Dark Chocolate Orange Cookies

We received a gift of a very large box of oranges and grapefruit from some very dear friends who had visited Florida this winter. Since there are only two of us, there was no way we could possible eat them all, so I needed to get cookin'! I wanted to find a way to use some of them in my holiday baking. Ray suggested a dark chocolate orange cookie, because this is one of his favorite flavor combinations. 

I used my usual chocolate chip cookie recipe, and started creating from there. The addition of the citrus gave the cookies some amazing loft and a fluffiness I wasn't expecting. I can only assume the acid in the orange juice reacted with the baking soda. This is really an unusual texture and taste, they are delicious!

Dark Chocolate Orange Cookies

2 sticks butter (1 cup) softened
3 oranges, zested and juiced (juice should not be more than 1/2 cup)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 3/4 to 4 cups all purpose flour
1 package dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together the butter, eggs and orange juice and zest. Add in eggs, vanilla and sugar and continue to mix until well combined. Slowly add dry ingredients. Mix together until dough is not sticky to the touch, but not crumbly. Stir in chocolate chips. Form into one inch balls, and drop on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes until just golden on top. Remove and let rest on pan for 2 minutes, then remove to racks to cool. Makes approximately 4 dozen.