Step-by-Step Guide to Making Orange Fish Cookies

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set it aside.

In a separate large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This should take about 2 minutes. Add the egg, orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla extract, mixing well until the dough is smooth.

Step 2: Shape the Dough into Fish

Once the dough is ready, use a spoon or cookie scoop to grab small portions of dough. Roll them into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each cookie.

To create the fish shape, you can either use a fish-shaped cookie cutter or mold the dough by hand into fish shapes. Be creative and make each fish unique!

Step 3: Bake the Cookies

Bake the cookies in your preheated oven for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden. The center of the cookies should still be soft. Once baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.

Step 4: Decorate (Optional)

If you like, you can decorate the cookies by adding colored sugar or sprinkles on top while they are still warm. For an extra touch, drizzle with a bit of white chocolate or glaze once they have completely cooled.