Orange Ginger Cookies with Crystallized Ginger
Make these slice-and-bake Orange Ginger Cookies with Crystallized Ginger for your cold-weather baking. Bright citrus zest and soft, chewy ginger pieces add warmth, texture, and holiday flavor to every bite.
What’s the Difference Between Crystallized Ginger and Candied Ginger?
Crystallized ginger (also called candied ginger) is fresh ginger root cooked in a sugar syrup until tender, then dried and coated in sugar. Both names refer to the same ingredient and can be used interchangeably in baking.
Why You’ll Love These Orange Ginger Cookies
- Built from this Basic Cookie Dough Recipe, a quick and easy recipe that fits seamlessly into your holiday cookie series.
- Crystallized ginger gives these slice-and-bake cookies a lingering warmth without being spicy, so every bite is nicely balanced.
- Orange zest enhances the buttery texture and brightens the flavor of these citrus-spice treats. Plus, it adds a naturally fragrant aroma.
- The course sugar crust creates a nice contrast to the soft, tender cookie interior.
- You don’t need to pull out the rolling pins or cookie cutter; instead, mix, shape into a log, slice, and bake.
- Finally, these make-ahead orange ginger shortbread cookies make perfect edible gifts.
Table of Contents
- What’s the Difference Between Crystallized Ginger and Candied Ginger?
- Why You’ll Love These Orange Ginger Cookies
- Ingredients for Orange Ginger Cookies
- How to Make Orange Ginger Shortbread Cookies
- Make Ahead and Storage Info
- Tips for Making Orange Ginger Shortbread Cookies
- Recipe FAQs
- Delicious Starts Here
- Looking to Build a Beautiful Holiday Cookie Box?
Ingredients for Orange Ginger Cookies
- Basic Cookie Dough: One portion of this master cookie dough serves as the base for these orange ginger cookies and yields about 18 cookies.
- Orange Zest: You can use lemon or tangerine zest as a substitute; however, lemon zest will make the cookies noticeably more tart.
- Crystallized Ginger: Also referred to as candied ginger. For best results, avoid using stem ginger preserved in syrup; it will make the cookies too wet.
- White Coarse Sanding Sugar: Creates texture on the outside of the cookie. Alternatively, you can also use raw sugar or turbinado sugar, as they have coarse crystals.
Refer to the printable recipe card below for ingredient quantities and detailed instructions.
How to Make Orange Ginger Shortbread Cookies
1. Mix the crystallized ginger and orange zest evenly into the softened cookie dough.
2. Shape the dough into an even log, then wrap and chill.
3. Roll the sliced dough rounds in coarse sanding sugar until the edges are fully coated.
4. Arrange the coated cookie rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
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Make Ahead and Storage Info
Room Temperature: Store baked cookies in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. They will stay fresh for up to 1 week.
Refrigerator: Store the dough for up to 3 days. This is especially helpful if you’re prepping a holiday baking schedule.
Freezer: Wrap the unbaked log in plastic wrap, then place it in a zippered freezer bag. Cool baked cookies completely before freezing. Both raw dough and baked cookies keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Tips for Making Orange Ginger Shortbread Cookies
- Use the juice from the remaining part of the orange (once it has been zested) for these Butter Cookies with Cranberry Glaze.
- Slice the dough into ⅜-inch rounds for the best texture.
- For thinner cookies, reduce the bake time and begin checking at 8 minutes.
- If needed, toss the crystallized ginger in a little granulated sugar while chopping to prevent it from sticking.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Wrap the dough log in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. For best results, slice rounds while the dough is slightly frozen to maintain a perfect cookie shape.
Absolutely. Because this recipe is part of my Basic Cookie Dough series, you can prep multiple doughs at once and mix and match flavors for a beautiful holiday cookie box. Make the dough up to 72 hours ahead, or freeze the logs for up to 3 months. When you’re ready, simply slice, bake, and assemble with the other cookies in the series.
Fresh ginger won’t give you the same texture or sweetness. It is too wet and fibrous for this type of dough and doesn’t have the same concentrated flavor.
Instead, stick with crystallized ginger, which works best because it’s tender, sweet, and distributes evenly throughout the dough.
Delicious Starts Here
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Orange Ginger Cookies with Crystallized Ginger
Ingredients
- 1 portion (370g) Basic Cookie Dough Recipe
- 3 ounces (85g) crystallized ginger finely diced
- Zest of 1 orange
- 3 tablespoons white coarse sanding sugar
Equipment
Instructions
Make the Dough Log
- Break the dough into pieces and place it into a mixing bowl. Let it sit and soften slightly for easier mixing.
- Add ginger and orange zest. Work them evenly into the dough without overhandling it.
- Shape the dough into a smooth, even log measuring 7 inches long and 2 inches wide.
- Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill until firm (about 3 hours).
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Unwrap and slice the log into ⅜-inch rounds.
- Roll the edges of the slices in the sanding sugar and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake
- Bake at 350°F until the edges look set, and the centers are lightly golden, about 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Serve on a platter or store in a cool, dry place.
Notes
Nutrition
Looking to Build a Beautiful Holiday Cookie Box?
These Orange Ginger Cookies are part of my Basic Cookie Dough Series, so you can mix and match flavors without extra work. Once you make one portion of the dough, you can easily turn the next into
- Raspberry Jam-Filled Sandwich Cookies (recipe coming soon)!
- Peppermint White-Chocolate Dipped Cookies
- Spiced Shortbread Cookies (Chai-Style)
- Butter Cookies with Cranberry Glaze
- Lemon Curd Cookies (recipe coming soon)!
Each variation uses the same master dough, which means you can prep a stunning, flavor-packed Christmas assortment with very little effort.
These are my absolute favorite cookies for Christmas – make a double batch, you’ll be happy you did!