Chocolate Orange Scottish Shortbread is a festive twist on the classic Scottish shortbread I’ve been making for a very long time. I use the recipe that my Mum handed down to me and it is always popular.
Sometimes I like to ring the changes and, as I had rather a lot of oranges in the fruit bowl, I decided to create a chocolate and orange shortbread finger.
Chocolate and Orange
Orange and chocolate is a classic combination, The acidity of the oranges helps to cut through the richness of the sweet shortbread and enhances the flavour of the dark chocolate.
How to make Chocolate Orange Shortbread
Here is a step by step guide to making your own Chocolate Orange Shortbread.
For the basic shortbread cookies recipe, you need only three ingredients, butter, flour, and sugar. I would usually use caster (superfine) sugar.
I use soft brown sugar for this Chocolate Orange Shortbread recipe, Then I add the zest of an orange to the shortbread.
What is orange zest?
Orange zest is the coloured outer skin of the orange which holds the orange oils. This oil adds an intense orange flavour to your baking or cooking. Aim to avoid including any of the bitter white pith in your zest.
How do you zest an orange?
There is more than one way to zest an orange:
- Use a vegetable peeler to peel off the skin then cut it into shreds
- Grate the zest from the orange using a Microplane grater or the smallest cutting blades of your grater
- Buy a zester, a tool which you scrape along the orange and it takes off long curls of zest
Making the orange shortbread is relatively easy.
- Weigh out the flour and sugar and place in a bowl with the orange zest.
- Cut the butter into small cubes, then rub the softened butter into the flour and sugar with your fingers.
- When the mixture starts to clump together press into a tin.
- Prick the shortbread with a fork as this helps it to cook evenly.
- Mark out the fingers before you bake the shortbread because this makes it easier to cut evenly once it’s baked.
These are the ‘naked’ shortbread fingers. after baking. I did leave them a little longer than I should have and they coloured a bit around the edges.
Baking Tips
- Every oven is different so keep an eye on your shortbread and adjust the timing to suit you oven
- Set your timer 5 minutes earlier than the stated recipe times and check if the shortbread is baked. You can always leave it a bit longer if it is not quite baked.
- Let the shortbread cool in the tin for about 10 minutes before cutting along the lines to make the shortbread fingers.
Add the finishing touches
Dipping the shortbread in dark chocolate is what makes this Chocolate Orange Scottish Shortbread, really special. For a final touch of orange zing, I sprinkled the chocolate with a mixture of sugar and orange zest. I think this makes the shortbread look really festive and adds a touch of luxury as well as a burst of real orange flavour.
More Shortbread Recipes from Farmersgirl Kitchen
More Chocolate Orange Recipes
- Chocolate Orange Cornmeal Biscotti – Casa Costello
- Chocolate Orange Cake – Fab Food 4 All
- Chocolate Orange Macarons – Emily’s Recipes & Reviews
- Not another Bloody Orange Chocolate Cake – Tin & Thyme
Chocolate Orange Scottish Shortbread
Ingredients
- 225 grams (2 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour, sieved
- 50 grams (2 oz) soft light brown sugar
- 2 (2) medium oranges finely grated rind
- 150 grams (5 oz) butter cut into small pieces
- 100 grams (3.5 oz) dark chocolate
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) coconut oil optional
- 3 teaspoon (3 teaspoons) granulated sugar
Instructions
- Place flour in a bowl, add sugar and grated rind of one orange
- Add the butter and rub into mixture
- Press into a 20cm square tin, press down firmly
- Prick all over with a fork, mark into 12 pieces
- Bake 170c for 25 minutes, turn down to 150C for further 15 minutes
- Cool slightly before cutting into pieces
- Break up the chocolate and put in a bowl, with the coconut oil, if using. Place the bowl over a pan of just-boiled water, stir until the chocolate is melted.
- Dip one end of each of the shortbread fingers in melted chocolate, place on baking parchment and chill until set.
- Mix the finely grated rind of the second orange with the granulated sugar
- Re-melt the chocolate and dip the other end of the fingers into the chocolate and sprinkle on the sugar and orange zest mixture.
- Chill again, until set.
- Store in an airtight container.
Camilla Hawkins says
These sound and look amazing Janice, I love the chocolate orange combo so know I’d love these:-)
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Camilla, we’ve been enjoying them all week!
