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Chocolate on chocolate. Yes, please.
I think one of the best things about December is all the cookies. I mean, they’re practically everywhere, and I gotta say, I love it! I mean, who could not? Cookies are the best. I’ve gotten into the habit of sending out a box of cookies to people I work with and close family members the week before Christmas. In prepping for this year’s box, I wanted to have a few new cookie recipes to include, and obviously these Chocolate Espresso Thumbprint Cookies are making the cut.
Chocolate cookie with chocolate coffee ganache…too good! And then, because I was feeling all fancy and just happened to have it on hand, I decorated these cookies with edible gold leaf. Yeah, edible gold leaf, super fun right? Kind of big time lovin’ these right now.
So at the end of each month, I try to sit and jot down some recipe ideas for the upcoming month. Some months I have a ton of ideas and some…not so much. The month of December however is always pages long. Holiday recipes come so easily to me, especially the sweet ones, I just have so much fun with them! And you guys all know that around here, the chocolate just flows, so including some chocolate recipes in the month are a must! Thing is, I only have so many days to post. That makes choosing between them all a major struggle to say the least. Instead of doing the hard work myself, I just sent the list off to my brother and these cookies were at the top of his list.
Chocolate Espresso Thumbprint Cookies it is then! Done and DONE.
Up until these cookies, I’d never made a thumbprint style cookie. I normally stick to the sugar cookies, butter cookies, or super gooey chocolate cookies. Thumbprints just never really got me excited, but then I wrote down this idea, for an all chocolate coffee infused thumbprint cookie, and I was SOLD.
If you ask me, chocolate and coffee has got to be one of the best pairings there is. The coffee compliments the chocolate so well. In my cookbook, I have a recipe for lava cakes, I add just a little coffee and I swear it makes all the difference, best lava cakes around <–seriously. So excited about that recipe…can’t wait for you guys to see it, make it, and eat it…coming next fall!
Anyway, back to the cookies! With a lot of cookie recipes it seems there’s often the rather annoying step (if you ask me), of chilling the dough. I dunno about you guys, but I can never seem to plan ahead, and when I wanna cookie, I want it fast, not after waiting two hours for the dough to chill, sorry, that’s just not an option. Well, I’m excited to say that this dough needs zero chilling. These cookies are actually pretty fast and easy cookies to make too. Plus you may even have all of the ingredients on hand right now, cause you know I do! Tis the season after all! Plus, Tuesday cookies are the bestest. I mean, right?!
These are the perfect cookies to gift, but they’re also great just to bake and enjoy yourself. While the cookie is delicious, it’s the ganache that’s key here. Nothing beats biting into that fudgy center, SO GOOD. The cookies are similar to a brownie cookie…moist and super chocolatey…but with a really nice hint of coffee flavor. If you like, you can choose to tone down the coffee flavor by adding less espresso powder, but I prefer to go heavy, the more the better!
Ok and super quick, I have serious question for you guys…
QUESTION: what are YOUR favorite Christmas cookies? I’m dying to know if some of you are like me and love something a bit more chocolately, or if you’re all about the sugar cookies?
Oh and hmm, maybe I should do a round-up of my favorite Christmas desserts sometime before Christmas Eve? Yes? No?
Chocolate Espresso Thumbprint Cookies.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream, optional
Chocolate Ganache
- 8 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla, and coffee powder and beat until incorporated. Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt, beating until just combined. If the dough feels dry, add 1 tablespoon heavy cream.
- Roll the dough into 2 teaspoon size balls and place 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Using the end of a wooden spoon or your thumb, press gently in the center of each to create an indentation.
- Transfer to the oven and bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are just set, about 7-8 minutes. If the indentations lose their definition, gently press the centers in again. Cool slightly on baking sheet and then transfer cookies to wire racks, and let cool completely.
- Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate and cream. Microwave on 30 second intervals until melted and smooth. Stir in the vanilla and coffee powder until dissolved. Spoon the ganache into the center of each cookie. Decorate as desired with sprinkles or edible gold leaf. Keep cookies stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Tuesday cookies with a kick…for the win!
Tieghan, these thumbprint cookies look fab! And that golden touch make them festive! I don’t think I have favorite cookies, but for me it’s a must to bake & ice gingerbread cookies!
Thanks Julia!! They are so fun!!
GOLD LEAF?! you fancy huh 😉 looooove these
Haha!! Yes!! Thanks girl!
These cookies look absolutely stunning! Anyone who received them would be so lucky! I’m having a cookie exchange soon – these may grace the table!
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Ah that can be you giving them!! Thank you!!
These look amazing. Love the golden glitter. Makes them so festive and decadent 🙂 x Kati
Thank you so much Kati!!
Keep these arlitces coming as they’ve opened many new doors for me.
wow! that cake looks amazing! and the streusel topping… Yum!It's not a good idea reading food blog, especially yours when I'm just about to go to bed. I am hungry now.. 🙂
AH! I have that problem too, its when I look at everyone elses blogs!
Thank you so much though!
YES!!! This is such a great recipe — I can taste it. I have to make them – just for me. YUM!
YAY! Hope you love them Marisa!!
YAS PLEASE to both a pile of these cookies & also a christmas cookie round-up before the holidays! (these look ahhhmazing!)
Okay!! perfect thanks Jess!
These look soooo good! My favorite Holiday cookies are half moon cookies and Russian Tea Cakes.
Ah both delicious!! Thanks so much!!
Totally agree! Chocolate and coffee are perfect together! These look so cute and delicious. 🙂
Thank you Caroline!!
These look delicious! I’d love to see a list of Christmas desserts! Thank you!
Okay!! Thanks Rhian!!
OMG.. They look so decadent and delicious!
My favorites are almond Crescent cookies!!!!
Thanks Carlos!! Love crescent cookies!!
Haha, you “happen to have” gold leaf… That’s gotta be a foodbloggers thing! I LOVE chocolate & coffee and these cookies look delicious. I don’t really have a favourite Christmas cookie, but sugar cookies are always a good idea…
I happen to have way to many strange food styling stuff! Lol!
Thanks so much!! You can never go wrong with the sugar cookies!
O h my lord, these loooook really delicious!!!
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Thank you Ruth!!
These cookies sound fabulous! My favorite Christmas cookies are iced gingerbread men.
Thanks Liz!! I too obviously love gingerbread!! (:
Oh yum! Love that chocolate ganache in the middle! I also put coffee in my choclate desserts I think it intensifies the chocolate flavor. I’m like you, I’m not much on waiting for the dough to be chilled. I want to make the cookies and taste results in no time! lol You really know how to make things so fancy with that gold leaf. My fave cookie during the holidays is the chocolate crinkles, soft, chewy, sugary, and so chocolatey! And yes to rounding up Christmas desserts!
It makes it so delish!! I’m always trying to get the cookies done early haha!
AH chocolate crinkles are so so good!! So agree!
Thanks Sheila!!
oooh i love how dark and rich these look! as long as there’s a good combo of cookies (definitely something minty and then a mish mash of spiced, chocolatey, etc) i’m down to eat all of them (;
Yes!! So excited you like them!! Eating all of them the only option (: