Double Chocolate Orange Cookies

This double chocolate orange cookies recipe brings together rich cocoa, fresh orange zest, and plenty of chocolate chips for a bold flavor combination that tastes just like those smackable chocolate oranges from the 90s (who else loved those?!)! What makes our recipe special is the balance of flavors with the orange bringing a bright and bold pop without overpowering the chocolate, creating cookies that are soft, chewy, and absolutely irresistible. If you’re looking for a cookie that’s a little different from the usual chocolate chip but still easy to make, this is it!

If you’re like me and new cookie recipes are one of your absolute favorite things to bake, you’re going to love the story behind this one. My mom and I got it in our heads that we needed to create a new cookie recipe this year, and decided we wanted to make an epic chocolate orange cookie. We initially wrote out separate recipes and had our own little bake-off because we had different ideas on the concept, and we had a blast doing it (check out the pictures below)! We took a side-by-side comparison to about a dozen friends and neighbors to help us pick a direction, and the winner is what we used to finalize our recipe.

My mom and I have been doing an annual cookie baking marathon together for over 20 years now, and it’s one of my favorite traditions. With nearly 20 cookie recipes on this site already, you can tell cookies are kind of my thing. And these chocolate orange cookies are definitely going to be a new favorite in our holiday baking lineup.

Ingredients for Chocolate Orange Cookies

• Unsalted butter, softened. Creates a rich, tender texture and helps the cookies spread just the right amount while baking.
• Granulated sugar. Sweetens the cookies and helps create those slightly crispy edges.
• Brown sugar. Adds moisture and chewiness to the cookies while contributing a subtle molasses flavor (either light or dark brown sugar will work great!).
• Egg. Binds the ingredients together and adds structure to the cookies.
• Pure vanilla extract. Enhances all the other flavors and adds depth of flavor too.
• Fresh-squeezed orange juice. Adds moisture and boosts the bright orange flavor throughout the cookies.
• Orange zest. This is where the real orange flavor comes from. The oils in the zest pack a wonderful orange punch!
• Baking soda and baking powder. Work together to help the cookies rise slightly and create the right texture.
• Salt. Balances the sweetness and makes the chocolate and orange flavors pop.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder. Creates the chocolate base and gives these cookies their rich, fudgy quality. Using a high quality cocoa powder makes a big difference in chocolate based cookies. I recommend either Scharffen Berger cocoa powder or Ghirardelli cocoa powder (I can usually find this kind at my local grocery store and at Target).
• All-purpose flour. Provides structure and helps the cookies hold their shape.
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips. Adds pockets of melty chocolate throughout each cookie (plus a few more for topping if you want them extra pretty!).

All ingredient measurements and full recipe details can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

How to Make Double Chocolate Orange Cookies

In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, add the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.

Beat on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and uniform. Then add the egg, vanilla, orange juice, and orange zest, and continue to mix until everything is well incorporated.

Slowly add in the baking soda, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, and flour to the bowl. Stir until a uniform dough forms and no dry streaks remain.

Gently stir in the chocolate chips until they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough.

The dough will be pretty sticky, and that’s ok!

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to overnight). This helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking and makes the dough easier to work with.

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Using a medium cookie scoop (or approximately 2 Tablespoons) scoop dough onto your baking sheet, placing dough balls 2 inches apart.

Gently press 3-4 extra chocolate chips on top of each dough ball if desired (this makes the cookies extra pretty after baking).

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are just set. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes (they’ll be very soft when they first come out).

Then transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Chocolate and Orange Cookies Variation Ideas

• Use milk chocolate chips. Swap the semi-sweet chocolate chips for milk chocolate if you prefer a sweeter, creamier chocolate flavor.
• Try dark chocolate chips. Dark chocolate creates a more sophisticated, less sweet flavor that really lets the orange shine through.
• Use chocolate chunks. Instead of chips, try chopping a chocolate bar into chunks for bigger pockets of melty chocolate in each bite.
• Add white chocolate chips. Mix in some white chocolate chips along with the semi-sweet for a fun twist on the chocolate-orange combo.

Possible Dietary Restrictions?

You can make this recipe gluten free by replacing the all-purpose flour withe a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend. The texture might be slightly different, but they should still turn out delicious. Note, if you are serving these to someone with celiac, it’s always good to ensure your other ingredients meet gluten-free standards. I like to stay on the safe side with my chocolate chips and use Enjoy Life chocolate chips if I’m sharing with someone with food allergies.

How to Store Chocolate Orange Cookies

At room temperature: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Use wax paper or parchment paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together.

Freezing baked cookies: These cookies freeze beautifully! Place cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag with parchment paper between layers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes before enjoying.

Freezing cookie dough: You can also freeze the dough balls before baking. Scoop the chilled dough into balls, place them on a baking sheet, and freeze until solid (about 1 hour). Transfer the frozen dough balls to a labeled freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 1 to 2 extra minutes to the baking time.

Double Chocolate Orange Cookie Recipe FAQs