or scroll for handy tips and a little nostalgia.
These Orange Marmalade Cookies are old-fashioned soft biscuits, more like a rock cake than the flatter and crispier things we usually call cookies or biscuits in Australia.
Old-fashioned cookies
Nana Ling had marked these cookies with crosses, a sign that it was a recipe she used or enjoyed a lot.
As expected, they are lovely – though they were not in the form I expected. More like a scone or rock cake, these are softer and rounder than what we call “biscuits” or “cookies” in Australia today.
The key ingredient is, of course, the marmalade. Ideally, you could make up a batch of your own Orange Marmalade. Because you just can’t beat the flavours of homemade jams and marmalades. Store-bought marmalade will, however, work perfectly well with this recipe.
Better with chocolate
Though they are lovely just as Nana Ling made them 80 years ago, these little cookies are even lovelier with some choc chips thrown in for good measure.
The chocolate highlights the zesty orange flavours in the marmalade.
Nana Ling’s Orange Marmalade Cookies recipe
Keep scrolling for the tested and tweaked version.
Orange Marmalade Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (125 grams)
- 1 cup caster sugar
- 2 well-beaten eggs (90-100mls)
- 3 cups plain flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 cup marmalade
- 1 cup choc chips (optional)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to moderately hot (190 degrees celsius, fan-forced).
- Cream butter, sugar and eggs. If you're using a stand mixer, beat on medium-high speed for 5 minutes.
- Sift flour, salt and baking powder and fold into mixture. Add marmalade and, if you're adding the optional choc chips, add those too and stir well to combine.
- Place tablespoonfuls on a greased tray and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from tray once cooked and allow to cool.
Denise
Saturday 24th of December 2022
Just made these for the first time. Added chocolate chips as suggested. Loved them! I used just regular, granulated sugar and they were fine. Next time I might try using craisins (and maybe walnuts?) instead of chocolate chips for a variation. This one's a keeper.
Libby Hakim
Sunday 25th of December 2022
Lovely - thanks so much for your feedback and rating, Denise. And love your variation ideas. Happy cooking! x
Nancy
Sunday 28th of August 2022
Just made these and yum. I think they are sweet so I will reduce the amount of sugar next time. I did add a tea spoon of chia seeds,sesame seeds and wheat germ and I can’t tell they are in the cookie which makes it great for kids. I used small semi sweet chocolate chips. I will try dark chocolate chips next time. Thanks
Libby Hakim
Monday 29th of August 2022
Hi Nancy. Wonderful - love the sneaky addition of seeds and wheat germ. Nice work! Thanks for leaving a review and rating - much appreciated. Libby x
JU
Monday 13th of June 2022
I added 1/2 tsp. Orange essence. (? Could use Gran Marnier) Used semi-sweet chocolate chips. Lovely soft cookie.
Libby Hakim
Monday 13th of June 2022
Lovely 🧡 Thanks for your feedback and rating!
Dorothy Francone
Thursday 23rd of December 2021
Good but nothing special. Followed revised recipe but cookies were burnt on the bottom. Maybe cause I used store bought marmalade but it needed more orange flavor.
Libby Hakim
Monday 27th of December 2021
Perhaps add some orange zest next time? As I mentioned in the recipe post, I added chocolate chips and preferred the recipe with the addition of the chocolate flavour. Happy cooking!