Dark Chocolate Espresso Shortbread Cookies Food

ESPRESSO SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix for 30 seconds. Next add the flour and espresso powder and mix until the dough is smooth, about 1 minute.
• Spray the shortbread pan with cooking spray and scatter the ground espresso across the bottom of the pan. Gently press the dough evenly into the espresso covered pan. Place the pan into the top half of the oven and bake until the shortbread is set, about 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 15 minutes.
• Using a sharp paring knife score the top of the still warm but cooling short bread. Cut in any size you prefer, we like 2 inch squares. Run a butter knife around the edge of the pan and invert onto a cutting board. Give 1 sharp rap and the shortbread will release from the pan. Let cool an additional 10 minutes and slice along the scored lines.

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer, beat the butter with the flat paddle attachment on the medium speed until creamy. Add the sugar gradually and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. In another bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa, espresso powder and salt. Add to the creamed mixture and beat on low speed until incorporated. Scrape the soft dough onto a large piece of plastic wrap and gather together into a ball. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours, or until firm enough to roll out. You may chill it overnight; just let it soften a bit at room temperature before proceeding. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out cookies with a cookie cutter of your choice. These baking instructions are for 3-inch cookies. If you make small cookies, reduce the baking time, larger cookies will require a longer baking time. Reroll any extra dough and cut out as many cookies as possible. Transfer the cookies to the prepared pans, keeping them at least 1-inch apart. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the pans front to back halfway through the baking time. These cookies are so dark that it is impossible to see if they are beginning to color. Use the time suggested and check to see if the edges and bottoms are completely dry. You should be able to lift a cookie up with a spatula to peek at the bottom; the cookie should be baked enough to remain stiff and not break. Set the pans directly on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Then remove the cookies to the rack and cool completely. The sheet pans must be cooled completely between uses, but you will probably be able to reuse the parchment. The cookies are best eaten within 1 week; store them at room temperature in an airtight container.

DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan, melt unsweetened chocolate, 1 cup chocolate chips and butter with coffee granules; stir until smooth. Remove from the heat; set aside to cool.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat sugar and eggs for 3 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Beat in the chocolate mixture. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; add to chocolate mixture. Stir in remaining chips.
• Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until puffed and tops are cracked. Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks.

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt into a bowl and set aside.
• Melt chocolate in a metal bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring occasionally so it will melt evenly; remove from heat when smooth.
• In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugars on medium speed for several minutes until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
• Pour in melted chocolate and beat until combined.
• Add flour mixture and chocolate chips and mix on low just until incorporated.
• Cover dough and refrigerate for about 15-20 minutes until it is firm enough to scoop.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Roll dough into 1½-inch balls and place on sheets about 2 inches apart.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes-cookies will still appear soft but will firm up upon cooling. Cool cookie sheets on wire racks before removing cookies with a metal spatula.

CHEWY CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
• Melt 2 cups of the chocolate chips, the unsweetened chocolate and butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Set aside.
• In the large bowl of a stand mixer on high speed, beat the eggs, sugar, ground coffee and vanilla extract until thick ribbons form and the mixture has doubled in volume. By hand, stir in the melted chocolate mixture until thoroughly combined, then add the dry ingredients, chopped walnuts and the remaining chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Have ready some large baking sheets lined with parchment paper. (If you have a convection oven, use that setting.).
• Make golf ball-size scoops of dough, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake, in batches, 10 to 12 minutes; the tops will crack, but the cookies should be gooey inside. Cool on the baking sheets at least 1 minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.