Chocolate Orange Freaky Face Cookies (Print Version)

Spooky chocolate orange treats perfect for Halloween creativity and family baking fun.

# What You'll Need:

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour

02 - 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda

04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

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

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)

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, cream the 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, 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 - Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto 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 are still slightly soft.

09 - Let cookies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely before decorating.

10 - Create spooky faces using candy eyeballs, sprinkles, or icing. Use melted white and dark chocolate for additional details if desired.

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Overbaking makes these dry, so pull them out when centers still look slightly underdone
Orange zest should be finely grated to avoid bitter strings in your cookies

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