Chocolate Chip Cookies With A Twist

What's not to love about a chocolate chip cookie? Everyone has their favorite part of the cookie. I'm sure for most it would be the chocolate chips, but for me it  is the intoxicating aroma of the butter and sugars when mixing the cookie dough. The cookies with the most chocolate chips are the first to go in our house. Last night we made our classic chocolate chip cookies, but with a little twist. I added a little orange zest to the batter, and it really enhanced the overall flavor of the cookie. They would be amazing with a few chopped and toasted pecans......next time.











Chocolate Chip Cookies with Orange Zest
makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons of orange zest
2 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 bag semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until fluffy. Add in the sugars and orange zest and beat until the mixture is well combined. Add in the eggs and vanilla and beat until blended. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, add in the flour mixture and mix just until blended. Stir in the chocolate chips until blended. Be careful not to over mix!

Cover the bowl of dough and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, but up to overnight. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of the dough onto the prepared pans, spacing them slightly apart. Bake until the edges of the cookies are slightly browned, about 10 to 12 minutes. I like mine very soft and chewy so I bake them for 9 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, or just eat them while warm!