Ingredients for Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here’s what you’ll need to make these chocolate orange cookies:

Fresh orange zest: The key ingredient for that delicious chocolate-orange flavor.

Vegan Butter: Gives the cookies their rich flavor and soft texture.

Brown sugar: Adds moisture and a deeper caramel-like sweetness.

Granulated sugar: Helps create slightly crisp edges.

Vanilla extract: Enhances the other flavors.

Eggs: Help bind the ingredients and provide structure.

Rolled oats: Add chewiness and texture.

Gluten-free all-purpose flour: Use a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour for gluten-free cookies.

Baking soda: Helps the cookies spread and brown.

Salt: I used iodized salt to balance all the ingredients.

Cinnamon: Adds a subtle layer of warmth.

Chocolate chips: Use semisweet, milk chocolate, refined sugar-free, or dairy-free chips

Walnuts: Add crunch and complement the chocolate and orange.

How to Make Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

1. Mix the butter and sugars

Add the vegan butter to a microwave-safe large bowl, place it in the microwave, and microwave for 20 seconds or until the butter is just melted and NOT hot. Then, add the granulated sugar to the bowl and stir well with an electric handheld mixer.

Add the brown sugar and beat again until well combined.

2. Add the eggs and vanilla

Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat until everything is well incorporated.

3. Mix the dry ingredients

In a separate bowl, combine the rolled oats, gluten-free flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix just until combined. Avoid overmixing the dough.

4. Add the chocolate, walnuts, and orange zest

Fold in the chocolate chips, walnuts, and freshly grated orange zest using a spatula.

Make sure the orange zest is distributed throughout the dough so every cookie gets plenty of citrus flavor.

5. Chill the cookie dough

Scoop approximately 2–3 tablespoons of dough and roll each portion into a ball.

Place the cookie dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet or tray, cover it with plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge for at least 2-4 hours, preferably overnight.

Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape and contributes to their soft, chewy centers.

6. Bake

When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F.

Arrange the chilled cookie dough balls about 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Totally optional is to sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top of each cookie ball.

Bake for 12–14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers still look slightly soft.

Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before serving. The centers will continue to set as the cookies cool.

Tips for Making the Best Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

Use fresh orange zest. Freshly grated orange zest provides much more vibrant flavor than bottled orange flavoring.

Don’t overmix the dough. Once the dry ingredients are incorporated, mix just until combined. Overmixing can result in a tougher cookie.

Chill the dough. Don’t skip the chilling step. Refrigerating the dough helps prevent excessive spreading and gives the cookies a better texture.

Don’t overbake. The cookies may look slightly underdone in the middle when you take them from the oven. That’s what you want. They’ll firm up as they cool while remaining soft and gooey inside.

Can I Make These Cookies Without Walnuts?

Absolutely. If you don’t like walnuts or have a nut allergy, simply leave them out. You don’t need to replace them with anything.

For extra texture without nuts, you could add a little more rolled oats or use additional chocolate chips.