These Double Chocolate Orange Cookies are the perfect combination of rich dark chocolate and zesty orange. Whether you are looking for the perfect flavorful and chewy cookie for the holiday season or the perfect easy and healthy cookie recipe, these cookies are for you!
In my opinion, chocolate cookies are one of the most underrated kinds of cookies out there. Whether it is a chocolate cookie like my vegan peppermint mocha cookies, my double chocolate protein cookies, or these double chocolate orange cookies, it seems that they never get the hype that they deserve. I am committed to making sure that chocolate cookies everywhere get the hype they deserve this holiday season!
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Jump to:
- Chocolate Orange Cookies Ingredients:
- How To Make These Orange Chocolate Cookies:
- Substitutions:
- Variations:
- What You Will Need To Make These Vegan Orange Chocolate Cookies:
- Storage:
- Top Tip:
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- More Delicious Holiday Cookie Recipes:
- Double Chocolate Orange Cookies
- More Chocolate Recipes:
- Reviews
Chocolate Orange Cookies Ingredients:
These delicious cookies are the perfect cookies to make during Christmas time because they are made with simple ingredients and are naturally healthy. You can find all the ingredients for this recipe at your local grocery store or easily order online.
Dry Ingredients:
- Plain Flour - The main structural component for these chocolate orange cookies. You can use all-purpose flour, gluten-free flour, or whole-wheat flour. If you use whole wheat, you may need to add an extra tablespoon of water to the cookie dough. Whole wheat flour will add more protein and fiber to these cookies, whereas gluten-free and all-purpose flour will have a more neutral flavor.
- Maple Crystals - A natural sweetener, maple crystals add sweetness with a lower glycemic index than refined sugar, providing a gradual release of energy. They are my absolute favorite natural sweetener because they work just like cane sugar, are sweeter than cane sugar, and are much healthier than cane sugar.
- Cornstarch - Cornstarch contributes to the cookies' tenderness, creating soft and chewy cookies.
- Ground Flaxseed - Serving as a vegan egg substitute, ground flaxseed adds moisture, binds the ingredients, and introduces omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber.
- Baking Soda - As a leavening agent, baking soda helps the cookies rise, resulting in a light and fluffy texture.
- Cacao Powder - Rich in antioxidants, cacao powder adds a deep chocolate flavor, enhancing the overall richness of the cookies. I always buy this in bulk so I can make all kinds of chocolate desserts like my Rich & Fudgy Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies.
- Vegan Dark Chocolate Chips - Dark chocolate chips provide bursts of chocolatey goodness throughout the cookies, melting slightly during baking to create pockets of velvety chocolate.
- Orange Zest - These orange chocolate chip cookies would not be complete without fresh orange zest. This is great for adding some color to these cookies as well as additional flavor.
Wet Ingredients:
- Orange Extract - Orange extract infuses the cookies with a vibrant citrusy orange flavor, creating a delightful contrast to the rich chocolate. It adds a zesty brightness to each bite. You'll want to save this for my Soft and Chewy Cranberry Orange Cookies, too.
- Vanilla Extract - Enhancing the overall flavor profile, vanilla extract adds a sweet and aromatic dimension to the cookies, complementing both the chocolate and orange notes.
- Water - Essential for making the flax egg and combining the wet and dry ingredients, water helps achieve the right consistency in the cookie dough, ensuring a perfect balance of flavors and textures.
- Raw Cashew Butter - Raw cashew butter serves as a plant-based fat source, replacing melted butter, and helps to contribute to the cookies' richness and moistness. It also provides healthy fats as well as offering essential minerals like copper and magnesium. I really love using SPiN from Wilderness Poets because it is super silky smooth and never dries up.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How To Make These Orange Chocolate Cookies:
These are the perfect cookies to make for cookie exchanges because they are easy to make and sure to be a hit!
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare Flax Eggs:
- In a small bowl, mix the ground flaxseed with the flax egg water and let it sit for a few minutes until it forms a gel-like consistency - these are your flax eggs.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, maple crystals, cornstarch, baking soda, and cacao powder.
- Add Wet Ingredients:
- To the dry ingredients, add the flax eggs, orange extract, vanilla extract, remaining water, and raw cashew butter. Mix well with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until a soft cookie dough forms.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips:
- Gently fold in the vegan dark chocolate chips, ensuring an even distribution throughout the dough.
- Chilling the Cookie Dough:
- Place the large bowl of cookie dough in the fridge to chill for about 30 minutes.
- Shape and Arrange Cookies:
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop tablespoon-sized portions of the chilled dough and roll them into balls. Place the cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each.
- Bake:
- Bake cookies in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are set. The cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
- Cool and Enjoy:
- Allow the chocolate orange cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes at room temperature before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve:
- Once cooled, serve these delightful vegan chocolate orange cookies and savor the perfect blend of rich chocolate and zesty orange flavors.
Enjoy these wholesome and indulgent cookies as a delightful treat, or share them with friends and family for a truly satisfying experience!
Hint: I find that the flavor of these cookies is better once they have chilled completely. The orange flavor deepens as they cool. Therefore, I recommend letting them cool completely before enjoying for the best results.
Substitutions:
As always, there are plenty of easy substitutions that can be made to these delicious orange chocolate cookies if needed. Here are some common substitutions.
- Sugar - Maple Crystals are one of the best, if not the best, natural sweeteners. I use them in all kinds of recipes like my Healthy Vegan Coffee Cake and my Vegan Dubai Chocolate Brownies. However, if you can't get your hands on them for whatever reason, you can use other sugars. Coconut sugar or sucanat sugar is the best and least processed sugar to use, and white sugar and light brown sugar are the most processed sugars you could use.
