These Chocolate Orange Shortbread Cookies are a delightful treat, perfect for the holiday season. Combining rich chocolate with the zesty flavor of orange, they make an excellent addition to your Christmas cookies collection.
This recipe is simple and requires basic baking techniques, making it accessible for bakers of all levels. Enjoy these festive cookies with family and friends during the holidays.
Festive Chocolate Orange Shortbread Cookies
These cookies feature a buttery shortbread base infused with orange zest and chocolate chips, creating a perfect balance of flavors. The recipe takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and yields approximately 24 cookies.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional for chocolate variation)
- Additional powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract and orange zest.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder (if using). Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 inch in diameter) and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional Dusting: Once cooled, dust the cookies with additional powdered sugar if desired.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition Information
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories: 120kcal
- Fat: 7g
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
