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These Chocolate Chip Orange Cookies are soft and rich – the perfect chocolate chip cookies with a hint of orange! Soft and chewy, these are a great cookie recipe to try.

Close up shot of chocolate chip orange cookies


Put Orange in Chocolate Chip Cookies!

It is so hard for me to make “regular” desserts. You know, the basics: vanilla cupcakes. Chocolate cupcakes. Plain cheesecake. Chocolate chip cookies. Don’t get me wrong, I love them, but when you create recipes for a living, you can’t really do the same ones over and over.

So, what I LOVE to do is add a twist to those old favorites. In this case, a twist of orange takes the best soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies to a new flavor level.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Orange and chocolate are a classic flavor combination, so combining them in a cookie makes total sense. The acid from the orange complements the richness of the chocolate. They are perfect together.
  • Of course, I use the best soft and chewy cookies as the base because who doesn’t love a soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie?
  • These orange choc chip cookies are such a great twist on a classic. You’re going to love them!
Overhead shot of chocolate chips, an orange, orange zest and orange extract

Ingredients in Chocolate Chip Orange Cookies

  • Melted unsalted butter: I love starting my cookies with melted butter!
  • Sugar: Granulated sugar and Light brown sugar make these cookies soft and chewy
  • Large eggs: Be sure to buy the right size eggs
  • Orange extract: This is really important to give that orange flavor!
  • Orange zest: The zest is where all the flavor is! Don’t skip it!
  • All-purpose flour: Be sure to measure it correctly

Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

how to make cookies 6 photos showing the process

How to make Chocolate Chip Orange Cookies

  1. Zest the orange, just using the orange parts (learn how to zest).
  2. Pour the melted butter into a large bowl. Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar and stir until smooth.
  3. Mix in the egg, vanilla, orange extract, baking soda, salt, and zest.
  4. Slowly mix in the flour.
  5. Gradually mix in the chocolate chips.
  6. Line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Scoop two tablespoons of dough to form the dough balls. Place them on the sheet pan, cover it with plastic wrap, and chill the dough for at least two hours.
  7. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a second cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Remove the chilled cookie dough balls from the refrigerator and space them two inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
  8. Bake the cookies for 11 to 15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden and the tops are no longer glossy. Cool the cookies on the pan for at least 10 minutes before removing them.
Overhead shot of chocolate chip orange cookies on cooling rack next to orange slices

Expert Tips

  • Measuring: Use a kitchen scale to measure your ingredients for the best results. If you don’t have one, be sure to use the spoon and level method when you measure the flour with a cup. This will ensure you don’t add too much flour.
  • Mixing: When you add the flour, mix just until it’s absorbed into the other ingredients and the dough is uniform. Overmixing will change the texture of your cookies.
  • Chocolate: I like semi-sweet or milk chocolate, but you can make dark chocolate orange cookies with bittersweet chocolate chips.
  • Chilling: Don’t skip the chilling step! Yes, it’s hard to wait, but your cookies will thank you for it. The chilling firms up the butter so your cookies have the perfect texture.

FAQ

How to store chocolate chip cookies?

Store chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.

Can you freeze cookies?

hey freeze great! Place them in a freezer bag or container, and they will keep well in the freezer for up to two months.

Do I have to use orange extract?

I like to use orange extract because it’s shelf-stable, and I don’t have to run out and buy oranges when I want to make this recipe. That said, you can use orange juice in place of the extract – see the recipe card for more details!

Why do cookies flatten?

best chocolate chip cookies, chill the dough to firm up the butter before baking them.

Do I have to chill the cookie dough?

For the best chocolate chip orange cookies, you should chill the dough. The butter will spread too much if you don’t, and your cookies will be flat.

If you’re ready for cookies with orange, these orange chocolate chip cookies need to be on the baking list! I absolutely love them – I hope you do, too!

Stack of chocolate chip orange cookies with top one split in half to show inside

Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

5 from 9 votes
These Chocolate Chip Orange Cookies are soft and rich – the perfect chocolate chip cookies with a hint of orange! Soft and chewy, these are a great cookie recipe to try.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Yield 20 cookies
Serving Size 1 cookie

Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
  • cup (66 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract
  • 1 tablespoon (9g) orange zest
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups (186g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups (255g) chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk)
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Instructions

  • Place melted butter in a large bowl. Add granulated and brown sugars and mix until the mixture is smooth.
  • Mix in egg, vanilla, orange extract, zest, baking soda and salt, then slowly mix in flour and mix just until the batter is smooth and comes together. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl during mixing. Slowly mix in chocolate chips.
  • Line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Scoop 2 tablespoon balls of dough onto the cookie sheet. Spacing doesn’t matter because you will be chilling the dough. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a second cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  • Remove the chilled cookie dough balls from the refrigerator and space them 2-inches apart on the cookie sheets. Bake (2 tablespoon sized cookies) for 11-15 minutes, or until the edges are a light golden and the tops are no longer glossy. Let cool on the cookie sheets at least 10 minutes before removing.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • Measuring: Use a kitchen scale to measure your ingredients for the best results. If you don’t have one, be sure to use the spoon and level method when you measure the flour with a cup. This will ensure you don’t add too much flour.
  • Mixing: When you add the flour, mix just until it’s absorbed into the other ingredients and the dough is uniform. Overmixing will change the texture of your cookies.
  • Chocolate: I like semi-sweet or milk chocolate, but you can make dark chocolate orange cookies with bittersweet chocolate chips.
  • Chilling: Don’t skip the chilling step! Yes, it’s hard to wait, but your cookies will thank you for it. The chilling firms up the butter so your cookies have the perfect texture.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 100mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Other Orange Recipes

Have you ever combined chocolate and orange? If not, you need to try these Chocolate Chip Orange Cookies – such a delicious spin on a classic cookie!



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

5 from 9 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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34 Comments

  1. hi! im planning on making these tomorrow. do you think i could use orange juice instead of extract? if so how much of it? thanks in advance!

    1. Orange juice won’t give the same flavor, and might water down the batter. It would be better to do extra orange zest