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Blood Orange Cookies with Curd and Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 137 reviews

These Blood Orange Cookies are a delightful citrus twist on a classic sugar cookie, featuring a zesty blood orange curd center and creamy tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfectly balanced with light brown sugar and fresh blood orange zest, these cookies are both visually stunning and deliciously flavorful, making them ideal for any festive occasion or everyday treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Blood Orange Sugar Cookies

  • 150 g light brown sugar (¾ cup)
  • Zest of 2 blood oranges
  • 90 g unsalted butter, room temperature (6 ⅓ tbsp.)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 160 g all-purpose flour (1 ⅓ cup)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Blood Orange Curd

  • 28 g unsalted butter, cubed (2 tbsp.)
  • 65 g granulated sugar (¼ cup + 1 tbsp.)
  • Zest of 1 blood orange
  • 40 g fresh blood orange juice (scant 3 tbsp.)
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ⅛ tsp salt

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 100 g cream cheese, room temperature (½ cup)
  • 42 g unsalted butter, room temperature (3 tbsp.)
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 160 g powdered sugar (1 ⅓ cup)
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Blood Orange Sugar Cookies: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar and zest of 2 blood oranges. Rub the zest into the sugar with your fingers to release the oils and aroma. Add the room temperature butter and beat with a hand or stand mixer for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well for about 1 minute. Fold in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt using a rubber spatula until no streaks of flour remain. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
  2. Make the Blood Orange Curd: Place the cubed butter in a small mixing bowl lined with a fine mesh sieve on top and set aside. In a small saucepan, mix the granulated sugar with the zest of 1 blood orange, rubbing the zest into the sugar. Add the fresh blood orange juice, egg yolks, and salt. Set over medium heat and stir continuously and gently until the curd thickens and reaches at least 170°F (76°C), which takes about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and strain the curd through the sieve over the butter, stirring until smooth and butter is fully incorporated. The curd will lose its bright red color after cooking, which is normal. Refrigerate the curd until ready to assemble.
  3. Bake the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Using a 3-tablespoon cookie scoop, portion out the chilled cookie dough onto the prepared sheet, spacing cookies evenly to allow for spreading. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges start to turn golden brown and the tops look slightly wet. Let the cookies rest on the hot baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  4. Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting: In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and salt until smooth. Gradually add half the powdered sugar and beat until combined. Add the remaining powdered sugar followed by the vanilla extract, beating until the frosting is fluffy and smooth.
  5. Assemble the Cookies: Once the cookies have cooled to room temperature, spread about 1.5 tablespoons of cream cheese frosting on each cookie. Use the back of a spoon to create small crevices or wells in the frosting. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of the chilled blood orange curd onto each cookie, gently swirling it into the frosting for a marbled effect. Garnish with additional blood orange zest and a thin slice of blood orange if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Chilling the cookie dough is essential for managing the dough’s texture and preventing excessive spreading during baking.
  • The blood orange curd will darken during cooking, but it will still impart a rich citrus flavor.
  • Allow the cookies to cool completely before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
  • For best flavor, use fresh blood oranges for juice and zest.
  • Store frosted cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Keywords: blood orange cookies, citrus sugar cookies, blood orange curd, cream cheese frosting, citrus desserts

Find it online: https://freshrecipehub.com/blood-orange-cookies-with-curd-and-cream-cheese-frosting-recipe/