Orange Clove Snickerdoodles

Another use for orange sugar, these cookies are a new spin on the original cinnamon sugar snack. Using orange sugar and cloves gives this recipe and entirely new zest of flavor. 

I'm happy to say that this morning Gourmet's Live Blog linked to my orange sugar cubes! I'm happy to see them get a little credit, and to get to use them in more and more recipes.

Today I present to you the orange clove snickerdoodle! My latest little creation! I had my roommates do a taste test because cloves are such a tricky little ingredient. I swear just one itty bitty molecule too much and it will ruin everything. Our test was inconclusive however. Some of us liked  the cookies with a little less clove, and some of us liked the batch that had a little more clove. Boo. I was hoping it would be definitive, but everyone's palates are different. Such is the spice of life.....oh, that was a bad pun.

I'm not really thrilled at the inconclusive amount of cloves for the recipe. But really, odds are you'll just change it anyway! :) I know I do. Like most home chefs, those measurements are just a guideline. If it says 1/4 that means a little, and if it says 2 that means a lot....somewhere Butchie just snorted and said something along the lines of [The hell you are so lenient in the kitchen. You watch your measurements more than a prima ballerina with an eating disorder! Remember the flying teaspoon?"] Okay, so her insert would have been better.....but without getting sidetracked further.....use your own judgement on how cloves you like. I recommend baking a test cookie.

Cheers!

Orange Clove Snickerdoodles

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup orange sugar**
1 egg
1 1/3 cup flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. kosher salt
2 tablespoons orange sugar**
1/4 tsp. ground cloves, or to taste

Preheat the oven to 400.

In a stand mixer combine the butter, sugar and egg thoroughly. In a bowl sift together the flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt. Slowly add them to the wet ingredients, until a dough is formed.

Shape teaspoons of dough into rounded balls. Roll in the orange sugar and clove mixture.

Place two inches apart on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

**If using orange sugar cubes, grind cubes in a food processor to create orange granulated sugar. Measurements are for granulated orange sugar.