking, spooky treats

Find it online: https://lenatable.com/perfect-halloween-orange-sugar-cookie-sandwiches/