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Smelling these cookies is basically like shoving your face into an evergreen tree—in the best possible way. Which, honestly, feels exactly right for this time of year. Once you take a bite, the orange zest brightens things up while the juniper adds this piney, almost mysterious note that makes these sugar cookies way more interesting than their looks might suggest.

Juniper was the first flavor I ever played with purely because I was curious, not because anyone suggested it. I can’t really explain why I was so drawn to it—maybe it’s the fact that it grows all over the world but rarely shows up in baking (unless it’s hiding in a bottle of gin). That alone felt like a very holiday-adjacent ingredient just waiting for its moment, and a challenge I couldn’t resist.

I haven’t exactly run a science experiment on these cookies, but juniper does have a long-standing reputation in the “old-world remedy” department. People say it can help with digestion, skin issues like eczema, and even colds or respiratory stuff. Will these cookies cure your next sniffle? Probably not. But will I absolutely convince myself they’re doing something helpful while I eat a second (or third)? Without question.

Orange Juniper Sugar Cookies
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Orange Juniper Sugar Cookies

Recipe by Sarah
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Bright orange and a touch of juniper come together in these soft sugar cookies—fresh, aromatic, and just a little unexpected.

Difficulty: Easy
Servings

2

dozen
Prep time

30

minutes
Baking time

10

minutes
Total time

40

minutes

Ingredients

  • Juniper Cream

  • 1 tablespoon Juniper berries

  • 1/4 cup Heavy whipping cream

  • Orange Juniper Sugar Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup Sugar

  • 1/2 cup Butter

  • 1 Egg

  • 1/4 cup Heavy whipping cream

  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

  • 1/4 teaspoon Orange extract

  • Zest of one orange (see note)

  • 4 cups Flour

  • 1 teaspoon Baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt

  • Orange Juniper Glaze

  • 1 cup Powdered sugar

  • 1 teaspoons Juniper cream

  • 3 teaspoons Heavy whipping cream

  • 1/4 teaspoon Orange extract

  • Extra powdered sugar or milk/water to achieve dipping consistency

  • 2 drops blue gel food coloring (optional)

  • 1 drop yellow gel food coloring (optional)

  • Finishing

  • 1/4 cup Vanilla sugar

Directions

  • For Juniper Cream
  • Grind one teaspoon of juniper berries in a spice grinder. If you do not have a spice grinder, you can crush them in a mortar and pestle. The berries should not be ground into a fine powder, so if you have large pieces, it’s OK. You’ll sift them out later.
  • Mix the ground juniper berries and heavy cream together in a container with a lid. Stir well and place in refrigerator overnight.
  • For Orange Sugar Cookie Dough
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add egg, heavy whipping cream, and extracts. Mix until combined.
  • In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients until combined.
  • Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour.
  • For the Orange Juniper Glaze
  • Sift powdered sugar into a bowl.
  • Get the juniper and cream mixture from the refrigerator. It may have formed a skin on top. If that is the case, use a spoon to push it to the side. Measure out a teaspoon and add to the powdered sugar.
  • Add orange extract and regular heavy whipping cream and whisk to combine. Add additional cream or powdered sugar to reach your ideal dipping consistency.
  • Add food coloring, if using.
  • Assembly
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Roll out chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
  • Cut out desired shapes.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 2-3 minutes and remove to a baking rack to cool completely.
  • Once cooled, dip the top of each cookie in glaze before pressing into vanilla sugar (or sprinkling on, depending on your preference).
  • Let the glaze dry for several hours (or not) and enjoy!

Notes

  • I used a navel orange. If you use a smaller kind, you may want to zest an orange and a half. Zest usually isn’t strong enough to create a problem if you add extra.