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A close-up shot of golden-brown rectangular shortbread cookies on parchment paper. The cookies have a visible crumbly texture and are dipped in dark chocolate with orange zest (dark chocolate orange shortbread cookies).

Dark Chocolate Orange Shortbread Cookies: A Visually Perfect Treat

The ultimate dark chocolate orange shortbread cookies recipe! Get perfectly crisp, buttery rectangular cookies dipped in rich dark chocolate and topped with fresh orange zest and flaky sea salt. An easy, elegant, and visually stunning treat.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter, softened (226g)
  • 2/3 cup Powdered Sugar (80g)
  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour (240g)
  • 1 large orange, for zest
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (5ml)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt (3g)
  • 8 ounces Dark Chocolate, chips or chopped bars (225g)
  • 1 teaspoon Coconut Oil or Vegetable Shortening (5g)
  • Coarse Sea Salt Flakes For sprinkling

Equipment

  • 2 Baking Sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • 1 Stand mixer or hand mixer

Instructions
 

  1. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla extract and fresh orange zest.
  2. Add the flour and salt, mixing on low speed just until a soft dough forms. Form the dough into a rectangular log on plastic wrap, wrap tightly, and chill for at least 1 hour until firm.
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice the chilled log into 1/4-inch thick rectangles. Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for 12-15 minutes, until edges are light golden-brown. Cool completely.
  4. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
  5. Dip the bottom half of each cooled cookie into the melted chocolate. Place on a parchment-lined sheet and immediately sprinkle with extra orange zest and coarse sea salt flakes. Let set until the chocolate is firm.

Notes

Don't Skip the Chill: Chilling the dough is critical for preventing spread and ensuring a crisp texture.
Measure Flour Correctly: Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level it off to avoid a dry cookie.
Be Patient with Cooling: Cookies must be completely cool before dipping in chocolate.
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