Chocolate Orange Freaky Face Cookies (Printable)
Soft, chocolatey cookies infused with fresh orange zest and decorated with spooky faces for Halloween fun.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 - Zest of 2 large oranges
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
→ Add-ins & Decorations
12 - 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
13 - Candy eyeballs, colored sprinkles, or gel icing for decorating
14 - White and dark chocolate melts (optional, for decorating)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract, orange zest, and orange juice. Mix until fully incorporated.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
06 - Gently fold in the semisweet chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
07 - Drop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
08 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are set but the centers remain slightly soft.
09 - Let cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
10 - Once completely cool, create spooky faces using candy eyeballs, sprinkles, or icing. Use melted white and dark chocolate for additional details if desired.
# Expert Hacks:
01 -
- The chocolate orange combo is unexpectedly addictive and feels fancy despite being incredibly simple to make
- Kids go absolutely wild for the decorating step, making this perfect for rainy afternoons or party prep
02 -
- The dough will feel slightly softer than regular cookie dough because of the orange juice, this is completely normal
- Underbaking by just 1 minute makes these extra chewy, but wait until the edges look set before removing them
03 -
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes if it feels too sticky to work with, especially in warm kitchens
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform sizing so they all bake at the same rate