Chocolate Orange Cookies with a rich chocolate base, packed with Terry’s Chocolate Orange pieces and topped with a citrusy segment. A perfect festive baking treat!
Chocolate Orange Cookies
Christmas baking for the 2025 season may be coming to an end, but I had to squeeze in one final festive recipe before we say goodbye to the holidays. And trust me… this one is worth it! Introducing my Chocolate Orange Cookies, rich, indulgent, and bursting with that iconic Terry’s Chocolate Orange flavour we all adore at Christmas.
For me, chocolate orange is Christmas. I buy my stepdad a Terry’s Chocolate Orange every year, so this time I thought, “Why not bake it into a cookie instead?” And just like that, these cookies were born! With a soft and gooey chocolate base, packed FULL of chocolate orange chunks, fresh orange zest, and finished with a Terry’s Chocolate Orange segment on top, these cookies smell unreal while baking and taste even better.
If you love festive flavours, cosy treats, and easy Christmas cookie recipes… these will become your new December tradition.
However, let’s remember that chocolate orange isn’t just for Christmas, these cookies are so delicious you’ll want to bake them all year round!
Why You’ll Love These Chocolate Orange Cookies
- Perfect for Christmas baking– The iconic chocolate orange flavour makes them a festive must-bake.
- Rich and chocolatey with a soft, gooey centre and crisp edges.
- Packed with Terry’s Chocolate Orange for maximum flavour in every bite.
- Easy and quick– Ideal for holiday movie nights, parties, or gifting.
- Better than shop-bought– Fresh, warm, and full of real chocolate pieces.
- Crowd-pleasing holiday treat both kids and adults will love.
- Great for edible gifts– Wrap in cellophane bags or place in festive treat boxes.
Ingredients You Need
- Unsalted Butter– Adds richness and creates a soft, chewy centre. I recommend unsalted block butter for best texture, though baking spread can be used if preferred.
- Caster Sugar– Provides sweetness, moisture, chewiness, and lightly crisp edges.
- Egg + Egg Yolk– Binds the cookie dough and keeps the centres soft and fudgy. The extra yolk adds richness and enhances that bakery-style texture.
- Plain Flour– Gives the cookies structure while keeping them tender, not dense.
- Cocoa Powder– Adds deep, rich chocolate flavour to the cookie base.
- Golden Syrup– Adds moisture, chewiness, and extra fudginess to the cookie texture.
- Bicarbonate of Soda & Baking Powder– Helps the cookies puff, rise, and spread evenly while baking.
- Salt– Balances sweetness and enhances the chocolate and orange flavours.
- Terry’s Chocolate Orange Pieces– The star of the cookies, adds pockets of melty chocolate orange goodness in every bite.
- Orange Zest– Boosts the fresh citrus aroma and enhances the festive chocolate orange flavour.
- Terry’s Chocolate Orange Segments (for topping)– The signature finishing touch for that classic Christmas cookie look.
Storage & Freezing Tips
- Store in an airtight container for 4–5 days.
- Freeze unbaked cookie dough balls for up to 3 months.
- Bake from frozen– just add 2–3 extra minutes.
Tips & Tricks
- Chill the dough for at least 30–60 minutes– Chilling helps the cookies hold their shape, enhances flavour, and prevents excessive spreading. This is essential for thick, bakery-style cookies.
- Use high-quality chocolate orange pieces– Terry’s Chocolate Orange melts beautifully and gives the richest flavour. For extra decadence, fold in a mix of milk and dark chocolate orange chunks.
- Don’t overbake– Remove the cookies from the oven when the edges are set but the centres still look soft. They continue to firm up as they cool, keeping them fudgy and gooey.
- Weigh your cookie dough balls– I recommend 100-110g dough balls for NYC-style thick cookies. Even weights = even baking and perfect results every time.
- Use room-temperature butter and eggs– Helps the dough combine smoothly and prevents a greasy texture.
- Don’t skip the orange zest– Fresh zest really lifts the flavour and makes the chocolate orange taste stronger and more festive.
- Line your trays with parchment only– Avoid greasing the tray, extra grease makes cookies spread too much.
