Prepare a classic treat with this recipe for Icebox Cookies. While the recipe has been around for decades, it never fails to excite children and adults because these cookies have an excellent taste.
Would you like to have cookie dough that you could easily refrigerate and then bake in a moment’s notice? If so, you need to check out this incredible Icebox Cookies recipe. Not only are these cookies easy to prepare, but you can bake them at your convenience while enjoying them with family and friends.
These warm and delicious cookies are perfect to have for all kinds of special occasions. If you plan on hosting friends and family for the holiday season, you can prepare these cookies and put them out on display for everyone to grab, eat, and enjoy.
Ingredients for Icebox Cookies
If you’d like to make the Icebox Cookies, you’ll need the following ingredients to get started:
- All-Purpose Flour – Start with the flour as the base for your cookie dough.
- Baking Powder – Using baking powder is ideal because it gives your cookies that perfect lift while they bake.
- Butter – Use two sticks of unsalted butter in this recipe.
- Vanilla Extract – Enhance the taste of your cookies with a bit of vanilla extract in the mix.
- Chopped Dried Cranberries – Add a slightly sweet taste using these dried cranberries.
- Grated Orange Peel – Grate the peel of an orange for a citrus-like taste.
You’ll also need a large egg, granulated sugar, and chopped walnuts. However, walnuts are optional. If you’d like to make a glaze for the cookies, you’ll need milk or heavy cream and some powdered sugar.
How to Make Icebox Cookies
Grab a large bowl and add your flour, baking powder, and salt to it, whisking these ingredients together before grabbing a separate large bowl and beating your butter and sugar together until fluffy.
Beat your egg and vanilla extract until combined and then begin slowly adding your flour mixture until it’s all added and combined. Next, fold in your dried cranberries and the orange peel zest for that citrus touch.
Divide your dough in half, rolling it into a log.
Chop some walnuts and spread them evenly on your parchment paper before adding the dough log on top and coating the edges of it.
Cover your dough log with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for up to two hours.
Cut when it’s firm, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and then bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes before cooling them down on a wire rack.
Mix the glaze ingredients and drizzle over cookies after they cool if you’re planning to use the glaze.
Tips and Tricks for Refrigerator Cookies
- Don’t add the glaze to your cookies until you’ve given them time to cool down completely on the wire rack.
- When storing your cookies, be sure to put them in an airtight food storage container. You can use parchment paper to keep the cookies from getting stuck to one another in the container.
- If you don’t like walnuts but you’d still like to get a bit of a crunch with these cookies, you can use chopped pecans or macadamia nuts as an alternative ingredient. It all depends on what you like and prefer.
Recipe for Icebox Cookies FAQ Section
How many cookies does this recipe make?
When you follow this recipe, you’ll have a minimum of 38 cookies and up to 42 cookies available to eat and serve to your loved ones.
How long will it take to prepare these cookies?
Preparation of the Icebox Cookies doesn’t take long at all. You can expect to spend roughly 10 minutes preparing them before you put them in the fridge to chill.
Do I have to add the glaze?
No, you don’t need to add the glaze to these cookies. However, if you’d like them to have a sweeter touch, the glaze is a perfect addition.
Variation Options for the Icebox Cookie Recipe
You can make several variations of these tasty Refrigerator Cookies. If you love peppermint-flavored treats, use peppermint extract instead of vanilla extract. If you’d like to make a chocolate version, you can add cocoa powder to the mixture with the baking powder and flour while preparing your dough. In addition, you can create different variations of the glaze to add on top by using extracts with milk and powdered sugar.
Here are a few more great cookies you can make this Christmas.
Cranberry Orange Icebox Cookies
Prepare a classic treat with this recipe for Icebox Cookies. While the recipe has been around for decades, it never fails to excite children and adults because these cookies have an excellent taste.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped dried cranberries
- ¼ cup (from 1) grated orange peel
- Chopped walnuts, optional
Glaze, optional
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk or cream
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
- In another large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Beat in egg and extract until well combined.
- Gradually add flour mixture and beat until well combined.
- Fold in dried cranberries and orange peel.
- Divide dough in half and roll into 2 logs.
- Chop walnuts, if using, and spread evenly onto parchment paper. Roll a dough log on top of walnuts and coat the edges.
- Cover each dough log with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm enough to cut.
- Remove from refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Slice cookies about ⅛ inch thick and place on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
- Remove from oven onto a wire rack to cool.
- Mix glaze if using and drizzle over cooled cookies.
- Store in an airtight container.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Images, text and all other content Copyrighted©Karyn Granrud, Susanne Queck and Wunderlander Verlag LLC, or ©Pro Stock Media via Canva.com. Unlicensed republishing permitted. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn on qualified purchases.
