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Chocolate and orange is one of those flavor combinations that just feels a little fancy—but these cookies prove it doesn’t have to be complicated.
As someone who has spent over 25 years in the kitchen, I can tell you this: when you start with a chocolate cake mix, you get a soft, rich, bakery-style cookie every single time—no guesswork required.
These Chocolate Orange Cake Mix Cookies are topped with a segment of Terry’s Chocolate Orange for that classic flavor, but they come together in less than an hour using simple, reliable ingredients.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
- Cake mix creates a foolproof base – You get perfectly balanced chocolate flavor and soft texture without measuring multiple dry ingredients.
- Sour cream keeps the cookies ultra soft – This is the secret to bakery-style cookies that stay tender for days.
- Orange zest adds real flavor – It brightens the chocolate and gives that classic chocolate-orange combination.
- Chocolate orange segments = built-in presentation – They melt slightly into the cookie and make them look as good as they taste.
Key Ingredients
- Chocolate Cake Mix: This is the base of the cookie dough and saves you from measuring out cocoa powder, sugar, and flour separately. Any brand works, but make sure you get a 13.25-ounce box for the right dough consistency. I have dozens of chocolate cake mix cookie recipes to try—be sure to check out my Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies collection for more ideas.
- Butter: Melted butter adds richness and helps the cookies spread just enough while baking.
- Sour Cream: This might seem surprising, but sour cream keeps the cookies soft and adds a little tang that balances the sweetness.
- Orange Zest: Fresh orange zest is essential here! It gives you that bright citrus flavor that goes great with chocolate. (If you love citrus desserts, be sure to try my Lemon Poppy Seed Cake Mix Cookies too.)
- Terry’s Chocolate Orange Segments: Each cookie gets topped with one segment for a beautiful look and intense chocolate orange flavor.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Cake Mix Tip
When making cookies from a cake mix, the size of the box matters. Most newer cake mixes are 13.25 ounces, which works perfectly for this recipe. If your dough seems too soft, just add 1–2 tablespoons of flour to balance it.
How to make Chocolate Orange Cookies with a Cake Mix
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the chocolate cake mix and flour. Add the eggs, melted butter, sour cream, and orange zest. Use an electric mixer to combine everything until you have a thick dough. Fold in the mini chocolate chips.
Step 2: Use a large cookie scoop to portion out the dough. Press each portion into a thick disc shape with your hands.
Step 3: Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper and bake 6 cookies at a time for 10-12 minutes, until the cookies are set.
Step 4: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. While they’re still warm, press a Terry’s Chocolate Orange segment into the top of each cookie. Add extra orange zest if you like!
Expert Tips
- Let the melted butter cool slightly before adding it to the dough. If the butter is too hot, it can start to cook the eggs and create a grainy texture. Let it cool for a few minutes after melting so it’s warm but not hot to the touch.
- Use a microplane or fine grater for the orange zest. You want just the orange part of the peel, not the bitter white pith underneath.
- Don’t overbake these cookies. They might look slightly underdone when you pull them from the oven, but they’ll continue to set as they cool.
- Bake in batches for the best results. Baking only 6 cookies at a time gives them room to spread properly and bake evenly.
Storage and Freezing
Store: Keep these chocolate orange cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Let them thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.
Chocolate Orange Cookie Recipe FAQ’s
Chocolate cake mix is best, but devil’s food works great for a richer flavor.
You can use another chocolate orange candy or top with dark chocolate and extra orange zest.
Yes! Use a medium scoop for 24–28 cookies and bake 8–10 minutes.
Do you love chocolate cake mix cookies? Try these…
Did you try this recipe?
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Chocolate and Orange Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix, {13.25 ounces}
- ⅔ cup all purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup butter, {melted}
- 2 Tablespoons sour cream
- zest one orange
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- 14 Terry's Chocolate Orange Segments
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Combine cake mix and flour in a medium bowl, whisk {or sift} together. Add eggs, melted butter, sour cream and orange zest. Mix using a hand held {or stand} mixer until you have a thick dough. Add the mini chocolate chips to the cookie dough and mix until they are evenly distributed in the dough.
- Use a large cookie scoop to measure out 12 cookies. Use your hands to press the cookie dough into a disc that is a thick round circle. Bake 6 cookies at a time. Place the cookie on a silicone mat {or parchment} lined baking sheet for 10-12 minutes or until set.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then add a chocolate orange segment and additional orange zest {if desired}.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Always a crowd favorite and so easy to make.