These easy slice-and-bake orange crisp cookies drizzled with dark chocolate ganache are perfect for your holiday parties and cookie exchanges! They also make a delicious afternoon snack, pairing perfectly with a cup of tea or a glass of milk!
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Cookies are such a classic sweet treat at this time of year. Whether for a holiday open house, a function at your office or even a cookie exchange, having a couple of different cookie recipes on hand is a good idea!
This small batch cookie recipe is easy to make, and because they are slice & bake cookies you can prep the dough ahead of time and then bake some whenever you need them.
Contents:
Notes from the Kitchen
Slice & bake cookies are a great option during the holiday season. You can keep the dough in the refrigerator for a couple of days so you don't have to bake them all at once. You can also freeze half of the dough if you want to save it for another time.
- Easy to make. If you don't bake often slice & bake cookies are a great place to start.
- Great flavor combo. Orange and dark chocolate is a can't miss combo for sweet treats.
- Customizable. You can add nuts or other toppings if you like. You can also either dizzle the chocolate ganache onto the cookie or you can dip them into it, giving you more of a black & white style cookie.
Key Recipe Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and quantities can be found in the recipe card below.
- Extracts: Both vanilla and orange extract are needed for this recipe.
- Orange zest & juice: You'll need one large orange for this recipe. Be sure to zest the orange before juicing it!
- Chocolate: Either bittersweet or semi-sweet works for this recipe.
- Butter: I typically use unsalted butter when I bake as most baked goods have salt added in the recipe.
- Large egg
- Pantry staples: all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt
Recommended Tools
Stand mixer – I think a stand mixer is an essential kitchen tool. It's ideal for making cookies and other baked goods but can also be used to make pasta (with the pasta attachment), whip egg whites, and so much more!
Handheld Juicer – This is now my favorite juicer! The design allows you to extract the juice from the citrus easily, and it works with both lemons and limes.
How to make this recipe
Slice and bake cookies are the ideal make-ahead sweet treat. You make the dough and then chill it until you are ready to bake the cookies.
Step 1 | Mix the dry ingredients. Start by mixing the dry ingredients together in a small mixing bowl. Be sure to include the extra tablespoon of flour noted in the recipe as this gives the dough the right consistency.
Step 2 | Cream the butter & sugar. Creamed butter and sugar form the base for many cookie recipes. The key is to let the butter soften so the ingredients combine easily. I'd recommend letting the butter sit on your kitchen counter for at least an hour before you start.
Step 3 | Make the dough. A stand mixer is ideal for making cookies. After you've creamed the butter and sugar and added the other base ingredients slowly add the flour mixture while the mixer is running at low speed. The dough will be very dry and somewhat crumbly so you'll need to press it together as you roll it into logs.
Step 4 | Chill the dough. You want to roll the dough into two logs and then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. They need to be refrigerated for at least two hours but it can be left overnight. If you want to leave them for much longer I'd recommend freezing the dough (see tips below).
Step 5 | Bake the cookies. When you are ready to bake, line a cookie sheet or two with parchment paper and slice the dough into ½ inch thick slices. Bake for 10 minutes or until slightly golden on the edges and then drizzle the cookies with melted chocolate.
Freezing Instructions
After you've wrapped the dough logs in plastic, place them in a freezer bag. They will keep for about a month in the freezer. To bake the cookies, take the dough out of the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator for several hours. Once thawed, slice and bake according to the recipe instructions.
More sweet treats
For more great dessert options check out these reader favorites:
- Peppermint Brownies. The ideal dessert for the Christmas holiday season!
- Dark Chocolate Bark. Topped with candied orange peel and pistachios, this dessert makes a fabulous edible gift and is also a great sweet treat any time of year.
- Espresso Pot de Creme. This extra rich chocolatey dessert is great for date night or anything you want something a little extra special to finish a meal.
- Chocolate Chip Oatmeal bars. These bars are the perfect solution when you don't want to take the time to make individual cookies.
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Slice & Bake Orange Crisp Cookies with Dark Chocolate Drizzle
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 6 tablespoons European butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon orange extract
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 2 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
Instructions
- Mix the dry ingredients. Place flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small mixing bowl. Using a whisk stir until well mixed. Set aside.
- Cream the butter & sugar. Place butter, sugar, and orange zest in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix until butter and sugar are creamed together. Add egg, extracts and orange juice. Mix until completely combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Make the dough. With the stand mixer running, slowly pour in the flour mixture. Continue mixing until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again until a soft, crumbly dough forms.
- Chill the dough. Divide dough into two parts. Place each part on a large piece of plastic wrap and form into a log-like shape about 2" in diameter. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and roll back and forth to round the edges. Place the dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Heat the oven. After 2 hours, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Bake the cookies. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and slice into ¼" thick rounds. Place rounds on baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until slightly browned on the edges and springy in the middle. Remove cookies from oven and let cool.
- Make the chocolate. While the cookies are cooling place the chocolate in a double boiler over medium-low heat. Melt the chocolate, stirring constantly.
- Drizzle the chocolate. Using a small spoon drizzle the melted chocolate over the cookies. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before eating.
This post was originally published in December 2021. It was updated in December 2024 with some new information and photos. No changes were made to the original recipe.
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile
Oh these sound amazing!!! I'll have to buy some orange extract! Thanks for joining our Fabulous Foodie Fridays party! xx
Marsha @ Marsha's Baking Addiction
I love orange and chocolate! I may need to make these cookies!
Lexi
These look so yummy. I love little shortbreads and chocolate and orange are a natural combination. 🙂 Will definitely pin for later!
Manal Obieda
Orange and chocolate...a great combination and one of my old time favorite combos...I really can imagine the smell of these baking in the oven...
Julia (@Imagelicious)
I love all orange flavoured desserts. Pinned this to make! I will also add my favourite orange oil to the dough.
FoodieGirlChicago
Thanks Julia! I'd love to hear how they are with the addition of the orange oil.
IttyBittyFoodies
Chocolate and Orange is a match made in heaven. Love this recipe. Great pictures too.
Celine @Mrs Minty Cream
Wow! Like the others, I also love the combination of orange & chocolate. It is like a combination that will not go wrong! I have not tried using orange extract before and after reading through your recipe, I'm thinking of getting it and giving it a try! Thanks for the share.
Tara | Deliciously Declassified
I love this flavor combo and this reminds me of a healthier, homemade Milano cookie! Pinning to try 🙂
Annie @ Annie's Noms
Chocolate and orange is one of my favourite combinations ever, these look gorgeous!
FoodieGirlChicago
Thanks Annie! These are one of my favorite cookies.
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal
Putting chocolate and orange in a cookie is such a yummy idea!
Heather
I love just about anything orange flavored and these cookies are no exception!! Excellent recipe
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal
Orange and chocolate taste as much like the holidays as peppermint mocha. Thanks for the Christmas cookie inspiration!
Liz
What a quick and simple recipe! These cookies seems almost refreshing! Excited to give them a try!
Allyssa
This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make orange crisp cookies recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!