Orange Chocolate Chunk Cookies

(Courtesy of Mrs. Fields):
Makes 3 dozen

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp grated orange peel (1 med. orange)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 sticks butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 tsp orange extract
8 oz semisweet chocolate bar, coarsely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups--or you can use chocolate chips)

Combine flour, soda, salt, and orange peel. Mix with wire whisk. In a separate bowl blend sugars, butter, eggs, and orange extract. Add the flour mixture and chopped chocolate. Blend on low speed until just combined.

Bake at 300 for 18-22 minutes.

*Do you think the orange in these can count as a fruit serving?  These remind me of Christmas! 


Variation:

I made these again this week only using 1/2 cup shortening and 1 cube margarine.  I also refrigerated the dough before baking.  I liked these better!