Monday, December 23, 2013

Countdown to Christmas - Orange Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies


From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I suspect your children are much like mine. While surround by confections from around the world, their clear favorites were gingerbread men and frosted sugar cookies. Some of you may even have a spouse like mine. Now, my intent here is not to waken sleeping dogs, or open doors that should remain forever closed, but the Silver Fox and others like him, have a serious problem. Their mother's loved them more than we do. These women, to hear it told, dropped everything to bake their son's favorite cookie, no matter what else might be going on. In the midst of cooking dinner for 30, favorite cookies would miraculously appear to please,or as the case may be, appease, the Little Prince. The Little Prince was known to his sisters by a name that cannot be mentioned here, and only age has closed the breech caused by the special treatment he received. He, unfortunately, neglected to include the cookie clause in his marriage contract, so I can honestly say I have never dropped anything to make him cookies on a whim. This year, however, I had some extra time and included his favorite chocolate chips in my Christmas cookie mix. There are hundreds of recipes for CCCs floating through cyberspace, and the only thing that sets his apart from any of the others, is a bit of cinnamon and some orange zest. I must admit they add a great deal to the standard cookie. I found the recipe in Taste of Home magazine and I haven't strayed much from the original instructions, save for increasing the amount of cinnamon and changing the way the cookies are shaped. I found the rolling and cutting tedious, so using about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie, I created balls which I flattened to a half inch in thickness and made quick work of the chore. I think you will enjoy these cookies as much as the No-Longer-Little Price does. Here is how they are made.


Orange Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Taste of Home magazine

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 tablespoon orange zest, minced
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips ( 2 cups)
1 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions:
1) In a large bowl, cream butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.
2) Beat in eggs, orange zest and vanilla.
3) In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt, then gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chips and walnuts, then cover and chill 2 hours or until dough is easy to handle.
4) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease several cookie sheets.
5) When dough has chilled, on a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/2-inch thick. Cut with lightly floured 3-inch round cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire rack to cool. Yield: 3 dozen cookie.



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14 comments :

Catherine said...

Dear Mary, These cookies would not last the afternoon in my house.

They are delicious.

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year.
Catherine xo

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

I am sure your husband is one very lucky guy, with all the delectable food you rustle up, Mary!

Have a great Christmas!

http://duncaninkuantan.blogspot.com/p/register-your-top-20-photos-of-2013-here.html

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

What a wonderful take on a standard cookie recipe. I just might bake these on a whim, as they sound delectable! Have a very Merry Christmas!

Merisi said...

Oh, how tempting! You make me consider baking these, in a quest to delay further what I really should be doing right now. ;-)

Merry Christmas to you and yours,
Merisi

Unknown said...

Cute story about your hubby... thank goodness mine came from a family of 8, so there just wasn't enough time or money to play favorites like that! lol Love this twist on the classic chocolate chip cookie... will definitely try this next time I make them!

Ginny Hartzler said...

These look amazing! And the orange flavor would make them taste so much better!

Kim said...

Yum, I love the addition of orange zest and cinnamon in these chocolate chips cookies!

Anonymous said...

the the addition of orange zest and cinnamon is lovely, i have one of those husbands as well, he was good and truly spoiled by his Mama and I have never made his favorite cookie as well as she!Happy Holidays to you my friend, you inspire me to be a better cook , I thank you for that!

David said...

Mary, Tis the season to consume giant quantities of cookies! These sound great... Merry Christmas! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Penny said...

They sound like wonderful cookies, Mary. I just made my husband his favorite chocolate chip cookie too. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Chiara said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family !

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

These cookies look utterly perfect my friend, I wouldn't mind a bite... or a batch :D

Happy Holidays!
CCU

JG said...

Thank goodness for using freezers these days, Mary! Food never lasted long in my DH's family. :)
These cookies sound delicious!
Merry Christmas to you & your family!
~Judy

Beverly said...

That little prince grew up to find the perfect person to be his queen.

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