Chocolate Orange Cookies

It's been a while since I have shared a sweet baked treat with my readers, but thanks to Holler, who tempted me with these Chocolate Orange Cookies, the dry spell has been broken. Much like a savory biscuit, despite the big chunks of dark chocolate, these cookies will stay moist for a few days stored in an air tight container provided they are not devoured shortly after coming out of the oven.

These cookies are so highly recommended that I am sharing the recipe with Bookmarked Recipes, hosted this week by Tami's Kitchen Table Talk.

Chocolate Orange Cookies

3 cups of unbleached white flour
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
3/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of butter, softened
100 grams of cream cheese, softened
rind from one orange, grated
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla
3 tablespoons of orange juice
2 eggs
150 grams of dark baking chocolate, cut into chunks

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Now add the orange juice, orange zest and vanilla and stir to combine. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated.

Add half of the flour mixture to the bowl and stir. Add the chocolate bits, stir, and add the rest of the flour to the bowl. Stir until everything is well combined, but take care not to over mix.

Line two baking pans with parchment paper. Place heaping teaspoons of dough onto the sheets, flatten a bit and bake (in two batches) in a preheated 350 degree oven for 12 - 15 minutes, or until the cookies begin to turn golden. Leave on the sheet for a minute and then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Yields roughly 2 dozen cookies.

More cookie recipes from Lisa's Kitchen:
Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies