Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

Whip up a batch of orange chocolate chip cookies and you will love the bright citrus burst along with the rich chocolate chips.

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Table of Contents

Let’s Dish: About This Recipe
Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
Why We Love This Recipe
More Recipes You’ll Love
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Soft, chewy, and full of flavor, our orange chocolate chip cookie recipe elevates a beloved classic. These cookies combine the vibrant zest of fresh oranges with rich, semi-sweet chocolate for a perfect balance of sweet and citrusy flavors. Unlike recipes that use extracts, our cookies feature real orange zest for a natural burst of freshness in every bite.

Let’s Dish: About This Recipe

Main Ingredients: Flour, cornstarch, baking powder, butter, brown sugar, orange zest, chocolate chips.
Quick Steps: Mix dry ingredients, cream butter and sugars, add wet ingredients, mix in dry, fold in chocolate chips, chill and bake.
Total Time & Yield: 2 hours 30 minutes; yields 48 cookies.

Why This Recipe

This orange chocolate chip cookie recipe delivers a refreshing twist on a classic favorite.

While many versions rely on subtle orange flavor or extract, our recipe incorporates fresh orange zest for a natural, bright citrus punch that perfectly complements the rich, semi-sweet chocolate chips.

By using a combination of granulated and brown sugar, these cookies maintain a balance between soft chewiness and a slight crisp edge, unlike recipes that result in overly crunchy or dense textures.

If you’re seeking a sophisticated cookie with deep chocolate richness and fresh orange zest in every bite, this recipe stands above the rest.

Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients

orange chocolate chip cookies raw ingredients that are labeled

These cookies are a scrumptious blend of tangy orange and rich chocolate, ensuring both flavors shine through with each indulgent bite.

But the real magic happens when you bite down and hit a chocolate chip, which adds an extra layer of decadence to these lovely cookies.

You’ll need:

3 cups of all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1½ teaspoons of cornstarch
1½ teaspoons of baking powder
½ teaspoon of baking soda
1 cup of salted sweet cream butter, room temperature
1¼ cup of brown sugar
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tablespoons of fresh orange zest (1 large orange)
2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons of pure orange extract
2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup of milk chocolate chips

Substitutions And Additions

CHOCOLATE CHIPS: You can substitute dark chocolate chips for semi-sweet chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips in these yummy cookies.

ORANGE ZEST: You can reduce the orange zest to 1 tablespoon.

ORANGE FLAVOR: You can reduce the orange flavoring to 1 teaspoon if you only want a slight hint of orange flavor.

NUTS: If you enjoy a bit of crunch in your cookies, feel free to add chopped nuts such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds.

These additions can provide a satisfying contrast in texture to the soft and chewy cookies, and they’ll also introduce a delightful nutty flavor.

CITRUS VARIATIONS: To explore different citrus flavors, you can swap the orange zest for lemon or lime zest.

Lemon will bring a zesty and tangy brightness, while lime zest will infuse a vibrant and slightly tart note.

These variations can give your cookies a refreshing twist, perfect for those who love citrusy treats.

How To Make This Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Whip up the easy cookie batter following our instructions below, and you will be rewarded with a delightful treat.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

You can make the cookie dough a day or two in advance. Keep it covered and refrigerated. When you are ready to bake, scoop out your dough balls onto the cookie sheet.

STEP ONE: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and baking soda. Set it aside.

flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and baking soda whisked together in a bowl

STEP TWO: Using the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl and a handheld electric mixer, on medium-high, beat the butter for 1 to 1½ minutes, until smooth.

PRO TIP:

Make sure the butter is at room temperature and not melted as you will end up with a really flat cookie if you use melted butter.

STEP THREE: Add the sugars and continue mixing on medium-high for 2½ to 3 minutes until well combined.

sugar blended together with the butter mixture in a bowl

STEP FOUR: Lower the mixer speed to low and add the egg. Continue mixing just until incorporated.

STEP FIVE: Increase the mixer speed to medium speed and the orange zest, vanilla extract, and orange flavoring. Mix just until combined.

