Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler stirring until melted. Remove from the heat and set aside.
In a mixing bowl combine eggs, brown sugar, vanilla and orange extract and beat with a mixer on high speed until the mixture looks frothy. Pour in the chocolate and mix until well combined, about 30 seconds or so.
Whisk the flour and salt together and add to the chocolate mixture. Mix well then refrigerate until cooled making the dough easier to work with, about an hour or so.
Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Now is a good time to check your oven temperature and make sure it’s running true. For a few dollars you can purchase an oven thermometer and check every once in a while. Pop the thermometer in and leave for a few minutes, then read the temp to ensure what the dial says on the outside is what’s happening inside!
Roll dough in ping-pong sized balls, about 2 inches or so. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on a lightly oiled cookie tray. Bake for exactly 10 minutes. Let them stand on the tray for 1 or 2 minutes, then remove and rest on a cooling rack.
You’ll find it difficult to let these cookies cool before you share them though!


Chef Michael's Kitchen
© Chef Michael Smith