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Dive into the irresistible world of Orange Cardamom Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt – a perfect harmony of zesty, spicy, sweet and salty flavors in an easy slice and bake cookie recipe!
Are you ready for the ultimate cookie experience? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because these Orange Cardamom Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt are about to rock your taste buds! This delightful combination of flavors will have you coming back for seconds (and thirds, let's be honest)!
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Why on Earth would I want to make orange cardamom shortbread cookies?" Well, my friend, the answer is simple – they're absolutely scrumptious! Basically, these cookies are perfect any time of year, but I always include them in my holiday cookie boxes.
You'll fall in love with the flavors of orange and dark chocolate together. It's probably one of my favorite flavor combinations. The cardamom imparts a warm spice and slightly sweet floral and citrus flavor, so it pairs well with the orange juice and zest in these shortbread cookies. Top them off with a drizzle of dark chocolate and a sprinkle of sea salt and orange zest; these cookies will be the hit of your holiday cookie exchange. Also, I find these cookies to be a gift from above when your toddler refuses to nap and you just NEED something to take the edge off the chaos. Oh wait, is that only in my house?? 🙂
Serve these delightful Orange Cardamom Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt alongside a steaming cup of tea or coffee (or a screaming toddler). Likewise, they also pair beautifully with a glass of wine or a scoop of your favorite ice cream.
But enough chit-chat, let's get down to business. Here's everything you need to know about making, enjoying, and sharing these incredible Orange Cardamom Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt.
Why You'll Love These Orange Cardamom Shortbread Cookies
Unique flavor combination: The mix of orange, cardamom, dark chocolate and sea salt creates an unforgettable taste sensation.
Perfect for any occasion: These cookies are a hit at parties, picnics or just a cozy night in with a cup of tea.
Easy to make: With our simple recipe and helpful tips, you'll be a cookie master in no time!
Ingredients Needed
- butter
- brown sugar
- egg
- pure vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
- ground cardamom
- ground cinnamon
- salt
- navel oranges (for zest and juice)
- dark chocolate
- sea salt
See the printable recipe card below for exact quantities.
How to Make These Delicious Orange Shortbread Cookies
These tasty slice-and-bake orange cookies come together easily. Here are the basics on how they come together:
- Soften the butter.
- Mix the dry ingredients together.
- Beat the softened butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla extract together.
- Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients.
- Add the orange juice and fresh orange zest.
- Divide dough into two and shape into logs, refrigerate!
- Slice and bake!
- Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl and drizzle with dark chocolate, sea salt and orange zest.
- Enjoy!
See printable recipe card below for exact recipe instructions.
Recommended Equipment & Tools for Shortbread Cookies
- wire rack
- large bowl
- large cookie sheets
Orange Shortbread Cookies with Cardamom Storage
Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months – just make sure they're well wrapped!
Ingredient Swaps
- Chocolate: Swap dark chocolate for milk or white chocolate.
- Cardamom: Replace cardamom with ground cinnamon or ginger.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Feel free to swap out the dark chocolate for milk or white chocolate if you prefer.
No worries! You can substitute the cardamom with ground cinnamon or ginger for a different, yet equally delicious, flavor profile.
You can, but the flavor won't be as bright and fresh.
There are about 3-4 tablespoons of zest in a medium-sized orange.
Tips for Recipe Success
- Use high-quality ingredients: Freshly ground cardamom and good-quality dark chocolate will make a world of difference in your cookies.
- Don't over-mix the dough: This can lead to tough cookies, and nobody wants that!
- Chill the dough: Chilling the dough will make it easier to slice and ensure your cookies hold their shape during baking.
And there you have it – the most delicious Orange Cardamom Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt you've ever tasted! Trust me, once you make these, they'll become a regular fixture in your cookie rotation. So go ahead, whip up a batch and share the love with friends and family – they'll be begging you for the recipe!
If you give this recipe a try, please leave a comment below, rate the recipe, and don’t forget to tag me @homesweetfarmhome on Instagram and use the hashtag #homesweetfarmhome. I’d love to see what you come up with and share with our community. Cheers!
Recipe Card
Orange Cardamom Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt (Slice & Bake)
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- zest from 2 medium navel oranges divided
- 2 tablespoons orange juice from 1 medium navel orange
- 10 ounces dark chocolate coarsely chopped
- sea salt for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, ground cardamom, ground cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
- Next, mix the softened butter and brown sugar in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Then add the egg and the vanilla extract until fully combined.
- On low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until combined.
- Now, beat 1.5 tablespoons orange zest and orange juice into the dough.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and divide into two.
- Shape divided dough into logs (about 2.5 inch in diameter), wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight (recommended).
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
- Remove cookie dough logs from the refrigerator and slice each log into 12 equally sized cookies.
- Place cookies on baking sheets about 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets and bake cookies for 12-14 minutes.
- Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheets and then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- Once the cookies are cooled, now it’s time to melt the chocolate.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chopped dark chocolate in 15-second increments (stir after each increment) until completely melted and smooth.
- Drizzle the dark chocolate over the cookies and sprinkle with sea salt and the remaining ½ tablespoon orange zest. Let chocolate set and enjoy!
Andrea says
I made these for a fundraiser, just the way you described, and everyone who had one, loved them. About to make some more for family! Win win for me! Thank you
homesweetfarmhome says
Yay! Glad these worked out, and thank you for leaving a comment!
Sally says
I tried these for something a little "fancy" and loved them!
Slice and bake makes them a time saver and the cardamon
and orange blend so well.
I left some plain, because he likes a cookie to dunk in
coffee, but jazzed some up for a gathering. They were
gone quickly.
A really good recipe.
homesweetfarmhome says
Thank you so much - glad you loved them!
Kylie Farmer says
At first I was a little curious of how these flavors would meld together, but I gave it a shot and was blown away by the deliciousness of these!! Definitely a recipe keeper!
Claire Zimmerman says
I love everything dark chocolate and citrus so when I saw this recipe, I had to try it. It was a hit! Everybody loved them, I'll be making a second batch this weekend for the freezer!