STEP SIX: Lower the mixer speed to low speed, and add half of the flour mixture at a time to the wet ingredients. Mix just until well incorporated.

flour mixture blended together with the butter mixture in a bowl

STEP SEVEN: Add the chocolate chips and mix just until combined.

chocolate chips folded into the cookie dough

STEP EIGHT: Cover the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for two hours.

STEP NINE: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough and place it on the prepared baking sheet.

Space the balls of dough two inches apart. Bake for ten minutes.

cookie dough scooped out and placed on a baking sheet

STEP TEN: Allow the dough to rest on the cookie sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to finish cooling completely.

How To Serve

These chewy cookies bring such a fresh and citrusy brightness, and you will love adding them to your cookie jar.

Add a cold glass of milk or a Wendy’s frosty and you will have a delightful snack to enjoy.

Alternatively, you could opt for a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, the cool temperature contrasting with the warmth of the fresh cookies.

A few more cookie recipes that we think you will love, including our creamsicle cookies and blueberry cookies.

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Storage

Now that your kitchen is filled with the delightful aroma of freshly baked treats, it’s essential to know how to store them properly to keep their deliciousness intact.

MAKE AHEAD: If you’d like to plan ahead or have a batch of cookies ready to bake whenever a craving strikes, you can prepare the cookie dough in advance.

Follow the recipe until you’ve formed the dough into cookie balls. Instead of baking them immediately, place the cookie balls on a baking sheet and freeze until solid.

Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or zip-top bag, and they can stay in the freezer for up to three months.

When you’re ready to enjoy, preheat your oven and bake the frozen dough balls as instructed, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.

ON THE COUNTER: Store any leftovers of these chocolate orange cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze the cookie dough for up to two months in a freezer bag or airtight container.

Allow the dough to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before scooping and baking.

Why We Love This Recipe

UNIQUE FLAVOR COMBINATION: These cookies offer a tasty twist on the classic chocolate chip cookie by introducing the refreshing and zesty flavor of fresh orange zest.

SIMPLE TO MAKE: With clear step-by-step instructions, you’ll have these cookies ready to enjoy in no time, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a novice in the kitchen.

AROMATIC: Baking these cookies fills your kitchen with a mouthwatering fragrance of citrus.

close up overhead shot of orange chocolate chip cookies stacked on top of each other on a plate

These delicious orange chocolate chip cookies are very flavorful and have a nice orange flavor along with bursts of rich chocolate. The addition of fresh orange zest and extract brings a fun twist to a traditional chocolate chip cookie.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I freeze these cookies?

This great recipe can be frozen for up to two months either in the form of cookie dough or as baked cookies.

Can I use different types of chocolate chips?

This orange chocolate chip cookie recipe can be customized with the type of chocolate chips you add. White chocolate chips or even chocolate chunks would be a fun twist on the original.

Can I store these cookies on the counter?

These cookies can be stored on the counter for up to five days in an airtight container.

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Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

5 from 3 votes

Whip up a batch of orange chocolate chip cookies and you will love the bright citrus burst along with the rich chocolate chips.

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 2 30

Servings

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Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1½ teaspoons cornstarch
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup salted sweet cream butter, room temperature
1¼ cups brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tablespoons fresh orange zest (1 large orange)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons pure orange extract
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips

Instructions

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and baking soda. Set it aside.
Using either a stand mixer, or a large mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter for 1 to 1½ minutes, until smooth.
Add the sugars and continue mixing on medium-high for 2½ to 3 minutes, until well combined.
Lower the mixer speed to low and add the egg. Continue mixing just until incorporated.
Increase the mixer speed to medium and the orange zest, vanilla extract, and orange flavoring. Mix just until combined.
Lower the mixer speed to low, and add ½ of the flour mixture at a time. Mix just until well incorporated.
Add in the chocolate chips, and mix just until combined. Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Space the dough 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Allow the dough to rest on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to finish cooling completely.

Notes

You can make the cookie dough a day or two in advance. Keep it covered and refrigerated. When you are ready to bake, scoop out your dough balls onto the cookie sheet.
Make sure the butter is at room temperature and not melted as you will end up with a really flat cookie if you use melted butter.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant
Teresia Shrum Recipe Developer

Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies