orange bitter blossoms

Thursday, March 12, 2009

While spending some time with my friend, Jennifer, she mentioned that I haven't shared one of her favorite cookies with you. We used to make these a lot and loved them.
So yesterday, I decided to whip some up.  However, something has happened.  My relationship with the orange blossoms has changed.  It took me about six cookies to decide if I still liked them.  After the sixth one, I knew. My feelings for them changed.  I felt sick.  Seriously too many blossoms. 
I couldn't believe it, but I decided to give them another go this morning.  And then it hit me. They have a little bitter taste.  I guess from the zest.  And it was a definite.  I don't think I will ever be able to eat another orange blossom.  But my kids like them.  (Two out of three.) And just in case you think you may like them, here you go:

Orange Blossom Cookies
2/3 cup unsalted butter :: 3/4 cup sugar :: 1 egg :: 1/2 cup orange juice :: 2 cups flour :: 1/4 tsp baking soda ::  1/2 tsp salt :: 1 TBLS orange zest 
Cream together butter and sugar, add egg and then orange juice.  Mix dry ingredients, add to wet.  
Frosting
2 cups powdered sugar :: 1 egg white :: 1 TBLS orange zest :: 1 TBLS orange juice.
Drop by teaspoon.  Bake on parchment paper. Bake @ 400˚ for 8-10 minutes. 

Hope it doesn't take you six (or eight) to decide if you like them or not.

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49 comments

  1. To heck with the cookie, I love the tray they're on!

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  2. Holy moly, these sound awesome! If only I hadn't given up sugar.... again....

    Maybe Mr. Crafty will need some of these for his birthday. And then I'll eat one. Just one...

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  3. Anonymous3/12/2009

    I love looking at it as well :) Bummer that you didn't like them... I have been following your footsteps (or ovensteps) these days.. I mentioned you in my blog http://mommiez.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/cinnamon-cookiestarcinli-kurabiye-turkish/ thanks for sharing your wonderful recipes and work with us...

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  4. Anonymous3/12/2009

    Well, they sound YUMMY to me!

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  5. Anonymous3/12/2009

    I may know what happened. If your zest cuts too far into the rind, you hit the pith which is bitter. Try only taking the very top layer and your cookies shouldn't be bitter. Hope it helps!

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  6. I've had that where I make a childhood favourite and don't like them anymore.
    I'm sure 2 of your kids don't mind having the oragne blossoms to themselves to enjoy! :)

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  7. Yesterday I made a version of Orange Blossoms--they're mini cupcakes. And so very yummy.

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  8. ooooo, they sound divine. you should give it a whirl with lemon or lime instead of orange. maybe another citrus would bode well for your tastebuds?

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  9. Anonymous3/12/2009

    That's sad. Maybe you got too much pith in this batch.

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  10. Those look extremely yummy! You just gave me an idea for the weekend, and I'll make sure to share what I think!

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  11. I'm glad I'm not the only one who eats six cookies at a time!

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  12. Oh I hate it when that happens!

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  13. I wish I had this recipe when I was on vacation and had oodles of fresh oranges at my finger tips...but the juice in the fridge will do because I'm making these pronto!

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  14. those sound delicious - a must make! thank you! ♥ :D

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  15. I made a orange oatmeal muffin recipe once and it took 2 days and 5 muffins to decided that I did not like them at all, weren't bad but the taste was too confusing to enjoy, plus the frosting which is basic confectioner sugar and egg whites tasted like soap, I've noticed that a lot when making frosting, have you ever had that happen?

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  16. I'd hafta second (or third) the bitter pith theory... though I eat the stuff myself, it's full of flavonoids, or something like that...

    Well, I think I'd be all over a lemon version of these, paired with some good tea, a sunny afternoon, and maybe a little Mozart (or a Jane Austin audio book, you know, so I can keep knitting and feel like I'm reading)

    Now I need to bake, and steep...

    Happy knitting-
    ali

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  17. They look AMAZING! I love them, the icing looks delish too... yum!
    Kendall

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  18. Anonymous3/12/2009

    Oh, this reminded me that in the 80's one of my girlfriends and I begged the owner of a little Tea House to give us this recipe. She finally conceded. I used to love them, but who knows if I still would... Pretty Daffodils!

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  19. looking forward to making them!
    love your new header!
    flowers at your house?

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  20. Ha ha ha! I was just wondering when you were going to change your "winter" header! LOL! Did I tell you that I made the B&W cookies...they were yummy! But, not too ying yang...not as pretty as yours were!

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  21. I really like your blog. I think i could be a friend you could knit with... Come to see my blog. Hope to see you°°

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  22. Anonymous3/12/2009

    seriously? i never met a cookie i didn't like.

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  23. sounds good, I might try them tomorrow!

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  24. i'll give them a go--i love orange flavored stuff!

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  25. Anonymous3/12/2009

    these look like just what i need right now!

    loving the cookie recipes leslie!

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  26. How do i get the orange zest ? Is powdered sugar means icing sugar ?

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  27. i love your photos of the cookies, but i'll pass on making them. i don't like orange flavored anything -- except oranges.

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  28. Funny post. "I hate them, but you might like them."
    haah.

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  29. HAHAHA! I love how you kept trying, though!

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  30. funny how our tastes change - they sound interesting, but I'm not a huge orange fan!

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  31. Anonymous3/13/2009

    Well, they look pretty good to me! I could give them a good home if you don't want them any more...

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  32. May you know a new cookie with whom to relate with, in bliss and gastric joy!

    Sweet daffodils bring the hope of a warm spring after a long winter. Think yellow!

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  33. I don't think I've met a cookie I don't like, so I will have to try these (after the lemon cupcakes with the raspberry cheesecake candy middles). Yum!

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  34. They look delish! I'm a sucker for anything citrus. ;)

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  35. Anonymous3/13/2009

    I think it sounds yummy but it might take me that many cookies to decide too. :)

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  36. Anonymous3/15/2009

    these look scrumptuous!

    Found you via the green challenge that I was also part of.
    You have a lovely site.

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  37. Your tempting recipes remind me of my past when I used to be quite the busy baker. But as you say in your post, times and tastes change.

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  38. Anonymous3/15/2009

    So i made these this evening, cuz i love orange flavored things.. I dont think i will make them again with the zest in it, maybe with orange extract next time.

    However, i also did a modifier of them, and used half the batter to make them with dried cranberries that i minced up.

    Ill report back how that goes, on my site.

    Thanks for the recipe, they hit the spot :D

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  39. Anonymous3/18/2009

    Some oranges are much more bitter than others (Seville versus Florida versus California...). I wonder whether cutting down the amount of zest to a teaspoon instead of a tablespoon would help. I once was so low on vitamin C that raw lemon peel tasted sweet. Maybe you're eating more vitamin C now.

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  40. o, they sound so very good! i'll have to try them, i love flower-flavored things...thanks for the recipe!

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  41. o, i went over the recipe more carefully, no actual flowers i can see (unless i'm reading it wrong again, which is entirely possible); they still sound good to me, i wonder if a little orange blossom water would work!

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  42. Hello
    I love reading your blog. Today I made your cookies and I posted about it.
    I´m so sorry about the bad english.
    thank you

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