Chocolate-Orange Spritz Cookies

Chocolate Orange Spritz Cookies! Softer and chewier than traditional spritz cookies, this version is given a citrusy twist with the addition of orange zest and made decadent by dunking in melted chocolate.

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What are spritz cookies?

Spritz cookies are usually made up of a very simple dough recipe that is loaded into a cookie press and extruded through discs that come in all different kinds of designs.

This particular recipe that grabbed my attention included Greek yogurt in the mix, and since I always have some in my fridge, it intrigued me and made me want to give it a try at home. The Greek yogurt gives these a softer, chewier texture than traditional buttery spritz cookies.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter
• Granulated sugar
• Egg yolk
• Greek yogurt
• Vanilla extract
• Orange zest
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Sea salt
• Good quality dark chocolate — I like Lindt 85% cocoa

Recipe FAQ’s

Variations & Substitutions

Try these variations!

• Use lime zest in place of orange zest and dip in melted white chocolate for a “key lime” style twist.
• Fill the gap in the center of each cookie with a small dollop of orange marmalade before baking for a “jam spritz cookie”, which is a combination between a thumbprint cookie and a spritz cookie.

Diet-Specific Substitutions

• Vegan. This may be a more difficult recipe to “veganize” as it has several non-vegan ingredients, but if I were to give it a shot, I’d use a plant-based butter substitute, plant-based egg replacement (such as JustEgg) & non-dairy yogurt. I have not tried this, so if you do, please report back and let me know how it goes!
• Gluten-Free. You should be able to use one to one Gluten Free flour blend in place of regular, though I have not personally tried it.

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below to let me know how you liked it!

Chocolate Orange Spritz Cookies

Chocolate Orange Spritz Cookies. Softer and chewier than traditional spritz cookies, this version is given a citrusy twist with the addition of orange zest and made decadent by dunking in melted chocolate.

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Course Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings 80 small spritz cookies

Author Dianna Muscari

Equipment

• Cookie Press
• Non-stick baking pan

Ingredients  

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• ¼ cup whole milk Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1½ teaspoons orange zest
• 2 cups flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• 3.5 ounces good quality dark chocolate I used Lindt 85% cocoa

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. You will need an unlined, un-greased non-stick cookie sheet for the spritz cookies to properly release from the cookie press.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Add egg yolk and yogurt; mix until fully combined. Add vanilla extract and orange zest and mix until incorporated. (It may look slightly curdled, and that's ok.)
• Add flour, baking powder, and salt to the mixture and mix until a soft dough forms and everything is fully combined.
• Scoop the dough into the cookie press with your chosen disc. (I used the wreath design.) Pump the press a few times to get the dough going, then press cookies onto the ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake for about 7 minutes or until the edges become a light golden color. Remove from oven and cool completely.
• Meanwhile, melt the chocolate until smooth. Line another pan or the counter top with a sheet of parchment paper.
• When the cookies have cooled completely, dip each cookie half way into the chocolate, letting the excess drip off. Place cookies onto parchment paper and allow to set before serving or packaging. (You can speed this up by placing them in the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes if desired.)

Dianna’s Tips

Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens, December 2017.

Variations

• Use lime zest in place of orange zest and dip in melted white chocolate for a “key lime” style twist.
• Fill the gap in the center of each cookie with a small dollop of orange marmalade before baking for a “jam spritz cookie”, which is a combination between a thumbprint cookie and a spritz cookie.

Diet-Specific Substitutions

• Vegan. This may be a more difficult recipe to “veganize” as it has several non-vegan ingredients, but if I were to give it a shot, I’d use a plant-based butter substitute, plant-based egg replacement (such as JustEgg) & non-dairy yogurt. I have not tried this, so if you do, please report back and let me know how it goes!
• Gluten-Free. You should be able to use one to one Gluten Free flour blend in place of regular, though I have not personally tried it.