Orange and Chocolate Cookies

Are you looking for a delicious and unique twist on classic sugar cookies? Look no further than these Orange Chocolate Cookies with a rich chocolate drizzle! These cookies are the perfect combination of classic sugar cookies with a zesty twist, thanks to the addition of fresh orange juice and zest. They are easy to make, soft and chewy, and sure to be a hit with friends and family. So, get ready to indulge in the sweet and tangy flavors of these amazing cookies.

 And the best part? We freeze the cookie dough for a warm and delicious treat in minutes. These cookies are the perfect combination of sweet, tart, and chocolatey.

Ingredient Notes:

Orange Zest and Juice- It is added to recipes to impart a bright, citrusy flavor to dishes. In the case of cookies, adding orange zest enhances the overall taste and aroma of the cookies, giving them a distinct orange flavor. The zest adds a fresh and lively note to the sweet, buttery dough, creating a delicious balance of sweet and tart.  If you're looking for more orange-infused recipes, try Cranberry Orange Pecan Muffins or Orange, Cranberry, and Pistachio Shortbread Cookies.

Granulated Sugar-  Rolling cookie dough in sugar before baking serves a couple of purposes. Firstly, it adds extra sweetness and texture to the cookie. The sugar will caramelize slightly during baking, creating a crunchy and sweet exterior on the cookie. Secondly, rolling the dough in sugar also helps to prevent the dough from spreading too much during baking. This can help maintain the shape and structure of the cookie, giving it a nice, round, and defined form.

Chocolate chips- add a delicious punch of chocolate to these cookies. After a quick microwaving session, the chocolate chips can be drizzled over the cookies, creating a fun pattern, or you can dip the cookies for an extra dose of chocolate.

Instructions:

To start, bring the butter to room temperature. If you're in a rush, simply put it in the microwave for 10 seconds at a time until it's just softened, not melted. Then, preheat your oven to 350.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda. In a separate bowl, mix together the sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, orange juice, and orange zest. Gradually add the flour mixture, one cup at a time, to the wet mixture, stirring until fully combined.

Next, shape the dough into golf ball-sized balls. You should end up with around 16-20 balls. Roll each ball in the remaining ¼ cup of granulated sugar and place on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Leave enough room for the cookies to spread out as they bake.

Bake the cookies for 11-13 minutes or until just golden at the bottom edge. Be careful not to overbake, as you don't want a crispy cookie. Allow the cookies to cool on the parchment paper before drizzling with chocolate.

To make the chocolate drizzle, place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring with a spoon each time. This may take a few minutes, but you want the chocolate to be smooth and run off the spoon in ribbons. Finally, drizzle the melted chocolate over the cookies and enjoy!

How to Freeze for future baking: 

Freezing cookie dough is a great way to have freshly baked cookies on hand for whenever you want them. Here's how to freeze sugar cookie dough for future baking:

1. Prepare the dough: Make the cookie dough according to your desired recipe. Do not bake the cookies yet.
2. Chill the dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes. This will help the dough firm up, making it easier to handle.
3. Shape the dough: Divide the dough into portions that are the right size for your cookie jar or a single serving. Roll each portion of dough into a ball and then flatten it slightly.
4. Freeze the dough: Place the dough balls on a lined baking sheet and freeze until they are solid about 2 hours. Once they are frozen, transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag. Label the container or bag with the date and type of cookie dough.
5. Bake the cookies: When you're ready to bake the cookies, take the dough balls from the freezer and place them on a lined baking sheet. Allow the dough to come to room temperature for about 10-15 minutes, then bake according to the recipe instructions. Note that the baking time may need to be adjusted slightly.

By following these steps, you can have freshly baked cookies any time you like without the hassle of making cookie dough from scratch.

And there you have it! These Orange Zest Sugar Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle are sure to be a hit with everyone. They are the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and chocolatey flavors, making them the perfect treat for any occasion. So, why wait? Grab your ingredients and get baking today!

If you like this recipe you might like Lemon Sugar Cookies and Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

So now you have everything you need to make these delicious Orange Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle. Give them a try and let me know what you think!

Recipe

Orange Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle

Orange Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle are some of my all-time favorite cookies. They have a bright and not too sweet flavor. We freeze the cookie dough for a warm delicious treat in minutes.

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Equipment

• 1 cookie sheet
• parchment paper
• 2 large bowls
• 1 small bowl
• stand mixer or wood spoon

Ingredients

  

• 3 tablespoon orange juice
• 3 tablespoon orange zest:
• 2 eggs
• 2 sticks of butter soft
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• ⅔ cups granulated sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar to roll the cookie dough in
• ⅔ cups brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup chocolate chips

Instructions

 

• Soften the butter.
• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Mix butter, sugar, egg, salt, vanilla, orange zest, and juice.
• Stir in the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt) one cup at a time.
• Shape the dough into golf ball size balls and roll in the remaining sugar.
• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place the cookie dough balls with room for them to flatten and spread out.
• Cook for 11-13 minutes, until just golden at the bottom edge. (You might be tempted to put them in longer- don't unless you really want a crispy cookie.)
• Place the chocolate chips in a microwave bowl. Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds at a time, stirring with a spoon each time.
• Drizzle the chocolate over the cookies.