These chocolate orange cookies are soft, chewy and full of delicious, nostalgia flavor or the Terry's chocolate oranges you remember as a kid. They are simple to make and everyone will love them. And nobody will ever guess they are gluten free!
As a kid I always loved getting a real orange and a chocolate orange in my stocking from Santa Claus. The sound of breaking one and the smell when you open that gold foil, brings back all the nostalgia.
I served these to my non-gluten free family and they said they were amazing! I like the extra drizzle of chocolate on the top of these cookies as well as fresh orange zest both in the cookies and on top.
Why you’ll love these chocolate chip cookies
- They’re simple enough for an every-night dessert but delicious enough for special occasions.
- If you love chocolate oranges, these are another great way to enjoy them.
- You can make them with pantry-staple ingredients that you probably already have. The only fresh ingredient you need is an orange.
- They’re packed with so much melted chocolatey orange goodness.
- They make great gift during the holiday season.
- With the special blend of gluten-free flour, nobody will ever know they’re gluten-free!
What you need to make gluten-free cookies
- Flour – You’ll need a cup for cup gluten-free flour blend. I recommend gluten free King Arthur 1:1 flour.
- Nutmeg – I like to add a touch of nutmeg to my cookies because it’s an easy way to take them from good to great.
- Toppings and fillings – Chocolate orange pieces are perfect for this recipe.
- Sugar – You’ll need white sugar and brown sugar for the perfect softness and sweetness.
- Eggs - Great binder that holds everything together.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted butter will work.
- Vanilla – Gluten free vanilla extract helps the flavors mesh together.
- Orange zest - Great in the cookie dough and on top.
How to make chocolate orange cookies
Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
Mix the dough: In a stand mixer, combine the butter and sugars and whip until light and fluffy then add the eggs. Add vanilla and orange zest. Combine all dry ingredients in another bowl and slowly add them to the wet mixture. Mix until a dough forms.
Roll the dough: Use a cookie scoop or heaping tablespoon to portion the dough into 2-inch balls.
Bake: Arrange the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake until the edges are set but the tops are still soft.
Cool and drizzle: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and top with melted chocolate orange and more fresh orange zest.
Tips for making the best Christmas cookies
- Drizzle generously: When drizzling the cookie, don’t be shy! Make sure you get enough on there for that holiday effect. This goes for the orange zest as well.
- Don’t over bake: These cookies should still be soft in the middle when you take them out of the oven, they will firm up more as they cool.
- Chill the dough: This is absolutely crucial to get the perfect cookie otherwise they will melt too fast while baking.
Storing and Freezing
To store: Keep the cookies in an airtight container or ziplock baggie at room temperature for up to 5 days.
To freeze: If you want to keep them for longer, freeze baked and completely cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months, or freeze the dough balls and bake directly from frozen (add 1-2 minutes to the baking time).
More cookie recipes you will love
- 15-minute gluten free christmas cookies
- Chocolate crinkle cookies
- Gluten free Christmas biscuits
- No bake wreath cookies
- Gluten free no bake cookies
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Terry's Chocolate Orange Cookies (Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- ¾ Cup brown sugar
- ½ Cup sugar
- ¾ Cup butter melted
- 2 eggs
- 1 Teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
- zest from one orange, divided
- 1 ⅔ Cup gluten free all purpose flour
- ¼ Cup almond flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- 2 Terry's Chocolate Oranges (possibly 3 depending on how much drizzle you want)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°
- In a stand mixer, with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugars together until light and fluffy then add eggs and continue mixing
- Add vanilla and orange zest from half the orange
- Combine the gluten-free flour, almond flour, salt, baking soda and nutmeg in a bowl then add slowly to the mixer until dough forms
- Chop one chocolate orange into small pieces and fold into the dough
- Place the cookie dough in the fridge, covered, to chill for 30 minutes
- Remove and drop by heaping tablespoons onto silicone mat, or parchment paper lined baking sheets
- Bake 12 minutes or until golden brown
- Let them cool slightly on the baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling and then drizzle with melted chocolate from remaining chocolate orange and remaining zest from the orange
Notes
Tips for making the best gf cookies
- To keep your cookies from crumbling, keep the oven door closed while the cookies are baking for best results. A higher heat will prevent them from spreading or crumbling.
- Sprinkle with flakey sea salt on top of the cookies right after they're done baking or an extra touch. There's nothing better than the salt and chocolate combo.
- For perfectly shaped cookies, use a cookie cutter or a large glass cup to shape the cookies right after they're done. While they're still warm, you will be able to mold the cookies into perfect circles.
Kay says
My whole family loved these!!
Chandice Probst says
HUGE compliment, thank you so much for sharing! We love them too 🙂 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!