Chocolate Orange Shortbread Cookies

The most beautiful time of the year has begun, it's the holidays and that means...baking time! What are you waiting for? Go and bake these chocolate orange shortbread cookies with brandy (instead of vanilla extract). You'll find them irresistible.

Check out the other two recipes from Christmas 2022 series: lemon shortbread cookies & double hazelnut shortbread cookies.

Check out what I made in 2019 (Christmas Cookie Box) and 2020 (peppermint chocolate cookies, caramel coffee cookies, strawberry dried figs cookies)).

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Stress free cookies for Christmas, the series.

Christmas is the most busy time of the year. For that reason, in 2019 I decided to create a stress free cookie box because, let's be honest, sometimes Christmas "rhymes" with hustle.

Instead we don't want to feel those "hectic vibes". We just want to have fun, right?! That's why for this series of three recipes, I will use pretty much the same shortbread cookie dough base and only change flavor.

YEP, just like in my 2019 Christmas Cookie Box (which, by the way, I would check out if I were you!).

My plan? First is these chocolate orange shortbread cookies (with a touch of brandy), then hazelnut shortbread cookies and finally simple lemon shortbread cookies!

You ready to try all these shortbread recipes and build your own box?

Recipe ingredients

The shortbread cookie base is very simple and it's made with:

All purpose flour. I am Italian and I use 00 flour. AP works fine.
Butter. Unsalted! For a very good shortbread cookie dough, high quality butter is essential.
Powdered sugar. You can also use regular white sugar but you'll probably taste the "grains". I like icing/confectioner's best.
Orange zest. Remember to use organic oranges. There's the zest from a whole orange inside, to really taste its amazing flavor.
Brandy. Ah! This is the key ingredient here to take it to the next level. If you don't have it, just use vanilla extract. Feel free to experiment with bourbon too.
Chocolate. Of your choice. I like dark chocolate.
Egg and salt.

How to make chocolate orange shortbread cookies

Especially when I'm in the kitchen, my code word is simplicity. So these shortbread cookies with chocolate, orange and brandy NEEDED to be very simple.

The base recipe is very similar (almost identical) to the one from my Christmas cookie box, simply because THAT is my favorite recipe and it's "foolproof". I made it dozens of time and it's always INCREDIBLE, so I am 100% confident you'll love it.

Let's see how to make it:

1. Prepare the dough

Add flour, powdered sugar, unsalted butter, egg, salt, orange zest and brandy (you can also try bourbon) to a food processor* and blend until you get a crumbly mixture.
Take it out on a work surface (dusted with flour) and work with your hands until you get a nice dough.
Slightly flatten it with your hands, cover with plastic wrap and let chill in the fridge (or freezer, if dough is very soft) for about 30-60 minutes.

*Alternatively put everything inside a large mixing bowl, and use your stand mixer at medium speed to combine all the ingredients with a paddle attachment (in case it sticks, use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl)

2. Form the cookies and bake

Roll out the dough on a dusted work surface (or use two sheets of parchment paper) about 0.2 inch thickness.
Cut into shapes using a cookie cutter (read the FAQ for the other method), and arrange them on a cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper.
At this point, I recommend making them chill into the fridge for about 10 minutes. So they can hold their shape while baking.
Bake cookies at 180° C / 355° F for about 14-17 minutes (every oven is different).
Let cool down on a wire rack.

P.S. the amount of cookies could vary based on the cutter you use (I made about 40)

3. Decorate

Lastly, decorate with melted chocolate (dark or milk) using a piping bag or simply a spoon.

And your delicious treat is ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add chocolate into the dough?

Absolutely yes. Cut the chocolate into very tiny chunks, then add them to the dough.

How can I make these cookies without cutters?

Simply roll the dough into a 1 inch log. Wrap in parchment paper then refrigerate for about 1 hour. Cut discs using a sharp knife.

Can you really taste the brandy?

Despite using almost 3 tablespoons, the brandy flavor WON'T be dominant, it just gives an extra kick (so delicious!!!). I wouldn't recommend adding more, since it will alter the structure of the dough.

Can I freeze these shortbread cookies after baking?

I haven't tried freezing them when ready, but if you have to make a big batch you can form the cookies, freeze them on a flat surface, then put them into a freezer bag. When you're ready to bake, just place them on a tray and bake (may need a bit more minutes).

How do I store these cookies?

After baking, you can store these in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 7-10 days. You can also wrap them in a cute plastic bag and gift to friends/family.

PRO TIP. "Infuse" orange zest into sugar, for an intense flavor.

Yep. That's right. If you have a bit of time prior to making these cookies, add orange zest in a bowl with the sugar and let "infuse".

If you make this recipe, please be sure to give it a rating and leave a comment! It would make me so happy! 🙂

Remember: if you try one of my recipes, tag me on Instagram or DM me the photos!