Flavorful Orange Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies
These cookies combine the bright, zesty flavor of fresh orange zest with rich, melty dark chocolate chunks for a chewy, comforting treat that’s quick and easy to make.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (312 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (165 grams) packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange zest (from about 2 medium oranges)
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 ½ cups (270 grams) dark chocolate chunks
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract, fresh orange zest, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Fold in the dark chocolate chunks evenly throughout the dough.
- Using a spoon or small ice cream scoop, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until edges are golden but centers look slightly soft.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Use fresh orange zest for best flavor and avoid the bitter white pith. Chill dough for 15 minutes if too soft to prevent spreading. Do not overbake; centers should remain slightly soft for chewy texture. Cookies firm up as they cool. Store in airtight container up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Protein: 2
Keywords: orange cookies, dark chocolate cookies, chocolate chunk cookies, orange zest cookies, easy homemade cookies, chewy cookies, zesty cookies