Smells Like Christmas Cookies! Orange Cream Cheese Cut-Outs
By Laura on Dec 2, 2008 in Christmas Cookies, Recipes
I have decided that these are my favorite Christmas cookies. And this recipe makes a lot of them…which is why it’s a good idea to have lots of people in mind to share them with!! Because having them just sitting around the house screaming at me to come eat them is a bad idea.
I’d like to give in to the notion that since they have orange juice in them, they’re good for me and just packed with vitamin C. Oh, if only.
Orange Cream Cheese Cut-Outs
1 cup melted butter
1 8 oz. pkgs cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar (I used organic unbleached sugar crystals)
2 eggs
1 t. baking powder
1 t. vanilla
1 t. finely shredded orange peel
3 T. orange juice
4 cups whole wheat flour (I used freshly ground soft white wheat)
Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar. Add eggs, baking powder, vanilla, orange peel and orange juice. Stir in flour one cup at a time until mixed well. Chill dough for about 2 hours.
Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness, cut with cookie cutters and bake on a cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow cookies to cool completely before frosting.
Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 t. vanilla
2 T. orange juice
2 1/4 – 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Cream together cream cheese, butter, vanilla and orange juice with beaters. Gradually add powdered sugar.
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If you’re wondering if this recipe is worth going to all the trouble of actually shredding orange peel (a step that takes a total of about 20 seconds), it is. If you’re wondering if I’m serious about making them, and then giving them away as quickly as you can so that you won’t eat too many of them, I am. And if you’re wondering if there will still be other fun Christmas recipes soon, there will.
Coming up next: Chocolate Snowballs… This Orange Cream Cheese Cut-Out recipe may be my favorite Christmas cookie…but a girl’s still gotta have her chocolate. 
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More Works for me Wednesday posts here!
Oh those look and sound amazing! I’m going to have to try these. Thanks for sharing!
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Blue Castle | Dec 2, 2008 | Reply
YUM!
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CC | Dec 2, 2008 | Reply
Chocolate Snowballs???!??!!??!??
Ohhhh, I can hardly wait!
Love the cookie recipe. I have one that’s similar, that I’ve used with different flavors; lime, lemon,.. But I never thought to frost them! Can’t wait to make them again with your recipe and frosting!
(Your’s is much healthier than mine! I’m so glad that you share your healthier versions with us!! I’ve botched many a recipe in an attempt to make it healthier!
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Donna | Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
These look good. I have made a recipe like them but without the whole wheat. The cream cheese makes them really good. Thanks for the healthy version.
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Lynn | Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
YUMMY!
I can’t wait until chocolate snowballs either as I’m a chocoholic. 
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Sherry | Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
I had to bookmark this recipe to try later – sounds VERY good!
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Jeni | Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
I will have to try this…sounds great. Also, I trust you are feeling better. Have a blessed day.
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Kimberly Tidwell | Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for sharing this! I’m printing it out to try. The sound wonderful!
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Raise Them Up | Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
These look so yummy!!!!
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Frugal Carol | Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
I will be making these.
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BarbaraLee | Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
These look so yummy!
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Amyswandering | Dec 4, 2008 | Reply
I am just getting started with grinding my own wheat, and learning about the different kinds. I only have hard wheat (red and white). Should I not use that for the cookies?
I can’t wait to try them!!!
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Jeanette | Dec 5, 2008 | Reply
These sound super yummy!
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Tiffany | Dec 8, 2008 | Reply
The aroma alone of this famous cookie conjures up all sorts of holiday memories — including sitting still in the dark with platefuls of sweet gingerbread creations, breathlessly waiting for Santa Claus to come. That’s what makes this
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cookie | Dec 13, 2008 | Reply
I am SOOO making these for our Christmas Cookies this year! Each family member picks one recipe…this is now mine
Thank you!
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Tamara Cosby | Dec 13, 2008 | Reply
Did anyone have a problem with the dough being too sticky? Mine is way too sticky to roll out. ???
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Sharmista | Dec 15, 2008 | Reply
We are making these as we speak…they smell WONDERFUL! Thank you for the recipe!
We didn’t get to make it to Texas so this was just a little pick me up and boy did I need it…
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Tamara Cosby | Dec 25, 2008 | Reply