Orange Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips

I saw these creamsicle cookies on Pinterest (OMG what did we DO before Pinterest!?!?), and they immediately went to the top of my "make this now" list.  Because I looooove me some creamsicles.  In fact, I love all kinds of popsicles, and I always have.

When I was little, I used to eat a completely unnecessary amount of popsicles, and I'm surprised my Mom didn't start to hide them in an attempt to slow my roll.  I'd grab one (or two, don't judge!) and head down to the edge of the back yard to where the swingset was.  I'd sit there on my swing, eat my popsicle, and ponder the important things in life like Rainbow Brite and all the cutest boys in the first grade.  Once I was done, I'd throw the stick in the grass under my swing and start in on the next one.  I don't know why I didn't just go up to the house to throw the sticks away.  Actually, I do know why.  It was a LONG walk up to the house to get to the trash can, and as you know, Rainbow Brite and cute boys in the first grade are serious business, and I just didn't have time to take out of my pondering schedule to deal with insignificant things like properly disposing of popsicle sticks.

I didn't see this as a problem, but there is someone who did.  And that person was my Dad.  He would be cutting the grass down near the swingset, and he'd run over a dozen wooden popsicle sticks, which would get stuck in the motor of the lawnmower and make it stall out.  He'd come up to the house all red-faced and be like, "Ann, I TOLD you you have to throw these things away!"  I'd be like, "Sorry Dad!  I promise I'll throw them away next time.  PROMISE!"  And then, of course, I wouldn't.  And Dad would run over them with the lawnmower again and the cycle continued. 

One day, he finally lost it.  After watching popsicle stick splinters fly through the air for the 200th time, he comes storming into the house and says, "That's it!  I've had it!  Ann, you are no longer allowed to eat popsicles AT ALL, because you can't be responsible enough to throw the sticks away.  NO MORE POPSICLES!!!"  And I looked at him, cool as a cucumber and said, "That's okay, I decided I don't like popsicles any more anyway" and sashayed out of the room. I think steam came out of his ears at that very moment.

Despite our disagreement about popsicles, I adore my dear old Dad.  He is a wonderful, kind, funny man, and I love him to pieces.  At my wedding, he gave a hilarious and heartwarming speech and included the popsicle story, and even presented my husband with 100 popsicle sticks and a little mini trash can in order to keep me in line in case I decided I liked popsicles again.  Every time I think of his speech on that day, I laugh a little and cry a little.  I love you, Dad!


Anyway!  The best thing about these cookies is that they are just like a creamsicle except there is no wooden stick.  A win-win situation if you ask me!  They were super easy and totally delicious.  Its a good think I leave tomorrow for a business trip or else I'd eat WAY too many of these little guys. 

Enjoy!

Orange Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips
Source: The Girl Who Ate Everything

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons orange zest (zest of 2 oranges)
Juice of 1 orange
2 cups white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugars until light and creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture until combined. Stir in orange zest, orange juice, and white chocolate chips.

Drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Do not flatten cookies.  Bake 8 - 10 minutes or until golden brown around edges. Cool for several minutes on cookie sheets before transferring to rack to cool completely.