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Poppy Seed Cookies with Orange

5
/5
22 mins
4 Comments
Jump to Recipe Video
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 12/14/2020Updated: 08/23/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Cookies with orange and poppy seeds, text overlay reads orange poppy seed cookies, rachelcooks.com"
Cookies with orange and poppy seeds, text overlay reads "amazing orange poppy seed cookies, rachelcooks.com"
Cookies with orange and poppy seeds, text overlay reads "orange poppy seed cookies, rachelcooks.com"
Cookies with orange and poppy seeds, text overlay reads "Irresistible orange poppy seed cookies, rachelcooks.com"

Buttery cookies speckled with black poppy seeds and flavored with orange zest, poppy seed cookies are easy to make. Perfect with a cup of tea!

Closeup of Poppy seed cookies with orange zest and a chocolate chip.
Table of Contents
open
  • 1 About these cookies
  • 2 What You’ll Need
  • 3 FAQs
  • 4 Storing Poppy Seeds
  • 5 Make It Your Own
  • 6 Storage Tips
  • 7 More Old Fashioned Cookie Recipes
  • 8 Get the Recipe: Poppy Seed Cookies with Orange

Melt in your mouth buttery, not too sweet, subtly flavored with orange, topped by a single chocolate chip, these poppy seed cookies are a family favorite. My mom treats us with these cookies every Christmas.

Since poppy seed cookies aren’t really a traditional Dutch Christmas cookie, I asked why she always includes them on her Christmas cookie platter.

Her reason was simple and practical: she always whips up cinnamon meringues at Christmas, using two egg whites. What should she do with the leftover egg yolks? Look through her cookbooks and find a recipe for cookies which calls for exactly two egg yolks! I guess that’s how traditions are born.

Reminds me of the story of the bride cutting off both ends of the ham before baking it. When her curious husband asked why she cut the ends off, she said her mother always cooked hams that way. Turns out her mother simply had a roasting pan that was a bit too small. 

Cookies flecked with poppy seeds and orange zest on a white plate. Each cookie is topped with a chocolate chip.

I did a bit of research and found that poppy seed cookies are a traditional “old fashioned” cookie originally made by Eastern European Ashkenazi Jews, according to Wikipedia. You might know them as Mohn kichel, or Mun or Munn cookies, or even “Moon” cookies. “Mohn” is German for poppy.

So brew a cup of tea or better yet, orange hot chocolate, and enjoy a poppy seed cookie! Perhaps they’ll become a tradition in your family, too!

Overhead view of orange and poppy seed cookies.

About these cookies

There’s nothing fancy or tricky about making these easy cookies. Simply cream together softened butter, sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla. Stir in the flour, poppy seeds, and orange zest. You can do it by hand, a mixer isn’t necessary.

Form the dough into balls, flatten slightly, and place one chocolate chip in the center. Bake until just lightly browned. So easy!

You’ll find the printable recipe card at the end of the post, with complete directions and nutrition information.

Cookies on a decorative white plate.

What You’ll Need

  • Butter: Always choose unsalted butter for baking, unless otherwise directed. If you only have salted butter, you can use it but omit the salt in the recipe. Allow the butter to come to room temperature.
  • Sugar: These cookies aren’t overly sweet. There’s only a half a cup of sugar in this recipe.
  • Flour: Measure the flour by spooning it out of your canister and lightly adding it to a dry measure measuring cup, leveling the top with a knife. Don’t shake it down or compact it.
  • Poppy seeds: These tiny seeds add crunch, texture, and visual appeal to the cookies, not to mention good nutrition.
  • Grated orange zest: You’ll want the zest to be pretty finely grated. Wash the orange first and try not to zest the white part (pith) because it tends to be bitter.
  • Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract gives a nice warm sweet flavor to the cookies.
  • Pinch of salt: You’ll find that cookies taste flat if you don’t add a pinch of salt.
  • Chocolate chips: Just one for each cookie! You’ll need about a half cup.

FAQs

Are poppy seeds good for you?

Poppy seeds have long been a traditional remedy for a variety of ailments. Research shows that poppy seeds contain nutrients and antioxidants and may have pain-relieving properties (Healthline).

