Chocolate Orange Cookies

I don't know why we only find chocolate and orange together at the holidays.  Several years ago there were those chocolate oranges that you whacked on the table to break apart into the orange segments.  These cookies are a lot like that chocolate.  And they smell wonderful too.  The whole kitchen smells of oranges.  

These cookies are small but that pack a big punch.

The pecans are optional.  If you want to use another nut you can do that too.

Start with 2/3 cup softened butter.

1 cup sugar

Whip that well and add 1 egg.

Add 1 teaspoon orange extract.  The recipe says you can use orange essential oil in place of the extract.

1 Tablespoon orange peel.  This is what smells so good.

1/3 cup cocoa powder.  Mix well.

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans.  Mix all this up together.

In a separate bowl add 1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon orange peel

Mix that until the orange peel is mixed well with the sugar.

Scoop the dough into balls and then roll in the orange sugar.

These are going in the freezer.  To bake preheat oven to 350 and bake for 9-11 minutes.

They are really good warm so be sure and swipe one when they are hot.

Chocolate Orange Cookie Recipe

1 cup sugar
2/3 cup softened butter
1 Tablespoon grated orange peel
1 teaspoon orange extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

In a separate bowl
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange peel

Preheat oven to 350.  Bake for 9-11 minutes