Choclette says
I’m honoured to have this superb looking shortbread for the final #WeShouldCocoa chocolate party. You’ve been taking part for an awful long time, though I thought you were there from the very beginning.
Shortbread is my favourite biscuit and as it’s relatively low on sugar and easy to make I ought to make it more often – now there’s a good excuse if ever I heard one 😀
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Choclette. I think I commented from the early days but didn’t get round to entering until a little later. It’s been such a pleasure and I also enjoyed being a guest host.
Kate says
Ooooh these shortbreads look incredible!! I adore chocolate and orange together and they sound like such great flavours in this pretty shortbread.
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Kate,. I’m really rather pleased with them.
marie says
these look really delicous will be making them.so thank you janice
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Marie. I hope you enjoy them.
Helen at Casa Costello says
Oh wow, this looks incredible. We are addicted to all things chocolate orange in this house but haven’t tried Choc Orange Shortbread yet. Thanks so much for including my biscotti.
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Helen. Chocolate Orange is such a great combination. Delighted to include your biscotti recipe.
Katherine says
This looks absolutely delicious. My favourite flavour combo!
Corina Blum says
These look absolutely delicious! I’m a big fan of chocolate and orange together and shortbread is probably my favourite biscuit. I haven’t tried it with soft brown sugar in before though so that’s something I’d love to do next time, just to make it a little different.
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Corina. I hadn’t tried soft brown sugar before, it works well.
Emma says
Scottish shortbread is the absolute best. I love that you have put a more modern twist on it. Chocolate and orange is one of my favourite flavour combinations so I am HOOKED! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Emma, the sprinkle of sugary zest really finished it off!
Choclette says
I now blame you for a batch of apricot shortbread I’ve just made. Once I saw this recipe, I just couldn’t get it out of my head.
Janice Pattie says
Oh my, Apricot Shortbread sounds wonderful. I love apricots, glad you were inspired and I’m happy to take the blame!
Choclette says
???
Rebecca - Glutarama says
You can’t beat the good old chocolate and orange combo, add Scottish shortbread to the equation and boom! Winning recipe. I’ve managed to make gluten free shortbread (lots shy away from making it, thinking it impossible) so I’m going to give this flavour combo a go asap.
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Rebecca. You can’t beat shortbread for flavour and texture. I’m glad you succeeded to make a gluten free version and the bonus is that chocolate is naturally gluten-free!
Ceri Jones says
Chocolate orange is one of my favourites, love the idea of dipping the shortbreads in chocolate too – delish!
jenny paulin says
I love chocolate and orange anything, so I know I would enjoy these very much. they also look so pretty with your sugary orange decoration. thank you for sharing with #GBBOBakeoftheWeek #GBBOBloggers2018 linky xx
Anca says
I love shortbread, but never made it. Your tips are really helpful and I think I’m going to give these a try. They do look great.
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Anca. I’m glad you found the tips helpful. Let me know how the recipe turns out for you.
Louise Fairweather says
Oh I do love shortbread – especially with the addition of chocolate and orange
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Louise, the chocolate and orange definitely ramps them up a gear!
Shell Louise says
Shortbread is my favourite biscuit and the first one I learned to make as a child. These look lovely, I’m pinning for later.
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Louise. I love shortbread too, I hope you enjoy them.
Rebecca Beesley says
love the addition of the zest – looks so pretty and unique! #gbbobloggers2018
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Rebecca. We eat with our eyes 🙂
Kavita Favelle says
Oh, lovely, I really like the look of these. I love shortbread and the addition of chocolate and orange flavours sounds fab!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Kavey. Everything is better with chocolate ?
All That I'm Eating says
These look amazing, love chocolate and orange together.
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, it was really very good.
Jill Colonna says
I love that you ring the changes here with the chocolate orange. My goodness, I’d be scared to have one since know my weakness for good old shortbread – I wouldn’t be able to stop, Janice, with yours! Nice touch.
Janice Pattie says
Glad you like the Chocolate Orange Shortbread, it’s very tasty.
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
This shortbread looks perfect and I adore chocolate orange flavour!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Kat, we certainly enjoyed it.
Claudia says
Thanks for another tasty Shortbread recipe! Last year I made your plain ones for Christmas time, this year will be Orange Chocolate 🙂 love them ! Best regards from Germany
Claudia von https://gemueseliebelei.com
Janice Pattie says
That’s great to hear Claudia, I’m so glad you enjoyed the shortbread. The Chocolate Orange version is a lot of fun.