Decadent Chocolate Orange Brownies {with Orange Zest}

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Decadent Chocolate Orange Brownies with orange zest–oh, friend! They’re heaven! The best fudge brownies from scratch, with a hint of rich orange flavor to make them simply decadent.

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Chocolate Brownies with Orange Zest

Chocolate and orange. It’s a flavor combination that is right up there with chocolate and mint, chocolate and caramel, chocolate and sea salt, chocolate and strawberries.

And if you have not yet tried this powerful flavor duo in brownies, then today is your day. This Chocolate Orange Brownie recipe that I am sharing with you today is ultra-decadent, packed with flavor, and easy to make with ingredients you probably already have on hand. (No specialty butters or oils here!)

How to Add Orange Flavor to Brownies

Admittedly, there are various ways to add a zing of orange flavor to a homemade brownie recipe.

• Orange extract. Perhaps the easiest method of all, orange extract is a sure-fire way to get the most flavor. However, as when using any type of extract, it is important to guard against using too much of the liquid and overpowering the flavor of the chocolate in the brownies.
• Orange juice. This is the least-recommended way to add a bit of orange to a pan of brownies. Adding orange juice means upping the amount of liquid in a brownie recipe–which is highly NOT recommended unless you know how to compensate without, in turn, dumping in a bunch of flour.
• Orange-infused oil or butter. It is fun to find great uses for any specialty butter or oil that you have on hand. However, if you don’t happen to have any orange butter in your stash of kitchen ingredients, then there is absolutely no need to go to the trouble of making butter especially for your brownies, because there are much easier ways to gain that amazing citrus flavor.
• Orange zest. My favorite way to add a bit of orange tang to a recipe is (by far!) by using the zest. Zest is natural, it’s potent, and it makes the entire room smell heavenly.

This last method is the one to which we turn in our recipe for Decadent Chocolate Orange Brownies today.

Ingredients for Chocolate Orange Brownies

• 1 cup salted butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp orange zest
• 4 eggs
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder (100% cocoa is best!)
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (optional)

How to Make Chocolate Orange Brownies

1. Grease a 9″x13″ pan. Preheat the oven to 350F (150C).
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, whip together the butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and orange zest for 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy and well combined.
3. Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix on medium speed just until combined.
4. Mix in the flour, cocoa powder, and sea salt until well mixed. Be careful not to over-mix. If using the chocolate chips, fold them into the batter.
5. Pour into the greased pan. Bake at 350F for 25 minutes. The brownies should not test done. In fact, the top should look set but should not feel firm. Do not over-bake.
6. Let cool slightly before slicing.

How to Know When Brownies are Done

Usually, you can use a toothpick inserted near the center of a cake to test if it is done or not. Brownies do not work in quite the same way. Most recipes assume that you want a fudge brownie, not a cake-like texture. The key to not over-baking brownies is to bake them just until they are set, though not firm.

The way I like to test brownies is to jiggle the pan around a bit. If the center still moves but does not slosh back and forth, it is done….Not exactly the most scientific method, but still workable. 😉

How to Store Chocolate Orange Brownies

These fudge brownies with orange zest keep well at cool room temperature in an airtight container. If you live in a humid climate, keep them in the refrigerator.

How Long Do Brownies Last at Room Temperature?

The safe bet for storing brownies at room temperature is 3 or 4 days. If you want to keep them longer, then place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freeze them, with wax paper laid between each layer of brownie slices.

Variations on these Chocolate Brownies with Orange Zest

For even more baking fun, try these yummy variations:

• Add in 1/2 cup chopped almonds.
• Chop up a Lindt orange chocolate bar and fold it into the batter before baking.
• Add 1/8 tsp of orange extract, in addition to the orange zest, for an even more potent orange flavor.

Closing Thoughts

Oh, friend! These brownies! I’m so excited for you to try them…and excited for you to tell me how it went for you. 😉

Don’t forget to return and leave a comment. And if you’re someone who likes posting your food creations to social media, use the hashtag #thesantoscookbook so we can see too!

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