Chocolate Orange Cookies

I love this recipe! The cookies are easy to make, fancy to look at, and delicious to eat, with their combination of orange flavor and bittersweet chocolate. Very festive. Very Christmas-y.

Last year, after Christmas, I discovered the blog, LivingTastefully . Eileen has some lovely cookie recipes and I made a note in my file to go back to her blog for ideas this Christmas cookie baking season. These Chocolate Orange Cookies won a recipe contest for the author who attributes the recipe to the Kosta Guest House in Sweeden.

I am sending this recipe to Susan over at Food Blogga for her 3rd annual Eat Christmas Cookies event. Check out the delicious entries she has posted so far.

Chocolate Orange Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
3 tsp. grated orange peel
2 cups flour
1/4 cup orange marmalade
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
4 Tbsp. butter

Beat butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add sugar and beat until combined. Beat in egg yolk and orange peel. Slowly beat in the flour.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough 1/8 - 1/4 inch thick. Use a small, round cookie cutter, cut out the cookies and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Make an indention in the center of each one, and fill with about 1/4 tsp. marmalade.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness, until edges are lightly browned. Place on wire racks to cool completely.

In a double boiler, set over simmering water, melt together the butter and chocolate, and stir until smooth. Dip half of each cookie into the chocolate and return to the cooling rack to set.