Let me tell you about my friend Allison. She has been through incredible trials. She is a wonderful mom who has raised 3 amazing girls all on her own. And she has handled it all with grace. Allison is the kind of person that people look at and can’t help but admire. She is kind and thoughtful.
When I backed into her car (in my driveway!) last year, she apologized to me. As if that was somehow her fault. When we traveled to Colorado to house hunt, she added my 2 kids to her 3 for the weekend. And did it gladly.
She talked tv, blogging and photography with me. Tasted recipes. Guest posted. Bounced ideas for inspiration. Took her girls to story time at the library nearly every Monday with Madeline and me.
We are television and book nerds together. We are friends. And when we moved away she offered to take our family pictures as a parting gift. For free. Even when I asked her if I could pay her.
Today I’m sharing a recipe for Chocolate Orange Cut Out Cookies with you. Because what better thing to share with good friends than a plate of cookies? Even if we have to do it virtually.
These tasty chocolate orange cookies are stuffed with a creamy orange filling for a mouth watering Chocolate Orange Sandwich Cookie. Cut them out in any shape you desire for whatever holiday is on the calender at the moment.
But these aren’t just any cookies. I think you’ll want to take a closer look.
These Chocolate Orange Cut Out Cookies come with an extra special message from Allison‘s boyfriend Dan.
Yep. You read that right!
Don’t forget to BREATHE, Allison!
Or in Dan’s own words…
Someone want to pass Allison a tissue? I’m sure she needs one right about now.
If you haven’t already forgotten that there is a recipe for Chocolate Orange Sandwich Cookies in this post, here it is.
Orange Chocolate Cut Out Cookies
Today I’m sharing a recipe for Chocolate Orange Cut Out Cookies with you. Because what better thing to share with good friends than a plate of cookies?
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
- 1 1/3 cups sugar
- 1 large egg
- 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped & melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- zest of 2 oranges
For the Orange Cream:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 8 drops pure orange oil (alternatively use the zest of 1 - 2 oranges)
- 2 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 1/2 ounce soft cream cheese
- 1 - 4 teaspoons heavy cream
Instructions
For the Cookies:
- Combine 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Whisk to sift.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat 2 sticks (1 cup) of butter for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides. Add the sugar and beat 2 minutes more. Scrape down the sides again and add the egg and bittersweet chocolate. Beat for 1 more minute.
- Switch to the paddle mixing attachment. Add the vanilla, orange zest, and the flour mixture (1/2 a cup at a time). If the dough is too sticky, add an additional 1/4 cup of flour. Stir on low until incorporated.
- Divide the dough into two balls. Flatten into a disc. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 2 hours. Dough can be made up to 2 days in advance - just allow it to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before rolling out.
- 1 disk at a time, roll the cookie dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper to 1/8 - 1/4-inch thickness depending on your personal preference. Put one sheet in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using 1 dough sheet, place on a work surface. Peel off the top parchment sheet. Cut out the cookies with the shape you prefer. If the dough gets too warm to work with, place the dough in the freezer for 5 - 10 minutes.
- Transferring the shapes to the baking sheet with a wide, metal spatula and spacing them 3/4 inch apart. Set the scraps aside for reuse.
- Bake cookies at 350 degrees F for 8-12 minutes on the middle rack. Let cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining dough. Frost as desired, once completely cool.
For the Orange Cream:
- Whisk the powdered sugar, orange oil (or zest), 2 tablespoons butter, and cream cheese. Add the heavy cream until you reach the desired consistency. Depending on how many cookies you make at a time it might be necessary to make additional batches of orange cream.
To Assemble the Sandwiches:
- Spread orange cream on the bottom side of a cookie. Top the cream with the bottom side of another cookie. Eat and enjoy!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information
Yield 36 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 168Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 9mgSodium 57mgCarbohydrates 32gFiber 2gSugar 14gProtein 3g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Hayal
Thursday 20th of November 2014
I want to make these for my son's birthday party. Can I bake them in advance and freeze them? I would frost and assemble them on the day of the party but if the actual baking part can be done in advance that would save me a lot of time...
Katie Goodman
Thursday 20th of November 2014
I haven't tested that out so I can't say.
MG
Friday 7th of December 2012
Salted or unsalted butter? And, congrats to Allison!!
Katie
Friday 7th of December 2012
Salted unless the recipe specifies to use unsalted.
Hillary @ The Mama Review
Thursday 29th of November 2012
So incredibly sweet! I totally have tears streaming down my face. Allison sounds like a pretty special person and friend; very happy for her (and for Dan)!
Sylvia
Thursday 29th of November 2012
That is so sweet! Congratulations to Allison! I love this cookie proposal!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
Tuesday 27th of November 2012
That is the sweetest proposal, what a guy!