Orange Butter Gems

By dkanon

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Orange Extract
• 2 1/2 cups sifted flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate
• 1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

Details

Servings 10
Preparation time 5mins
Cooking time 30mins
Adapted from mccormick.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the orange extract. Gradually beat in flour and salt until well mixed. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets; flatten with fork.
Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
Melt chocolate and shortening in microwavable bowl on HIGH 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after 30 seconds. Add remaining 1 teaspoon extract; stir until chocolate is completely melted.
Dip each cookie halfway into chocolate mixture. Let stand at room temperature or refrigerate on wax paper-lined tray 15 minutes or until chocolate is set..