These Vegan Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies are everything you love about traditional chocolate chip cookies with a fresh, orange, citrusy punch! Chewy, sweet, delicious and come together in only 1 bowl! Let's learn how to make them!
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In warmer weather months, chocolate chip cookies don't hit the same. Adding a little fruity orange flavor goes a long way! It really brightens up the cookies and provides them with an element of freshness.
We love our fruity flavors here and if you do too be sure to check out our Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies and Vegan Strawberry Crinkle Cookies.
If you're new to vegan baking or would simply like some extra tips please see our post on How to Make Vegan Cookies.
Ingredients
Here is your grocery list:
- Vegan Butter, Softened (1 c): Serves as the primary fat in the cookie dough, providing moisture and richness. Softened vegan butter ensures that the cookies have a tender texture and helps bind the other ingredients together.
- Granulated Sugar (¾ c) and Light Brown Sugar (¾ c): Sweetens the cookies and contributes to their texture. Granulated sugar adds sweetness and helps the cookies spread during baking, while light brown sugar adds moisture and a subtle caramel flavor.
- Nondairy Milk (2 tbsp): Provides moisture to the cookie dough and helps bind the ingredients together.
- Orange Zest (2 tbsp): Adds a vibrant citrus flavor and aroma to the cookies. Orange zest contains essential oils that enhance the orange flavor without adding extra liquid to the dough.
- Vanilla Extract (2 tsp): Enhances the flavor of the cookies with its sweet and aromatic notes.
- Cornstarch (1 tbsp): Acts as a thickening agent and helps create a soft and chewy texture in the cookies.
- Baking Soda (1 tsp): Serves as a leavening agent, helping the cookies rise and become light and airy.
- Salt (¾ tsp): Balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors in the cookies.
- All-Purpose Flour (2 ¼ c): Serves as the base ingredient and provides structure to the cookies.
- Nondairy Chocolate Chips (1 ½ c): Nondairy chocolate chips provide bursts of chocolate flavor throughout the cookies and melt slightly during baking, creating pockets of gooey goodness. Dark chocolate and semisweet chips are usually vegan but read the ingredients.
- Flaky Sea Salt (to top): Adds a finishing touch to the cookies, providing a contrasting texture and enhancing the overall flavor profile.
Why You'll Love These Cookies
- Bursting with fresh, orange flavor
- Chocolate-orange flavor mix = perfection
- Soft, crisp AND chewy
- Ooey gooey pockets of rich chocolate
- Super quick and easy to make
- Come together in only a single bowl
How to Make Vegan Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies (with pictures!)
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full instructions and ingredient measurements.
Begin by beating together the softened vegan butter and sugars together in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer until light and fluffy. Add the nondairy milk, orange zest, vanilla, cornstarch, baking soda and salt to the bowl. Beat until ingredients are evenly distributed. Beat in the flour until just combined. Do not over-mix. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Chill cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 mintues.
Scoop 2-3 tablespoon balls of cookie dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F (175 C) for 11-13 minutes.
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Why to use Orange Zest over Orange Extract
Using orange zest over orange extract in baking offers several advantages:
- Natural Flavor: Orange zest provides a natural, fresh citrus flavor to baked goods. It contains essential oils that are released when grated, offering a bright and vibrant taste that cannot be replicated by artificial extracts.
- Complexity: Orange zest adds depth and complexity to baked goods, with subtle floral and aromatic notes that enhance the overall flavor profile. This complexity is often lacking in artificial extracts, which may taste one-dimensional.
- Texture: Orange zest adds texture to baked goods, with tiny flecks of zest distributing throughout the dough or batter. This texture can provide a pleasant contrast to the soft crumb of cakes, cookies, or muffins.
- Moisture: The oils present in orange zest can add moisture to baked goods, contributing to a tender and moist texture. This can be especially beneficial in recipes where a moist crumb is desired.
- Versatility: Orange zest can be used in a wide range of baked goods, from cookies and cakes to bread and scones. Its versatility allows for creative experimentation in various recipes.
- Health Benefits: Orange zest contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that provide health benefits. By using orange zest in baking, you can incorporate some of these nutrients into your baked goods, adding a nutritional boost.
Overall, using orange zest in baking provides a natural, flavorful, and aromatic addition to recipes, enhancing the overall quality of the finished product.
Tips for Making Perfect Vegan Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Use Fresh Orange Zest: For the best orange flavor, use fresh orange zest rather than dried zest or orange extract. Zest the oranges just before adding it to the dough to ensure maximum flavor.
