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Friday, December 14, 2012

Orange You Glad I Made Cookies?

Remember that old knock-knock joke?  Orange you glad I didn't say banana?  Well, I made a new Christmas cookie that's no joke -- Orange Chocolate Chippers.

Christmas cookies are a big thing at our house.  There are some traditional favorites that I make every year, like the Italian Wedding Cookies, Candy Cane Cookies, and Butter Cookies that I shared with you last year.  I also like to add in something new.  Last year it was Martha Stewart's Cream Cheese Walnut Cookies, which became a favorite of the husband's, so they made it back onto this year's hit parade.

Orange chocolate chippers

This year, I added two cookies to the repertoire.  Today I'll share the first one, Orange Chocolate Chippers.  I found a recipe in an old-ish cookbook from my husband's uncle's collection.  The book has an insanely long title: Senior Pilgrim Fellowship, United Church of Christ, Beacon Falls, Connecticut.  If there was another title, it didn't leap out at me.  This is one of those great cookbooks where all the ladies contributed their favorite recipes to raise money for their organization.  I like this kind of cookbook because the recipes are not trendy or "foodie;" they are tasty, do-able recipes that regular women made for their families and bridge clubs.  

When I saw the recipe for an orange and chocolate cookie, I knew I had to try it.  I changed the original recipe a little bit to include orange juice and baking powder.  I used orange peel and juice from some fruit my father-in-law had sent from Florida.  I don't know what variety they were, but they were not navel oranges; they were much more flavorful.  In looking at the website of the grower where he shops, I think they might have been Robinson tangerines, which is a cross of 3/4 tangerine and 1/4 grapefruit.  With navel oranges, I don't think you'd get the same strong citrusy pop that my cookies have, so I recommend tangerines or tangelos to really get that citrus flavor.



Orange Chocolate Chippers
Adapted from Audrey Gendron’s recipe in Senior Pilgrim Fellowship,
United Church of Christ, Beacon Falls, Connecticut cookbook, 1982

Orange chocolate chippers closeup
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
2 tablespoons grated orange/tangerine peel
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon fresh orange/tangerine juice
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder; set aside. 

Cream shortening, sugar, and cream cheese.  Add eggs, orange peel, vanilla, and orange juice.  Beat well.  Add flour mixture to creamed mixture.  Mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake about 7 minutes at 350 degrees F.  Cool on wire racks.

Makes approximately 56 cookies.



Printable recipe


21 comments:

  1. I agree with you on church cookbooks as they feature the best tried and true recipes.

    These cookies sound scrumptious. May have to add them to my holiday baking list.

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    1. I like them because they add a new flavor to my cookie collection.

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  2. Oh, wow, I bet these are absolutely delicious :)

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  3. I would love these! Thanks so much for sharing with us. Hope you have a great weekend.

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  4. That joke is a regular in this house.

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  5. oh yum!! the cookies look and sound delicious! church cookbook recipes are my favorite.

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  6. Must be very tasty, I love orange flavor of anything. First time I heard of orange chocolate chip cookies. Sounds awesome and yummy. Thanks for the recipe. =)

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  7. OH YUM!!!!! They sound delicious. I have not been able to use my big ovens for 6 weeks-they came again today and ordered ANOTHER part for it- ugh-xo Diana

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  8. I've made quite a few of the recipes you've posted and they always turn out so nicely! Thanks for this seasonal one!

    PS: i love how this recipe makes "approximately 56"...ha!

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  9. Wow! These look amazing! Cream cheese in the cookie dough. I'll bet they are so moist and delicious! I love chocolate chips and I love orange, I'll probably like these......

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  10. Sounds delish! I always love recipes made with cream cheese. I am going to a cookie exchange on Tuesday and I am just making M&M cookies this year. Usually I am a little more creative but I took the easy way out this year. I am putting your recipe in my file for next year!
    -Shelley

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  11. Oh, these cookies look so good! The orange and chocolate sound like a wonderful combination of flavors. Yum Yum

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  12. These cookies sound and look wonderful. Baking Christmas cookies is a tradition at our house, as well. One I don't think my family will ever let me stop.
    Mary Alice

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  13. Orange and chocolate is such a wonderful combination - tangerine sounds even better! Pinning this.

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  14. I've never had a cookie that mixes orange and chocolate but they are two of my favorite things so I think I'll give this recipe a whirl. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. I like the combo of flavours. These cookies look so good!

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  16. Thanks... the Orange Chocolate Chippers cookies sound great... We eat Navels all of the time and love them. But--you are right.. They don't have as much juice or as citrus a taste as some others might.... Also--those Cream Cheese Walnut cookies also sound delicious... YUM...

    Merry Christmas.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  17. Cookies are one of my all-time favorite desserts! This recipe sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. I think I have to make these....orange and chocolate is a wonderful combination. yum! I plan on baking up a storm this coming weekend. :)

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