Dark Chocolate Dipped Orange Spice Shortbread

Today is the last day of #ChristmasCookies week. Since it’s Friday and I am ready for the weekend I went for an easy slice and bake shortbread. But of course it’s not any old shortbread, I added orange zest, cinnamon, and allspice! Post-oven I dipped them in dark chocolate followed by a sprinkle of coarse sea salt for good measure. I almost didn’t but decided it added to the aesthetic, resembling a little dusting of snow.

I hope that salt is the only snow I see for awhile though. As many areas of the country, we had our first snow of the season a bit early this week. While I don’t mind the snow (I did grow up in Western NY after all), I did not appreciate the below freezing temperatures that came with it. Did fall even happen? Every year it seems we transition so quickly from summer to winter, and the same going back. Good thing we have the holidays to look forward to even if the weather is not agreeable.

Looking for other shortbread cookies for your holiday festivities? I have made several other varieties using this same dough base including: peppermint, buckeye, toasted coconut, lemon lavender, and traditional if you’re more into a classic cookie. Or check the list of other cookies shared by other bloggers today at the end of this post along with our giveaway!

Five years ago: Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter Oatmeal

Six years ago: Fiesta Alfredo Pasta Bake

Seven years ago: Applesauce-Sweet Potato Pancakes

Eight years ago: Crème Brulee

Nine years ago: Big, Fat, Chewy Multichip Cookies

DARK CHOCOLATE DIPPED ORANGE SPICE SHORTBREAD

Makes 32 cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup cornstarch

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp orange zest (about 1 orange)

1 tsp Adams ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground allspice

6 oz. dark chocolate

Coarse sea salt, for garnish

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Stir in the confectioners’ sugar, cornstarch, flour, zest, cinnamon, salt, and allspice. Beat on low for one minute, then on high for 3-4 minutes.
2. Turn out dough onto a sheet of waxed paper. Form dough into two 8” logs and roll up in the wax paper sheet and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two cookies sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper, set aside.
4. Unroll the logs of shortbread dough and slice each into 16 rounds. Place on prepared cookie sheets and bake for 7-10 until just set and edges have not yet begun to brown. Cool on wire racks.
5. While the cookies cool, melt chocolate in a small bowl according to package directions. Dip half of each cookie in the chocolate and place it on a wax paper (or silpat) lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Chill to set.

Source: Adapted from my Lavender Lemon Shortbread Cookies.

Thank you to Ellen of Family Around the Table and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures for hosting #ChristmasCookies Week! And a huge thank you to our sponsors Adams Extract and Millican Pecan Company for supporting the bloggers and events like Christmas Cookies Week.

Check out today’s cookie recipes:

Brown Butter Thumbprint Cookies by Food Above Gold
Buttered Pecan Shortbread Cookies by Cheese Curd In Paradise
Candy Cane Whoopie Pies by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Cherry Pecan Shortbread Rounds by Family Around the Table
Chocolate Cherry Cookies by Sweet Beginnings
Chocolate-Dipped Christmas Butter Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
Christmas Crinkle Cookies by Blogghetti
Christmas Pecan Bar Cookies by Intelligent Domestications
Cinnamon Roll Blondies by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Dark Chocolate Dipped Citrus Spice Shortbread by The Spiffy Cookie
Easy Italian Pizzelles by Frugal & Fit
Ginger Spice Cookies by Red Cottage Chronicles
Kahlua Hot Chocolate Cookies by Books n’ Cooks

Linzer Cookies by Palatable Pastime
Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe by Everyday Eileen
Pecan Pie Cookies by Daily Dish Recipes
Pecan Pie Cut Out Cookies by Love and Confections

Prize 1 – Millican Pecan Tower of Treats Gift Tins

Originally founded as the West Texas Pecan Nursery in the late 1800’s, Millican Pecan is now in 5th generation ownership. Located in San Saba, TX, the family continues the tradition of pecan farming while also branching the business into the online world. The family also enjoys educating people about pecans. One winner will receive The Tower of Treats Gift Tins. The tower includes 3 decorative gift tins stacked on top of each other. The bottom tin includes our 2 lb. Chocolate Pecan Sampler, the middle tin is our Flavored Pecan Sampler and the top tin is a 8 oz. tin of Milk Chocolate Caramillicans (similar to Turtles). An $80 value.

Prize 2 – Adams Extract Prize Pack

Adams traces its beginnings back to Battle Creek, Michigan, when John A. Adams began making and selling his Green Plant Sarsaparilla extract, Adamur, in 1888. In 1905, he moved his family to Beeville, TX. At the time, most vanilla sold to pharmacies and was often labeled “Do not bake or freeze.” John A. Adams’ wife yearned for a flavoring that wouldn’t bake or freeze out. He announced that he could produce a better vanilla than the one his wife was currently using. Working with just $6.71 worth of materials on top of an old icebox, John A. Adams discovered the formula he wanted. To test this product, his wife whipped up a cake for the family to try. “John, this is the BEST flavoring I have ever used,” she announced. “Well, that’s old man Adams BEST,” he responded.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two (2) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. Bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners have 24 hours to respond once notified by email, or they forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. The #ChristmasCookies bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members living in the household cannot enter or win the giveaway. Entries will be verified. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter giveaway and contest is open only to US residents. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookies posts or entry. Thank you to our sponsors Millican Pecan Company, and Adams Extracts and Flavorings for providing prizes.