Sweet Saturday: Chocolate Espresso Fudge Cookies

Hello, my sweet friends! I hope your weekend is going marvelously. :o)

I've made more cookies in the last year than ever before, largely due to the small baking time slots available. I do love cookies and the endless flavor possibilities, but I long to make a beautiful layer cake... smoothing the icing with the fancy angled and straight spatulas my mom gave me for my birthday in November. And piping a pretty border and maybe trying a flower. So many were planned for holidays and birthdays, but they could never happen. (Oh the Christmas winter wonderland I had my heart set on baking!) My sweetheart has a long weekend coming up and I'm hoping to bake him the layer cake I've promised for quite some time.

And for Autumn, my baking heart hopes to return to royal iced cookies. My first foray into the fancy-decorated-cookie world last Christmas was such a joy and I can hardly believe I've yet to have a second attempt. (Oh the beauties I had planned for Valentine's!) I have such an affinity for decorating, be it cards, cakes, or cookies.

That said, there is certainly delight to be found in a simpler cookie and they are such fun to bake! I know some of you aren't espresso fans, but you can bake these for someone who IS and they'll love you forever. ;)

So chocolaty... so espresso-y... Chocolate Espresso Fudge Cookies!

A cookie that tastes like an espresso-laced fudgy brownie... these are spectacular. Despite being simple in appearance AND easy to make, they pack a wallop of flavor. I actually made these a couple of months ago, but couldn't post them because I got wrapped up in I Feel the Love creations. Yet they still stand out in my mind because they were that fantastic.

Espresso innately brings out the best in chocolate, making it richer. While it is often used to enhance the chocolate flavor while being undetected in the finished product, these retain that robust, dreamy espresso flavor. My entire kitchen was filled with the scent of chocolate and espresso while they baked... which was glorious! These are a perfect candidate for holiday goodie packages or festivities where oodles of varieties are enjoyed together. These cookies are exactly what you'd expect based on their name, and with such a wonderfully intense flavor. :o)

Thank you for visiting! Have a beautiful rest of the weekend. :o)

Chocolate Espresso Fudge Cookies

Yield: Approximately 30 cookies (or less if you make larger ones like I do...)

Ingredients:

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips, divided

8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

3 large eggs

1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons instant espresso powder

¾ cup all-purpose flour

⅓ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup walnuts (Optional- I left these out.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350º F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.

In a double boiler or a bowl set over a saucepan of barely-simmering water, melt unsweetened chocolate, 1 cup chocolate chips, and butter. Stir until smooth, then remove bowl from heat.

With an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat eggs, sugar, and espresso powder on high speed until very thick and pale and the mixture forms a ribbon when beaters are lifted, approximately 3 minutes. Add the chocolate mixture and beat until combined. 

Into the mixture, sift flour, baking powder, and salt and stir just until combined. Stir in remaining chocolate chips and walnuts (if using). 

Drop batter by heaping tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto baking sheets. Bake in middle of oven for 8-10 minutes, or until puffed and cracked on top. Cool cookies on baking sheets for 1 minute, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Source: Love and Olive Oil