These Italian orange cookies have a vibrant citrusy aroma and are naturally gluten-free and dairy-free - Made with just 5 ingredients and ready in 20 minutes!
This Italian orange cookies recipe is one of the easiest cookie recipes out there, and calls for simple ingredients including almonds, flour, eggs, orange and sugar.
The base is basically the same as the popular amaretti cookies, but with a vibrant orange note.
The cookie dough comes together in just 5 minutes, all you have to do is mix the ingredients in a bowl, form little balls, top with marmalade and bake!
As a bonus, these orange almond cookies are naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, making them the perfect dessert for gatherings, holiday parties, or even as festive Christmas cookies to share with family and friends!
Ingredients
Like most Italian cookies and desserts, this orange cookie recipe calls for incredibly simple ingredients.
Here below you will find my ingredient recommendations for the best results.
- Almonds: You can use store-bought almond flour or make your own homemade almond flour with blanched almonds.
- Orange: The recipe calls for both orange juice and zest, so I recommend using an organic orange.
- Eggs: You'll need two medium large egg whites.
- Sugar: I like to use caster sugar (finely ground granulated sugar), as it gives the cookies a smoother texture, but you can also use regular sugar or raw cane sugar.
- Marmalade: You can use a high-quality store-bought orange marmalade or make your own orange marmalade (it's just 3 ingredients!).
VARIATIONS
You can use orange curd in place of orange marmalade for a fun delicious twist.
How to make Italian orange cookies
These orange almond cookies are very straightforward and easy to make.
Here's a quick recipe overview with step-by-step pictures.
For the full recipe, scroll down to the easy-to-print recipe card.
STEP 1. Whisk the egg whites with the sugar until slightly foamy.
STEP 2. Add almond meal, orange juice and zest and mix until combined.
STEP 3. For small cookie balls, then use your thumb to make a small indent on each cookie. Fill with orange marmalade and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
STEP 4. Bake for 12 minutes. The cookies should still feel quite soft when removed from the oven. Let them cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.
Baking tips
- I tested the recipe both with almond meal (ground unpeeled almonds) and almond flour (ground peeled almonds), the result is exactly the same.
- You can form the cookies with a small ice cream scoop. This will help you make evenly-sized cookies.
- If the dough is very sticky, dust your hands in powdered sugar before forming the cookie balls.
- Let them cool completely on a cooling rack for the perfect crunchy and chewy texture.
Storage tips
Store the cookies in an airtight container or sealed jar. Keep them in a cool spot in your kitchen or in the fridge for up to a week.
You can freeze the baked cookies without the filling. Store them in an airtight container, they will keep well in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Whenever needed, thaw them in the fridge overnight, and top them with orange marmalade right before serving.
More Italian cookie recipes
If you liked these easy orange cookies, I hope you can give these delicious traditional Italian cookie recipes a try too!
- Ricciarelli almond cookies
- Pignoli cookies
- Limoncello cookies
- Italian S cookies
- Anginetti cookies
- Italian butter cookies
Did you try this recipe?
Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #thepetitecook!
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Recipe
Italian Orange Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 egg whites
- 200 g almond flour
- 50 g sugar
- 3 teaspoon fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 3 tablespoons orange marmalade
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites and sugar until slightly foamy.
- Add the almond flour, orange zest and juice into the bowl and mix until completely combined into a smooth dough.
- Use your hands or an ice cream scoop to form small even balls. The mixture should be sticky but fairly firm, and the dough balls should hold their shape when placed on the baking tray. If the dough is very sticky, dust your hands in powdered sugar, then form the cookie dough balls.
- Place the cookie balls on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
- Use your thumb or a teaspoon to slowly press an indent into the cookie. Spoon a little orange marmalade into each cookie, filling each indent to the brim.
- Transfer the cookies to the refrigerator and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 175°C/356°F and arrange the baking tray onto the middle shelf of the oven.
- Transfer the cookies to the oven and bake them for 12 minutes. The cookies should have a slightly crispy surface, and should still feel quite soft when removed from the oven.
- Transfer the Italian orange cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely, then sprinkle them with powered sugar and serve.
Notes
- You can substitute almond flour with blanched almonds. Simply place them in a powerful food processor and blitz until very finely ground.
- I tested the recipe both with almond meal (ground unpeeled almonds) and almond flour (ground peeled almonds), the result is exactly the same.
- You can form the cookies with a small ice cream scoop. This will help you make evenly-sized cookies.
- If the dough is very sticky, dust your hands in powdered sugar before forming the cookie balls.
- Let them cool completely on a cooling rack for the perfect crunchy and chewy texture.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Debra says
I am in the process of making these, my dough is very thin. I put it in the fridge, hopefully it will thicken up.
Wendy K Dixon says
US Customary measurements are NOT provided and the toggle to change does not work. Suggestions, please.
Andrea says
Hello Wendy, US customary measurements are provided, simply click on the US customary button.
Barbara says
These orange cookies are the best! Just made them with my 5 years old and had so much fun, plus they're delicious! Thank you Andrea x