Dark Chocolate Orange Shortbread Cookies Recipe
These Dark Chocolate Orange Shortbread Cookies are a delightful treat with a perfect balance of rich chocolate and zesty orange flavors. The buttery shortbread base is studded with dark chocolate chips and bright orange zest, creating a deliciously indulgent cookie.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-14 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Shortbread Cookies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (sub orange extract for extra flavor!)
- 2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips (can use semi-sweet if desired)
- 2 teaspoons fresh orange zest, plus more for garnish
- 1 egg, for egg wash
- 1–2 cups turbinado (raw) sugar, for rolling the dough in
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a mixing bowl, cream together softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Add Flour and Mix: Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then slowly add the flour to the mixture while mixing on low speed.
- Incorporate Mix-Ins: Stir in the dark chocolate chips and fresh orange zest until evenly distributed in the dough.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough in half, shape each into a log, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Remove the chilled dough, brush with egg wash, and roll in turbinado sugar.
- Slice and Bake: Slice the dough into rounds, place on a baking sheet, and bake for 12-14 minutes until the edges are lightly browned.
- Cool and Garnish: Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a rack. Garnish with orange zest, sea salt, and melted dark chocolate if desired.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the butter is at room temperature for proper creaming.
- You can customize the flavor by using orange extract instead of vanilla for a stronger citrus taste.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of orange zest and chocolate chips to suit your preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Dark Chocolate, Orange, Shortbread Cookies, Dessert Recipe
