Dreamy Spiced Cookie Magic

Name: Orange Cardamom
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 28 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/3 cup chopped pistachios.; A big orange, just the zest.; 1/2 cup (114g) unsalted butter, left out to soften.; 1 tsp almond extract.; 3/4 tsp cardamom, already ground.; 1 cup (130g) powdered sugar.; 1-3 tbsp milk.; 1 large egg.; A pinch (1/4 tsp) salt.; 1¼ cups (156g) plain flour.; 1/2 cup (95g) white sugar.; Some sanding sugar or ground pistachios to dress them up.

As seen on: Delicious Dessert Recipes

You'll get warm cardamom with zippy orange flavor, plus crunchy pistachios on these pretty cookies. The easy glaze just makes them pop.

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Shared By Emily

Last revised on Mon, 02 Jun 2025 18:55:56 GMT

A few stacked cookies with a glossy glaze, resting on a rack, with more cookies and a blurred orange in the distance. | emilyscooks.com

I'm excited to tell you about my fancy Orange Cardamom Cookies. Anytime I bake these for the holidays, things just feel a bit more magical! They're super buttery, with a cozy cardamom flavor, zippy orange zest, and a crunchy pistachio bite. After you top them with sweet glaze and festive decorations, they straight-up shine on dessert tables or wrapped up as presents.

Irresistible Cookie Treat

The fun part about these cookies is the wild mix of flavors in every bite. There's floral cardamom, bright orange, and that nutty pistachio crunch—all finished with a sweet glaze. They look dressed up for parties but are so easy you'll want to whip them up for any tea break.

Gather Up These

Main Cookie:
- All-purpose flour (already sifted)
- A splash of almond extract
- Room-temp butter for loads of flavor
- Orange zest for zing
- Cardamom ground nice and fine
- White sugar
- A sprinkle of good salt
- One egg, fresh
Decoration Side:
- Chopped pistachios (leave the salt out)
- Confectioners’ sugar for mixing up glaze
- Milk—just a splash
- Anything pretty like sprinkles or crushed nuts

Three stacked cookies, frosted and sprinkled with yellow sugar, rest on a wire rack. More cookies and an orange peek out in the background. | emilyscooks.com

Jump Into Baking

Get Your Dough Ready:: Stir orange zest and dry ingredients. Fluff up your butter and sugar, then toss in the egg and extract. Add the flour blend and finally stir in the crunchy pistachios.
Form Then Chill:: Shape into a log, wrap up tight, pop that in the fridge to firm up.
Bake the Cookies:: Cut dough into thick circles and bake till the edges go golden.
Glaze Magic:: Dip cooled cookies in glaze, letting any extra drip right off.
Dress 'Em Up:: Scatter your toppings fast while the glaze is wet and sticky.

My Favorite Tricks

Cold dough means neat slices so chill it hard. Your sharpest knife tackles pistachios best. Glaze fast or the toppings won't stick. Dried rose petals? My secret touch for wow factor.

Stay Fresh Longer

Stash them in a closed-up container—they last perfectly for about 5 days. Freeze the dough up to three months. You don’t even need to thaw it—just bake straight from the freezer, and tack on one more minute in the oven.

Common Questions

→ Do I have to chill the dough?: Yep, tossing it in the fridge means you can slice through it neatly when you're ready to bake.
→ Could I swap or leave out the pistachios?: Sure thing, leave them off or try another chopped nut if you want a switch.
→ How should I keep leftover cookies?: Once that glaze is set, tuck them into a sealed container. They'll be tasty for about a week.
→ What if I grind whole cardamom pods myself?: Even better! Just don’t use as much since fresh ground is strong and punchy.
→ Can I prep the dough in advance?: Absolutely, wrap it up and stash in the fridge for a few days or freeze it for a few months.