Orange Creamsicle Bars are chewy, citrus treats that taste like summer sunshine. White chocolate chips turn these orange bars into creamsicle bars ideal for snacks, picnics, and care packages.
Why you'll love this recipe
- This is a two bowl recipe with no mixer needed.
- Orange bars stay soft and chewy for more than a week.
- These bars are sure to remind you of the ice cream bars from the Good Humor ice cream truck of your childhood.
- Heat resistant ingredients make Orange Creamsicle Bars great for summer care packages or outside adventures.
Orange Creamsicle Bars have a chewy, brownie-like texture and fresh orange flavor with vanilla creaminess.
Decorate the bars by adding orange decorating sugar before baking or leave the bars plain and add powdered sugar on top of the brownies later.
Optional orange icing can be drizzled on top of either the decorating sugar or powdered sugar, but isn't recommended for shipping in hot weather.
Along with some Orange Cookies, these orange brownies would be great snacks to add to an Orange Care Package. With heat resistant ingredients, the bright color and flavors are a gift of sunshine you can send to orange lovers any time of year.
Ingredients
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Combine the ingredients to form the batter.
- Spread the batter evenly in a foil lined 9" x 9" pan.
- Sprinkle orange decorating sugar onto the batter (optional).
- Bake until golden brown.
Storage
Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
Tips and variations
- The white chocolate chips tend to sink to the bottom of the pan while baking. For best results, use mini chips (available at Whole Foods) or chop regular sized chips into smaller pieces to minimize this.
- If fresh orange zest and juice are a concern for extreme hot weather shipping, use 2 teaspoons of pure orange extract instead.
- For more bars with more intense orange coloring, add a couple of drops of orange food coloring to the batter.
- Three suggestions for topping/decorating these bars: sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, add white or orange large crystal decorating sugar before baking, add orange icing over plain or sugar decorated bars.
- To make your own orange sugar, put 3 tablespoons of white, large crystal decorating sugar in a ziplock bag with 1 drop of orange gel food coloring, massage the bag until the sugar is uniformly orange, then let the sugar dry for about 30 minutes before using on the creamsicle bars.
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Frequently asked questions
Using heat resistant ingredients is recommended to help prevent mold or spoilage during hot weather shipping. White sugar is least likely to promote mold and vegetable shortening is least likely to promote spoilage.
A microplane zester grater is the ideal tool for removing just the zest (the outermost, colored layer of the orange peel) from an orange.
Related recipes
White chocolate chips are a delicious combination with pumpkin too! For another sweet treat try soft, chewy Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Root Beer Float Bars are chewy, spiced bars with the creamy addition of white chocolate.
Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies are big bakery cookies with a hint of orange that are crunchy,chewy and incredibly delicious.
Mandarin Orange Mug Cake , made with mandarin slices, is another delicious summer recipe that packs a lot of citrus and white chocolate flavor into a fabulous one minute microwave treat!
Hamantashen are soft, cake-like Purim cookies flavored with orange juice and filled with your choice of sweet fillings like jam or peanut butter cups!
Orange Chocolate Cookies are chewy, orange sugar cookies dipped in dark or milk chocolate. This super quick and easy recipe will remind your of Terry's Chocolate Orange candy!
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Orange Creamsicle Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter flavor vegetable shortening
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 ½ tablespoons orange juice
- ½ cup white chocolate chips mini chips are best
- 2-3 tablespoons orange decorating sugar
ICING (optional)
- ½ cup confectioner’s sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
Instructions
Orange bars
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9” x 9” pan with foil extending over the edges. Spray the foil with non-stick spray.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt.
- Place vegetable shortening in large bowl and microwave about 1 minute until melted.
- Into the bowl of melted shortening add flour mixture, sugar, eggs and yolk, vanilla, and zest plus orange juice or orange extract. Mix with a large spoon until smooth.
- Stir in white chocolate chips.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan then sprinkle with orange sugar (if using). With fingertips, press the sugar gently to make sure it sticks to the batter.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- When cool, remove the bars from the pan by lifting the overhanging foil.
- Cut into bars.
Icing
- In a small bowl mix together the orange juice and confectioners sugar until smooth. Adjust the consistency, if necessary, by adding more sugar or juice. Drizzle over the bars. Allow the icing to dry completely before wrapping or storing.
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container or freezer weight ziplock bag for up to 10 days. For longer storage, wrap the entire square without cutting into bars to retain moisture and freshness longer.
Notes
- The white chocolate chips tend to sink to the bottom of the bars while baking. Using mini chips (available at Whole Foods) or chopping regular sized chips into smaller pieces will minimize this.
- If fresh orange juice and zest is a concern for extreme hot weather shipping, use 2 teaspoons of orange extract instead.
- Three suggestions for topping/decorating these bars: sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, add white or orange large crystal decorating sugar before baking, add orange icing over plain or sugar decorated bars.
- To make your own orange sugar, put 3 tablespoons of white, large crystal decorating sugar in a ziplock bag with 1 drop of orange gell food coloring, massage the bag until the sugar is uniformly orange, then let the sugar dry for about 30 minutes before using on the creamsicle bars.
- Double wrap bars individually or in pairs in plastic wrap before stacking in airtight containers or freezer weight ziplock bags.
- For longer shipping times, wrap the entire pan of orange creamsicle bars, without cutting to preserve moisture and keep the bars chewy for longer.
Nutrition
First Published: August 16, 2013. Last Updated: June 22, 2024. Updated for additional information, improved photos, and better reader experience.
DEBORA
I have made these now many, many times. They are such a hit. Over-the-top! Thank you for the recipe!
Wendy Sondov
I'm so glad that you are enjoying the recipe!
Juli Richardson
Do you make the orange sugar or buy it? How much do you use?
Wendy Sondov
The recipe card (under Ingredients) suggests 2-3 tablespoons of orange decorating sugar. In the blog post it explains that in this particular case, I made the orange sugar and gives instructions. Please see the information above the final image. Of course, buying orange large crystal decortating sugar is an easier option.
christine
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe w/ us at #TheWednesdayRoundup link party. I'm madly in love with them. Keep your eye out for your spot in our feature this week, as I'm picking them as my feature fave! Pinning to our party board and also my personal board!
The Monday Box
Thank you, Christine for hosting The Wednesday Roundup and for featuring my Orange Creamsicle Bars! I hope you try them and love them. They are a favorite whenever I have included them in care packages. 🙂
frugal hausfrau
I'm in love with these!! Ever since I was a child and had orange push ups, I love anything creamsicle! Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
The Monday Box
Thanks, Mollie! I agree, orange creamsicle is a nostalgic flavor for me too! Thanks for hosting Throwback Thursday!