Why are poppy seeds banned in the U.S.?

The use of poppy seeds is not banned in the U.S.; however, growing poppy seeds on a large scale basis is not allowed. Poppy seeds are mostly imported from Europe. Why? Poppy seeds come from the same plant that is used to make opium and morphine, highly addictive drugs.

What can I do with poppy seed?

Poppy seeds can be used in baked goods such as cakes, muffins, tarts, or cookies. Sometimes they are soaked in water or milk to soften the outer shell before being added to cakes or fillings.
Looking for more recipes with poppy seeds? Try Poppy Seed Dressing, Lemon Poppy Seed Cottage Cheese Pancakes, or Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Bread.

Storing Poppy Seeds

Because poppy seeds have natural oils like most seeds and nuts, they will go rancid after a while. Store them in the fridge or freezer to keep them fresh. There’s no need to thaw them before using.

Close up of cookies on a white plate.

Make It Your Own

  • Substitute lemon zest for the orange.
  • Roll the cookie dough into logs, refrigerate until firm, and cut slices to bake, or try these lemon poppyseed slice and bakes.
  • Omit the chocolate chip on each cookie, if desired. Right before serving, top the cookies with jam, just a dab, any kind you like.
  • Substitute 1/2 cup whole wheat flour for 1/2 cup of the all-purpose flour.
  • Try this non-dairy poppy seed cookie made with oil instead of butter, by The Spruce Eats, as an alternative.
Cookies on a decorative white plate with an orange half in the background.

Storage Tips

Cool completely and store in a tightly covered container for up to two weeks. Poppy seed cookies freeze beautifully. Simply wrap them well and freeze for up to a couple of months. 

More Old Fashioned Cookie Recipes

I love paging through the stained pages of well-used school or church cookbooks or hearing about Grandma’s wonderful cookies. Here’s a few recipes I’d like to share:

  • Oh Henry Bars — my grandma brought these to every family get-together and potluck
  • Snickerdoodles
  • Lemon Sugar Cookies
  • Sand Tart Cookies (Slice & Bake Buttery Sugar Cookies)
  • Windmill Cookies (Speculoos)
  • Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
  • Iced Oatmeal Cookies
  • GingerSnaps
  • Mom’s Russian Tea Cakes by Crazy For Crust

I’d love to hear about cookie traditions in your family!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Close up of an orange and poppyseed cookie, with a chocolate chip in the center.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Poppy Seed Cookies with Orange

5 from 4 votes
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Total Time: 22 mins
40 cookies
Print Rate Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Buttery cookies speckled with black poppy seeds and flavored with orange zest, poppy seed cookies are easy to make. Perfect with a cup of tea!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons poppy seeds
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • ½ cup chocolate chips, if desired

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Cream butter, salt, vanilla, and sugar. Add egg yolks. Blend in flour, poppy seeds, and orange zest..
  • Form one inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press one chocolate chip in the middle of each cookie. Flatten each ball slightly with spatula. 
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until very lightly browned. 
  • Cool slightly, remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Yield depends on size of cookies. Nutrition information is based on 1 cookie per serving.
  • If desired, use lemon zest instead of orange zest.
  • Substitute 1/2 cup whole wheat flour for 1/2 cup of the all-purpose flour.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 87kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 16mg, Potassium: 14mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 155IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk

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  1. Angie says

    December 23, 2020 at 7:13 am

    Have been a baker for 40+ years and these are ‘hands down’ one of the best cookies ever and dipped in hot tea is heaven. So simple to make, and freeze well (if you have any that last that long). Mail cookies to many folks and these hold up super well. The cream cheese is the secret key ingredient. Tip: sprinkle yellow colored sugar on the top of each cookie as well.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      December 24, 2020 at 7:37 am

      So happy you enjoy the cookies!

      Reply
  2. denise says

    December 17, 2020 at 2:13 am

    they sound delicious. I love how you give the history on recipes.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      December 18, 2020 at 6:25 am

      Thanks Denise, I appreciate that!

      Reply

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