Chocolate Chunk and Orange Cookies

We all know that orange and chocolate go together, why have I never put that together in a cookie before?

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup turbinado sugar

1 egg, room temperature

1 tsp pure Vanilla Extract

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp fine salt

170 g good quality chocolate preferably dark, roughly chopped

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add egg, followed by vanilla extract. Beat until combined.

2. Sift in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add orange zest. Mix on low speed until the dough comes together. Fold in chocolate until evenly distributed.

3. Shape dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for a minimum of 2 hours or, for best results, overnight.

4. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

5. Divide dough into 16 rounds and transfer to prepared baking sheets. Press to flatten and top with pinch flaked salt.

6. Bake in the top and bottom thirds of the oven, switching sheets halfway through until edges are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Makes 16 large cookies

Clementine Orange Moscow Mule

 The fresh squeezed juice made this fantastic!

1 1/2 oz vodka

1/2 oz grand marnier

3 oz freshly squeezed clementine orange juice

juice of 1/2 lime

3 oz ginger beer

- Pour vodka, Grand Mariner, orange juice and lime juice into a copper mug filled with ice

- Top with ginger beer and stir.