Salted Dark Chocolate Orange Cookies
Slice-and-bake shortbread cookies, dipped in melted dark chocolate and topped with a generous sprinkle of orange zest and sea salt!
Servings 2 dozen cookies
Calories 171kcal
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup salted butter, softened at room temperature
- 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- pinch cinnamon
- pinch salt
- 2 oranges 2 TBS juice + the zest
- coarse sugar such as cane or raw
- 8 ounces good quality dark chocolate
- flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Make the Cookie Dough: Cream butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until well creamed. Add the brown sugar and mix until well creamed with the butter. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until just combined. Add the zest of one orange and 2 tablespoons of orange juice to the butter/sugar mixture and mix. Add the flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt and mix until just combined.
- Roll the Dough Logs + Chill: Divide the dough into two equal logs, about 8-9 inches long and 2-3 inches wide. Add some raw or coarse sugar to a plate, and roll each dough log in the sugar to coat the outside. Wrap logs tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days. You can also chill the dough in the freezer for 1 hour or up to 4 weeks (thaw dough in the fridge overnight before baking).Tip: To keep the dough from flattening on one side, place the dough log inside two drinking glasses (one on each end). This will keep the log more well-rounded.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a few cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Slice each cookie dough log into 12-14 equal slices. Place cookies a few inches apart on the cookie sheet, and bake for 14-16 minutes. The edges will be lightly browned. Keep additional cookie sheets full of unbaked cookies in the fridge, covered with a kitchen towel, until ready to bake. Let baked cookies cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Decorate Cooled Cookies: Zest the other orange. Melt your dark chocolate (in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring between each) and dunk or drizzle cookies with the chocolate. Sprinkle the dark chocolate portion of the cookie with a little sea salt and orange zest before the chocolate cools so it sticks.
- Serve + Store: Enjoy once the chocolate has set (you can speed this up by popping them in the fridge). Store cookies in an airtight container at room temp for 4-6 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 171kcal