- Space cookies out well– These are chunky, so bake 3–4 per tray to avoid merging.
- Let cookies cool on the tray– Cooling for 10-15 minutes helps them set without drying out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use dark or white chocolate instead?
Absolutely! All chocolate pairs beautifully with orange.
Do I have to chill the dough?
Yes, chilling prevents the cookies from overspreading and keeps them thick and gooey.
Can I use bottled orange extract instead of zest?
Yes, but zest gives a fresher flavour.
Can I make these smaller?
Yes, just reduce the baking time by 2–3 minutes.
Can I use regular chocolate instead of Terry’s Chocolate Orange?
Yes! If you don’t have Terry’s, use milk chocolate mixed with ½ teaspoon orange extract or extra orange zest for that citrus flavour.
Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Absolutely. The dough can be made 48–72 hours in advance and kept in the fridge. In fact, chilling the dough enhances the flavour and texture.
Can I freeze the cookie dough?
Yes, these freeze perfectly. Roll the dough into balls, freeze on a tray for 1 hour, then store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, just add 2–3 extra minutes.
Why did my cookies spread too much?
Cookies spread when the dough is too warm, the butter was too soft, or too much sugar was added. Chilling the dough and using block butter prevents spreading.
Why are my cookies dry or crumbly?
Dryness usually comes from adding too much flour or overbaking. Make sure to measure flour correctly and remove cookies when the centres look slightly underbaked.
How do I store the baked cookies?
Store in an airtight container for 4–5 days at room temperature. For extra softness, add half a slice of bread inside the container.
Can I reheat the cookies?
Yes, microwave for 10–12 seconds for a warm, gooey centre.
Recommended Equipment
- Stand Mixer– I use this one from Morphy Richards, it has a built in scale and timer! Use code BITEOFBAKES for 20% off!
- Baking Trays
- Cookie Rings
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These Chocolate Orange Cookies are everything Christmas should taste like, cosy, chocolatey, zesty, and bursting with nostalgic festive flavour. Whether you’re squeezing in one last holiday bake or making them in the new year (because let’s be honest, chocolate orange is delicious all year round!), this recipe is guaranteed to become a family favourite. They’re perfect for gifting, sharing at gatherings, or simply enjoying warm from the oven with a cup of tea or coffee.
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Chocolate Orange Cookies
Ingredients
- 120g Unsalted Butter
- 200g Caster Sugar
- 1 Medium Egg
- 1 Egg Yolk
- 210g Plain Flour
- 50g Cocoa Powder
- 20g Cornflour
- 1 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Bicarbonate Of Soda
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 15g Golden Syrup
- Zest of One Orange
- 200g Terry's Chocolate Orange (Chopped).
- 9 Terry's Chocolate Orange Segments (Decoration).
Instructions
- I use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix the butter and caster sugar together until combined. This will take 1-2 minutes in an electric mixer (I use speed 3).
- Add the dry ingredients (Baking Powder, Salt, Bicarb, Plain Flour, Cocoa Powder, Cornflour, Chocolate and orange zest) into the bowl and mix for 30 seconds.
- Add in your egg, egg yolk and golden syrup into the mixture and mix until a cookie dough is formed (the dough will start coming away from the bowl which means it is ready!)
- Divide the dough into cookie balls, I weighed the dough out to make each cookie 110g-120g each!
- Place them on a lined baking tray, or into a container lined with baking paper. Chill them in the fridge for 25-30 minutes.
- While your dough is chilling, pre-heat your oven to gas mark 5/190c/170c Fan.
- Once chilled and your oven is pre-heated, place the cookie balls onto lined baking trays, leaving space (at least 2") between them to spread slightly. I fit 6 cookies onto my tray but you could bake your cookies in batches!
- Bake for 14 minutes, remove from the oven and place a chocolate orange segment on top, leave the cookies to cool on the baking tray completely before moving. Your cookies will continue to cook once removed from the oven which makes the best gooey, soft and chewy cookies!
- Once cooled, eat one of those delicious cookies (if you was able to resist from eating one straight out of the oven!)