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A hallmark of Christmas, chocolate oranges are delightful. But using them to make a chocolate orange cookie? Now that’s next level jolly.
Chocolate Orange Cookie Recipe
It’s not Christmas in our house without chocolate oranges in your stocking! And one year, between grandparents and santa, we ended up with 20 chocolate oranges before the holidays were over. Which, as you may have guessed, was the catalyst to the creation of these Christmas cookies.
These festive cookies are packed with chocolate chunks, orange emulsion & zest and are topped with a chocolate orange slice. With the appearance of chocolate chip cookies with a zesty twist, these cookies are the perfect blend of citrus and cocoa. So if you’re looking for a refreshing way to use up this holiday delicacy, give these a shot!
Ingredients in Chocolate Orange Cookies
- Salted butter, softened – I always, always use salted butter. If you don’t have any on hand, you can use unsalted and add an extra pinch of salt to the dough.
- Light brown sugar – The combo of sugar will give the cookies a nice chewy texture.
- Granulated sugar
- Large eggs
- Natural vanilla extract
- Natural orange bakery emulsion or Orange Oil – You can also use orange extract, but I prefer the flavoring of my Orange Oil
- Orange zest
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Coarse salt
- Milk chocolate bars, chopped
- Flaky sea salt – This is technically optional, but it really brings the cookies together in the best way.
- Chocolate orange slices – These complete the cookie! They complete the look of the cookie and get so melty and delicious on top.
How to Make Chocolate Orange Cookies
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a stand mixer, cream together softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar for a full 5 minutes.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract, orange oil and orange zest. Mix well.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and coarse salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Gently fold in the chopped milk chocolate bars until evenly distributed.
- Using a #12 scoop, scoop out portions of dough onto prepared baking sheets, leaving enough space between cookies.
- Top with flakey sea salt and more chopped chocolate, if desired.
- Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until the cookie has spread slightly and is golden brown.
- As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, gently press a chocolate orange slice into the top of each cookie.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 25 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
How should I store my chocolate orange cookies?
Once cooled, store your cookies in an airtight container on the counter for 3-5 days! These cookies also freeze really well and can be stored in a resealable freezer bag for up to 3 months.
What variations can I try with these cookies?
First, you can try dark or milk chocolate oranges, depending on the richness you’d like your cookie to have. You can also change the flavor of chopped chocolate, subbing for white chocolate instead, if desired. Finally, you can add in chopped nuts or drizzle more melted chocolate on top of the cookie.
Other Cookies to Try
Chocolate Orange Cookie
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups salted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
- 1 cup (heaping) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp natural vanilla extract
- 1 tsp Orange Oil
- 1 orange, zested
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp coarse salt
- 12 oz milk chocolate bars, chopped
- flakey sea salt
- 15 chocolate orange slices
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream together softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar for a full 5 minutes.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract, orange bakery emulsion and orange zest. Mix well.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and coarse salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Gently fold in the chopped milk chocolate bars until evenly distributed.
- Using a #12 scoop, scoop out portions of dough onto prepared baking sheets, leaving enough space between cookies.Top with flakey sea salt and more chopped chocolate, if desired.
- Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until the cookie has spread slightly and is golden brown.
- As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, gently press a chocolate orange slice into the top of each cookie.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 25 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
Question: I have an blood orange infused olive oil, would that work for the orange oil?
Olive oil has a very strong taste to it, I’m not sure how it would work in the cookie recipe.
Can you chop the chocolate orange slices into the cookie as well? Asking for a friend. 😉
Yes, absolutely! That would be so delicious.
I LOVE these cookies! My dad always loved chocolate oranges, so to me they remind me of my dad. The people in my house wanted more of the chocolate so instead of putting a slice in the middle, I melted it and covered the bottom of the cookie. Now we get a little of that orange chocolate in every bite! Home run recipe👏🏻👏🏻
I love this variation! Will definitely be trying this next time I make them. Thanks for sharing!
What are chocolate orange slices?
These are delicious! I made them 2.25 ounces. Perfect size for the orange slice on top. I used Lorann Blood Orange Oil. SO good!
What’s a good sub for orange oil? Can I juice the orange and a couple drops of digestible essential oil?
My Orange oil is actually a food grade essential oil so if you have that on hand, that will work.
My family loved these cookies! Thanks for a great recipe
This recipe is GOOD! The base cookie recipe is amazing- makes thick, light, soft center-crispy edge bakery style cookies. The orange and chocolate flavor is DELISH! I made these for a 12 days of Christmas cookies menu for my business, and they’re a hit!
Love that you’re loving these! Thanks for sharing!
My gosh these are good!! I used two chocolate oranges & cut some sections up for inside the cookies & some for the top (instead of using whole sections) Then I melted what was left & coated the bottom of the cookies. I didn’t have enough for all of the bottoms, but I’m happy with how they turned out. Thanks for another amazing recipe!
These cookies are phenomenal & will have a permanent spot in my Christmas baking trays. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!