Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie with ZEST!

No pictures yet. I'm lazy and the kitchen is almost done ...

But I wanted to post this recipe so that I don't forget how I made it. Because it is friggin' fantastic. Sort of insane.

I recently had an amazing ice cream cookie sandwich made with chocolate cookies at a specialty chocolate shop here in Brooklyn. Tonight, I made these cookies. And then I went ahead and made an ice cream sandwich using two cookies and cherry vanilla ice cream ... My husband and I both agree that these ice cream sandwiches were actually better and more luxurious and more impressive than the ones sold at the fancy chocolate shop.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie with Orange Zest, Dried Cherries, and Walnuts
(An adaptation of this classic chocolate cookie recipe)

1 stick butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup fair-trade dutch-processed cocoa
1 & 1/2 cups flour
large handful of chocolate chips
large handful of dried cherries (each ripped in half or chopped)
large handful of walnuts (crunched by hand)
zest of 1 orange
1/4 cup milk
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder (heaping)

1) Beat the sugar and butter in a mixing bowl until fluffy.
2) Add the vanilla and egg. Mix.
3) Add the cocoa, flour, chocolate chips, dried cherries, walnuts, and orange zest. Mix.
4) Add the milk. (Add a little more until the cookie dough is the right consistency.)
5) Add the salt and baking powder. Mix.
6) Chill for 15 minutes (up to 30 minutes if needed). During this time, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter the cookie sheets.
7) Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 12-15 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheets before taking off the cookie sheets.