Chocolate Orange Freaky Face Cookies (Printable Version)

Soft chocolate orange treats decorated as spooky faces for Halloween fun with kids.

# 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)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla, orange zest, and orange juice. Mix until well combined.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just incorporated.
06 - Fold in the 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.
08 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set but centers remain slightly soft.
09 - Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
10 - Create spooky faces using candy eyeballs, sprinkles, or icing. Use melted white and dark chocolate for extra details if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The orange zest makes these cookies taste like something from a fancy bakery, but theyre actually incredibly forgiving and kid friendly
  • Watching kids create ridiculous faces on warm cookies is worth the effort alone
02 -
  • Over mixing the dough once you add flour makes cookies tough, so stop as soon as you no longer see dry streaks
  • The orange flavor intensifies overnight, so these actually taste better the next day if you can resist eating them all immediately
03 -
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes if it feels too sticky to scoop
  • Use a small cookie scoop for uniform sizing so they bake evenly

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