This chocolate orange cookie recipe is one that will become part of your permanent holiday cookie rotation. The classic combination of chocolate and refreshing orange makes for the perfect bite in these cookies.
Chocolate Orange Cookies
If you are always reaching for the chocolate-covered orange peels when they are on the dessert table, chances are you are going to fall in love with these chocolate orange cookies. The fudgy, chocolatey cookies are hit with a burst of orange zest to bring out the classic citrus flavors.
Chocolate and orange seem like a combination that necessarily wouldn't go together. They are both bold, one super rich and the other very refreshing. The two distinct flavors actually work very well together, especially when they pair up to make these chocolate orange cookies.
These cookies don't stray too far from your traditional chocolate cookie recipe. They are loaded with cocoa powder and chocolate chips, keeping that chocolate flavor in each and every bite.
Don't be alarmed by this recipe's limited amount of orange ingredients. A little bit of orange flavor goes a long way. The recipe includes both orange juice and orange zest. The orange juice adds a subtle sweetness to the cookies, plus an orange flavor. The real flavor burst comes from the orange zest. The fresh zest provides such a bright flavor, plus it makes your kitchen smell delicious while making these cookies!
Why I Love These Chocolate Orange Cookies
- Bold Flavors - The small amount of orange goes a long way to add an orange undertone to each bite.
- Holiday Vibes - There is something about these flavors that are great for the holiday season, making these cookies excellent for a cookie swap.
- Simple To Make - These cookies don't require anything fancy to make them. The most complicated part is zesting the orange.
Ingredients Needed To Make Chocolate Orange Cookies
See below for all the details on what you'll need to make the full recipe.
- Cocoa Powder - Gives the cookies their signature chocolate flavor.
- Orange Juice - Use fresh orange juice if possible.
- Orange Zest - Zest the orange before juicing it to make getting the zest off easily.
- Brown Sugar - Keeps the cookies moist.
- Chocolate Chips - I like to use dark chocolate chips, but any kind will work.
How To Make Chocolate Orange Cookies
- Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set to the side.
- Dry Ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder. Set to the side.
- Wet Ingredients. Cream the butter with the sugar, then add the eggs, vanilla, and orange juice. Mix thoroughly, then mix in the orange zest.
- Combine. Slowly add in the flour mixture, making sure everything is combined. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
- Form the cookies. Use a cookie scoop to form the cookie dough into one tablespoon size. Bake the cookies on the cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes.
- Cool and enjoy. Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack. Serve and enjoy!
Make-Ahead And Storage
These cookies can easily be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for 5-7 before serving. They are best served fresh. The cookies can also be made and frozen when they are fully cooled. Freeze the cookies in an airtight container and store them for 2-3 months.
Tips and Variations
- Go Fresh! - Use fresh orange juice and ditch the stuff in the carton. You'll need one whole orange anyway for the zest, so it just makes sense to use the juice, too.
- Pan Banging - If you want your cookies to spread out a bit more, use the pan-banging method in the oven and slam down the cookie sheet to let out the air and give your cookies some ripples.
- Candied Orange Peels - Want even more orange peels? Candy some oranges and add them to the dough alongside the chocolate chips.
FAQs
If you want a bold orange flavor and not a subtle flavor throughout the cookies, go for the orange extract. Just use a small amount, as a little goes a long way.
Yes! If you want even more orange flavor, roll the cookie dough balls in a combination of sugar and orange zest to brighten the flavors even more.
The cookie dough for this recipe will freeze very well. Scoop the cookies like you would for baking, but place them in an airtight container instead. When going to bake, add a few more minutes in the oven, as they will be frozen.
Chocolate Orange Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set to the side.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder. Use a whisk or fork to combine. Set to the side.
- Using a hand mixer and a medium-sized bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter with the sugars, about 2-3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla, and orange juice mixing thoroughly and scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix in the orange zest.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop the cookie dough onto the cookie sheet in one tablespoon-sized balls. Bake the cookies in the oven for 10-12 minutes, until the edges look slightly firm.
- Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer to a cooling rack and enjoy!
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