GF/DF Chocolate Orange Sparklers

Ingredients:
 

• 1 cup dairy-free “butter” softened

• ¾ cup granulated sugar

• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar

• 2 eggs

• 2 tsp orange extract

• 1 ¾ cups gluten-free 1-to-1 flour blend

• 1 ¼ cups cocoa powder

• 2 tsp baking soda

• ¼ tsp salt

• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• ½ cup turbinado sugar (“Sugar in the Raw”)
   

Directions:
 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
 

In a large bowl, beat dairy-free butter and the sugars until creamy. Beat in eggs and orange extract.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
 

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until well combined. Mix in the chocolate chips.

Roll dough into 1” balls. Roll the balls in the turbinado sugar to coat them. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheets, 2” apart.
 

Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. The cookies will spread and crack as they bake.
 

Let cool on the baking sheet for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to cool on a wire rack. Makes about 48 cookies.
 

Variations:
 

• For a different flavor, use peppermint extract instead of the orange extract.

• Replace some or all of the chocolate chips with white chocolate chips. (Keep in mind, though, that most white chocolate chips contain milk ingredients. So if you have to be dairy-free, DO NOT do this.)

• Replace some or all of the chocolate chips with chopped nuts, such as walnuts or pecans (if you can eat nuts, that is.)