- Orange Flavor - If you don't have any orange extract on your hands, you can use fresh orange juice to get the perfect hint of orange flavor. I recommend using 1 teaspoon to replace the orange extract and two tablespoons to replace the water.
- Cocoa Powder - You can use unsweetened cocoa powder instead of cacao powder as a 1:1 substitute. The only difference is that cacao powder is less processed and contains more antioxidants.
If you have any questions about a particular substitution not listed, make sure to leave a comment, and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible!
Variations:
There are so many fun and delicious variations that can be made to these chewy chocolate cookies. Here are some of my favorites.
- Espresso Infusion - For coffee lovers, consider adding a teaspoon of instant espresso powder to the dry ingredients. This intensifies the chocolate flavor and adds a subtle coffee undertone. Use leftover espresso powder to make my Peppermint Mocha Cookies and my Vegan Coffee Ice Cream.
- Cranberry Delight - Add a burst of tartness and a pop of color by folding in dried cranberries. The sweet-tart contrast enhances the overall taste. These taste amazing in my Gluten-Free Vegan Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies.
- Nutty Bliss - Add a crunchy twist by incorporating chopped nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or pecans into the cookie dough. This adds texture and a nutty flavor.
Feel free to mix and match these variations to create your own signature Vegan Chocolate Orange Cookies. Don't hesitate to get creative and tailor the recipe to your personal taste preferences!
What You Will Need To Make These Vegan Orange Chocolate Cookies:
To make Vegan Chocolate Orange Cookies, you'll need the following equipment:
- Mixing Bowls - You will need a small bowl for making the flax egg and a large mixing bowl for mixing the cookie dough.
- Whisk - A whisk is essential for evenly mixing the dry ingredients in the large bowl, ensuring a uniform cookie dough.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons - Accurate measurements are crucial in baking. Have measuring cups for flour and liquids, as well as spoons for precise amounts of extracts and spices.
- Baking Sheet - A baking sheet lined with parchment paper will prevent the cookies from sticking and make for easy cleanup.
- Cookie Scoop or Spoon - Use a cookie scoop or a spoon to portion out the cookie dough onto the baking sheet. This ensures uniform-sized cookies for even baking.
- Wire Rack - After baking, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them firm up and prevents them from becoming too soft.
- Optional: Citrus Zester - If you're adding citrus zest for a variation, a zester can help extract the flavorful outer layer of citrus peel without the bitter pith.
- Optional: Hand or Stand Mixer - While not strictly necessary for this recipe, a hand or stand mixer with a paddle attachment can make the mixing process faster and more efficient. I recommend mixing on medium or low speed.
- Optional: Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat - If you prefer using silicone baking mats instead of parchment paper, they also work well to prevent sticking.
Storage:
How you store these cookies is key to determining how long they will last. If you want them to keep for the entire holiday season, I recommend storing them in the fridge in an airtight container. If you are only keeping them for a couple of days, you can store them in a ziplock bag, plate with plastic wrap, or in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature or in the fridge.
Top Tip:
If you are planning to add fresh orange zest on top of these cookies, make sure to clean the orange peel. Orange peels are typically coated in pesticides. Therefore, it's best practice to wash the oranges thoroughly.
Frequently Asked Questions:
If your cookies spread too much, try chilling the dough in the refrigerator before baking. This helps solidify the fats in the dough, resulting in less spreading.
If you prefer, you can use a commercial egg replacer or applesauce instead of flaxseed. The flaxseed serves as an egg substitute and adds moisture to the cookies.
Yes, you can adjust the size of the cookies by changing the scooping size. Keep an eye on baking time, as smaller cookies may require less time, and larger ones may need more.
More Delicious Holiday Cookie Recipes:
Looking for more delicious holiday cookie recipes? Make sure to check out some of the other new recipes on my website!
If you try this Vegan Double Chocolate Orange Cookie Recipe, I'd really love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I'd also really appreciate a recipe card rating! Make sure to share it on social media and tag @theallnaturalvegan to be featured! Thank you for supporting The All Natural Vegan!
Double Chocolate Orange Cookies
Equipment
- 1 cookie scoop
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 ½ cups maple crystals
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 3 tablespoon cacao powder
- ½ cup plant based chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup raw cashew butter
- 6 tablespoon water for the flax egg
- 2 tablespoon water
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Prepare Flax Eggs:
- In a small bowl, mix the ground flaxseed with the flax egg water and let it sit for a few minutes until it forms a gel-like consistency - these are your flax eggs.
Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, maple crystals, cornstarch, baking soda, and cacao powder.
Add Wet Ingredients:
- To the dry ingredients, add the flax eggs, orange extract, vanilla extract, remaining water, and raw cashew butter. Mix well with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until a soft cookie dough forms.
Fold in Chocolate Chips:
- Gently fold in the vegan dark chocolate chips, ensuring an even distribution throughout the dough.
Chilling the Cookie Dough:
- Place the large bowl of cookie dough in the fridge to chill for about 30 minutes.
Shape and Arrange Cookies:
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop tablespoon-sized portions of the chilled dough and roll them into balls. Place the cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each.
Bake:
- Bake cookies in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are set. The cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
Cool and Enjoy:
- Allow the chocolate orange cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes at room temperature before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Serve:
- Once cooled, serve these delightful vegan chocolate orange cookies and savor the perfect blend of rich chocolate and zesty orange flavors.
More Chocolate Recipes:
Are you a fellow chocolate lover? Make sure to check out more of the delicious chocolate recipes on my website!
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