Every Halloween, we like to indulge in chocolate. This year that gave us the perfect excuse to come up with a double chocolate cookie, and we wanted to give it a twist. We're calling it the Midnight Orange Sourdough Cookie, and it's our Halloween cookie.

What it is

Think of it as a brownie cookie. It's double chocolate, with dark cocoa in the dough and dark chocolate chips throughout, so the texture is dense, fudgy and chewy, with a soft center and crisp edges. It's deeply chocolatey but not overly sweet.

The orange comes in two ways: orange oil mixed into the dough, and fresh orange zest sprinkled on while the cookies are still warm from the oven. Chocolate and orange have always gone together, and here the orange keeps the dark chocolate from feeling heavy.

Built on our chocolate chip cookie

This cookie started as a variation on our Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookie, so it has the same base. We brown the butter, chill it, and mix it with sourdough starter. The dough then rests in the refrigerator overnight, which gives it more depth than a same-day cookie. The sourdough adds a little tang that goes well with the dark chocolate.

Think of it as a brownie cookie. Dense, fudgy and chewy, with a soft center and crisp edges.

How we picked the orange

This is the part we had the most fun with. After a few rounds of testing, we couldn't agree on how strong the orange should be. Some of us wanted a hint, and some of us wanted it front and center.

So we let you decide. At the Stewart County Fair 2026, we set out three versions of the Midnight Orange Sourdough Cookie with different levels of orange and asked people to vote for their favorite. The winner is the one we're baking now. Thank you to everyone who tasted and voted. You help settle the argument!

Where to get them

Midnight Orange Sourdough Cookies are available all October, and only in October. You can preorder online or pick them up at our market tables. We sell them two ways:

• Pack of 3: $8
• Half dozen: $15

The half dozen is the one to grab for a Halloween party, and it's a better deal than two small packs. Preorder and save 10% off 🎁 our market prices and we'll have yours packed and waiting when you get to market ❖.