Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies with a Hint of Orange

Name: Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies with a Hint of Orange
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour; ½ cup black cocoa powder (substitute with dark cocoa powder); 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon dried orange peel spice; 2 cups shortening; ¾ cup granulated sugar; ¾ cup brown sugar; 2 eggs; ¼ cup brewed coffee; 1 teaspoon orange flavoring; 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats; 1 (12-ounce) package dark chocolate morsels, about 2 cups

The Estate Bakery

Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies with a Hint of Orange

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The Strategy:

There is a deep, luxurious indulgence in pairing the intense, bittersweet depth of black cocoa with the bright, citrusy perfume of sweet orange. These cookies are wonderfully decadent, combining a rich, soft-baked chocolate center with the rustic chew of rolled oats and pools of molten dark chocolate morsels. They are an absolute showstopper, bringing an elegant and sophisticated sweet finish to any seaside gathering!

Makes: about 3 dozen cookies | Total Time: 30 minutes till it's cookie time!

Ingredients

For dry ingredients

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
½ cup black cocoa powder (substitute with dark cocoa powder)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon dried orange peel spice

For wet ingredients

2 cups shortening
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
¼ cup brewed coffee
1 teaspoon orange flavoring

For mix-ins

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 (12-ounce) package dark chocolate morsels, about 2 cups

Overhead raw ingredients arrangement on a white marble countertop: ceramic bowls presenting unbleached flour, deep black cocoa powder, baking soda, kosher salt, orange rind, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, two brown eggs, a glass cup of brewed coffee, rolled oats, and dark chocolate morsels.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°.
Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and orange rind in a bowl.
Use an electric mixer to combine the shortening with the sugars until fluffy.
Mix in the eggs, coffee, and orange flavoring.
Add in the flour in three additions.
Mix in the oats and then the chocolate morsels.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Use a 2- to 3-inch ice cream scoop to drop the dough onto the cookie sheet, placing each scoop about 2 inches apart.
Use your very clean fingers to flatten the cookie dough balls into disks.
Bake until the top of the cookies spring back when touched, about 12 to 14 minutes.

Thing to Note:

Give your cookies a little something extra by adding a touch of frosting. Use your favorite flavor of buttercream. Once the cookies have cooled completely, pipe a circle or two of the frosting onto each cookie. You can even garnish with sprinkles or chopped candy. Can it get any sweeter?

Action shot of a cook's bare, very clean hands gently flattening deep, dark black-cocoa chocolate cookie dough balls into perfect round disks on a parchment-lined baking sheet, showing dark chocolate chips and orange peel specks.

The full recipe lives in the Vault

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The Heart of the Table

There is an unmatched sense of warmth and communal joy that comes from the rich, sweet aroma of deep dark cocoa, fresh orange rind, and warm coffee baking fresh from the oven. These cookies instantly gather family and friends in the kitchen, drawing everyone close with the promise of a decadent, chocolatey indulgence. Piled high at the center of the table on a rustic board, they become a beautiful anchor for late-evening conversation, laughter, and high-energy connections that turn any sunset into a cherished memory.

A twilight gathering on a coastal estate terrace overlooking the blue ocean. Exactly eight young adult guests, consisting of four couples, are laughing, sharing dark chocolate orange cookies from a large ceramic platter, and clinking small espresso cups and dessert wine glasses under a soft sunset sky.

Neighborly Grace

THE PRESENTATION: Serve these deeply rich, dark chocolate cookies stacked elegantly on a glass pedestal stand or high-rimmed ceramic platter. Offer small, decorative bowls of colored sprinkles, candied orange peel, or extra chocolate morsels alongside the platter for a whimsical, interactive touch.
THE POUR: A fresh-brewed pot of rich, dark roast coffee, single-origin espresso, or a glass of chilled Grand Marnier or Cointreau. The bright orange liqueur or deep, earthy coffee notes perfectly mirror and elevate the chocolate-orange complexity of the cookies.
THE VIBE: Cozy post-sunset fireside chats on the terrace, sophisticated late-night dessert hours, or chilly seaside evening wind-downs under warm, plush blankets.

Chef’s Recommendations

What to Serve Them With: Basic Ice Cream “My Way”
Oats and Chocolate, Again: Caramel Toffee Cookie Dough Brownie Bars
The Glass Alongside: Blood Orange & Sage Old Fashioned
The Other Cookie on the Tray: Pecan Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate Drizzle

The Estate Table

Build tonight’s menu around this dish.

✦ Set the Table

Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies with a Hint of Orange

Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies with a Hint of Orange

The full recipe lives in the Vault

The Heart of the Table

Neighborly Grace

✨ The Gilded Swaps