Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread!

It’s February which could only mean 14 days of sweet treats! Now that I have a new obsession with candied orange slices, I had to of course translate that into a cookie…ORANGE CHOCOLATE CHIP SHORTBREAD! I used this cute whimsical heart cookie cutter and dusted drizzled the cookies with dark chocolate and orange sugar sprinkles! ENJOY!

Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup chopped candied orange (substitute with the zest of 2 oranges if you do not have this ingredient)
• ¾ cup mini chocolate chips
• 4 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon orange extract
• ½ cup melted dark chocolate chips for drizzling on top

PROCESS:

1. Whisk dry ingredients together in a small bowl.
2. Using your stand mixer or an electric mixer, beat softened butter until smooth – add extract and dry ingredients. Mix just until the dough is formed.
3. Add candied orange and mini chips and mix until combined
4. Divide dough into two disks and wrap them in parchment paper and plastic wrap. Refrigerate approximately 30-45 minutes – just until firm.
5. Preheat oven to 325F.
6. Take dough out of the refrigerator and let sit for 5-10 minutes. On a floured surface, roll out dough approximately ¼ “ thick and use desired cookie cutter to cut cookies.
7. Place cookies on a parchment lines cookie sheet and bake for about 15 minutes -- just until edges begin to turn golden brown.
8. Let cookies cool.
9. Melt dark chocolate on 15 minute intervals. Once chocolate is melted drizzle chocolate on top of cookies.

yield:4-6 dozen depending on cookie cutter size