Today I have my recipe for the Ultimate Cookies & Goodies Party, Cardamom Orange Cookies with Browned Butter Toffee Icing!
The base of the recipe is the standard Nestle chocolate chip cookie recipe but we zazzed it up quite a bit by adding a generous amount of one of my favorite spices to cook with, cardamom, and some orange extract to give them just a hint of orange flavor. Orange and cardamom have always been one of my favorite flavor combinations, especially in fall…cardamom smells just like fall to me. My first batch came out pretty flat so I upped the flour and baking soda to get them fluffier, I almost always have to do this and I almost always forget that I do ever.single.time.
The icing is based off of this recipe from Cooking Classy but I folded in some toffee bits to give a little crunch and even more buttery flavor. I love how it gets that beautiful tan color and how you can see the little browned butter bits in it :)
I wanted to give these guys even more pizazz and a little “sparkle” so I thumbed through my faithful Joy of Cooking and tried my hand at making candied orange peel. I had no idea it takes so long to make these but I am so glad I did it cause they are little strips of candied heaven! Boiled for 30 minutes, boiled in sugar for 45 minutes, then baked for 20. But seriously, they taste JUST like those orange slice gummy candies in the bag! I definitely plan to do these again as little sweet snacks instead of just a garnish.
These turned out so good, and so perfect for the holidays with the citrus, toffee, and cardamom! And so pretty, right?!? Big thanks to my foodie-mentor-aunt Tracey for brainstorming these guys with me, and allowing me to keep adding ingredients to the list :)
Cardamom Orange Cookies with Browned Butter Frosting
These cookies will be the talk of the party with their unique flavors and snazzy candied orange peel topping.
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp orange extract
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 cup toffee bits
Icing
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 10 tbsp butter
- 3/4 cup half and half
- 1/2 cup toffee bits
Candied Orange Peels
- peel of two oranges, sliced into 1/8" strips
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 cups water
Instructions
Cookies
- Combine butter, sugars, vanilla, and orange extract in bowl of stand mixer.
- Add eggs one at a time, combining thoroughly between each.
- In separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cardamom.
- Slowly add to butter mixture until light and fluffy.
- Fold in the toffee bits.
- Chill at least an hour.
- Spoon onto greased baking sheet and bake at 375F for ~8 minutes.
Icing
- Put powdered sugar into bowl of stand mixer
- Make the browned butter (see this page for details)
- Pour browned butter over sugar and mix together.
- Slowly add the half and half until icing is creamy and smooth.
- Fold in the toffee bits
Candied Orange Peels
- Bring a saucepan of water to a boil
- Add peels and allow to boil for 15-30 minutes (the longer it boils, the less bitter they will be).
- Near the end, combine the sugar with two cups of water and stir to dissolve.
- Drain peels and rinse well with water.
- Bring pan with sugar water to a boil and add peels.
- Turn down to medium and allow to simmer for 45 minutes.
- Heat oven to lowest setting (~170F).
- Strain peels from sugar water but don't rinse this time.
- Place them onto a baking sheet covered in foil and sprinkle 1/4 cup of sugar on them,
- turning/stirring to coat.
- Place in the oven for 20-30 minutes to allow them to dry up a little.
- Then try not to eat all of them at once.
What are some of your family’s holiday goodie staples? I have a feeling these cookies may become a Thanksgiving tradition around here!
Pecan Cranberry Cookies
Bobbie’s Kiss Cookies
Lemon Mascarpone Sopapillas
Oh these sound delicious! Thanks for sharing! Also wanted to let you know about a new linky party starting this Saturday at 8pm called “Found & Foraged” Can’t wait to party with you at
Yay! I’ll bookmark it now Kyla, thanks!!
I love cardamom with citrus, these cookies sound absolutely amazing! I need to try this one x
It’s one of my favorite combos by far, let me know how they turn out Michelle!
These look SO. GOOD. Cardamom is one of my favorites as well, so these are definitely in my future :)
Let me know how you like them! I’m dying to do the candied orange peels again :)
These look really, really delicious! I’m looking forward to trying them this holiday season:)
Go for it Ginnie! Hope they’re a hit :)
Emily these look delicious! I can’t wait to try them. Pinned:)
Let me know what you think! Thanks Shannon :)
Saying him from SITS! How creative Emily! And so many flavors of the Middle East! Cardamom is a great surprise that many people overlook and the candied orange peel – yowza! Great job!
It really is overlooked, I always have people ask what the flavor is every time I’ve used it. Thanks!
Those cookies look delicious!
They are as delicious as they are pretty ;)
Yummo! So glad you shared. Have an awesome week!
Thanks, you too!!
Oh, now you’re just not being fair. I need to eat these immediately!!!
No, no I’m not :)
Oh, yum! That candied orange peel makes the whole cookie for me! I am looking for some cookie recipes to try this Christmas season. Thanks for linking up with us at Motivational Monday, hope to see you back next week!
Oh man, it’s like two desserts in one with those things on top! I need to make some to snack on soon :) Thanks Carrie!
YUM! I love cardamom! These cookies sound sooooooo good.
Trish
Oh man, it’s my favorite spice ever. Thanks Trish!!
These look absolutely scrumptious! Yum!
Thank you Sarah!