- Cream the Vegan Butter and Sugars Well: Creaming together the softened vegan butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy helps incorporate air into the dough, resulting in lighter, more tender cookies.
- Chill the Dough: After mixing the dough, chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before baking. Chilling helps solidify the fat in the dough, preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking and resulting in thicker, softer cookies. Do not skip this step!
- Use High-Quality Vegan Chocolate Chips: Choose vegan chocolate chips made from high-quality ingredients for the best flavor and texture. Look for brands that are dairy-free and contain at least 70% cocoa for rich, decadent chocolate flavor.
- Avoid Overmixing: Overmixing the dough can lead to tough cookies. Mix the dough just until all the ingredients are combined to avoid developing too much gluten, which can make the cookies dense.
How to Make Sure Chocolate Chips are Dairy Free
To ensure that chocolate chips are dairy-free, you can follow these steps:
- Read the Label: Check the ingredients list on the packaging of the chocolate chips. Look for any mention of milk or dairy products such as milk powder, milk solids, whey, casein, or lactose. If none of these ingredients are listed, the chocolate chips are likely dairy-free.
- Look for Vegan Certification: Some brands may include a vegan certification or label on their packaging, indicating that the product is free from animal-derived ingredients, including dairy.
- Check for Allergen Information: Manufacturers often include allergen information on their packaging, which will specify if the product contains dairy or was processed on equipment that also processes dairy. Look for statements such as "Contains: Milk" or "May contain traces of milk."
- Research the Brand: If you're unsure about a particular brand or product, you can research the company's website or contact them directly to inquire about the dairy content of their chocolate chips.
- Choose Dark or Semisweet Chocolate: Dark/semisweet chocolate is more likely to be dairy-free compared to milk chocolate, as it typically contains a higher percentage of cocoa solids and fewer added ingredients. Look for chocolate chips with a high cocoa content (at least 70%) for a richer, more intense flavor.
By following these steps, you can ensure that the chocolate chips you choose are dairy-free and suitable for your dietary needs. More info can be found at "What to Look For in Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips."
Frequently Asked Questions
To ensure a strong orange flavor, use fresh orange zest rather than orange extract. The zest contains natural oils that provide a bright and vibrant citrus flavor. Be sure to use a fine grater to avoid including the bitter white pith beneath the zest.
While orange juice can add some orange flavor to the cookies, it may dilute the dough and affect its texture. It's best to use orange zest for a more concentrated and flavorful citrus taste.
Yes, you can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend as a substitute for regular all-purpose flour. Make sure the blend is suitable for baking and contains a combination of gluten-free flours and binders like xanthan gum. Gluten-free flour blends may require additional moisture, so you may need to adjust the amount of liquid in the recipe accordingly.
Chilling the cookie dough in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before baking can help prevent excessive spreading. Additionally, make sure your baking sheet is cool before placing the dough on it, as a warm baking sheet can cause the cookies to spread too quickly.
Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough for future baking. Shape the dough into balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until solid, then transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to bake, simply place the frozen dough balls on a baking sheet and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Storage
Vegan Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or can be frozen for up to one month.
Unbaked cookie dough can be pre-scooped/portioned and frozen for up to one month as well.
If you make this recipe please tag @censoredbaker on Instagram and leave a review below!
PrintVegan Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft, chewy vegan chocolate chip cookies packed with fresh orange flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Bake Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 18 3-inch Cookies 1x
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
1 c vegan butter, softened
¾ c granulated sugar
¾ c light brown sugar
2 tbsp nondairy milk
2 tbsp orange zest
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
¾ tsp salt
2 ¼ c all purpose flour
1 ½ c nondairy chocolate chips
flaky sea salt to top
Instructions
- Cookie Dough: Cream together softened vegan butter and sugars in a large bowl using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the nondairy milk, orange zest, vanilla extract, cornstarch, baking soda and salt to the bowl. Beat again until ingredients are evenly distributed. Add the flour and beat until just combined. Do not over-mix. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes. Cookie dough can keep like this for up to 48 hours.
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Bake: Place 2-3 tablespoon scoops of cookie dough onto the baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake on center rack of preheated oven for 11-13 minutes or until lightly golden. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
*Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Cookies can also be frozen for up to 1 month.
More Vegan Cookie Recipes
- Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
- Vegan Sugar Cookies (with pink strawberry frosting!)
- Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Vegan Lemon Crinkle Cookies
- Vegan Double Chocolate Cookies
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