Guaranteed to bring a smile to any coffee lover’s face!
I spent an unplanned hour at a friend’s house this evening.
We met last April while serving on the jury for a small three-day trial. After the judge read the sentence and released us from the case, we exchanged numbers and promised to stay in contact. Barely a week or two later, I knocked on her door with a plate full of coffee cake, which led to cheesecake and cupcakes and cookie dough and about a third of everything I’ve posted since this spring.
Whenever her two kids spot me teetering up the driveway balancing trays of treats, they leave their neighborhood friends in the street and sprint up to the porch to see what I baked. And on the nearly every visit, they bargain with their mom, “They’re from Amy, so they’re healthy… Can we have another one before dinner?”
My heart melts each time!
Today we stood in my friend’s kitchen while they sampled two batches of new cookies. The conversation meandered all over the place, spanning territory from banana essence, facial baking burns, saving scabs (the fake Halloween kind), and parents laying eggs on Easter. By the time I left, my abs hurt and I could barely breathe. I haven’t laughed that much in months!
As I watched and listened to her kids, I realized that lots of the lack of laughter stems from aging into an adult. We grow guarded, instead of allowing our innocence and genuine emotions shine. We lose the courage to sing silly songs, bellow like an elk, or run outside on a whim to toss a Frisbee or kick around a soccer ball. (All of which happened in those 60 minutes tonight.)
That, and I just don’t have a kid’s energy anymore!
Which is where these Toffee Coffee Cookies come in. Although they contain only a smidgen of the caffeine of your usual morning mug, they still have the same earthy and irresistible flavor that’ll boost your energy levels sky high!
To mix up the dough, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and cornstarch in a bowl. Yes, cornstarch. Although generally used to thicken soups and sauces, when added to cookies, the cornstarch keeps them really soft. Even after a week, this batch tasted as soft as the day I pulled them from the oven!
Next, melt the butter and immediately stir in the instant coffee crystals. You want to mix them together while the butter is hot because the instant coffee dissolves better in warm liquids. Do NOT use brewed coffee; it will make the dough too moist and tacky.
Now add in the egg whites (discard the yolks to keep the cookies healthier!), vanilla, and brown sugar. The brown sugar adds extra moisture, which increases the cookies’ softness, as well as a subtle caramel undertone to the flavor. After mixing the dry ingredients into the wet, fold in most of the toffee, cover the dough, and chill.
Chilling is mandatory. It allows the gluten to relax, the moisture to absorb, and keeps the cookies soft. (Can you tell how excited I am about the cookies’ soft texture?) Although the recipe suggests to refrigerate for at least 2 hours, I highly recommend 4 hours or more. Even overnight!
Just before baking, shape the dough into slightly flattened balls, press a few toffee bits into the tops, and pop into the oven for 9-11 minutes. No more! They may look underdone, but they’ll continue to set and bake a bit as they sit on the warm cookie sheet.
Sinking your teeth into one of these Toffee Coffee Cookies is like biting a cloud. Or a pillow. It’s as if you settled into your padded easy chair and cuddled up with a fleecy blanket. So soft, with the perfect touch of comforting coffee and kiss of sweetness.
Move over chocolate chip—these are my new favorite obsession cookies. I’m already searching for new cookie jars to store my huge stash!
The intense coffee flavor pairs perfectly with the sweet toffee pieces. These cookies are incredibly soft and will stay that way for a week if stored in an airtight container.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Melt the butter in the microwave or on the stove, and pour into a separate bowl. While the butter is still hot, add in the instant coffee, and stir vigorously until almost all of the coffee dissolves. Mix in the egg whites and vanilla. Add in the brown sugar, smearing out any clumps on the side of the bowl. Pour in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated. Fold in 5 tablespoons of the toffee pieces. Cover the top of the cookie dough with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 2 hours. (I highly recommend chilling overnight!)
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Divide the dough into 24 balls, and place onto the prepared sheets. Press 5-6 pieces of the remaining toffee into the top of each. Flatten slightly. Bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes. (They will look and feel slightly underdone.) Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.
Notes: It’s important to mix the coffee crystals into the hot butter because they’ll dissolve better, which reduces the amount of coffee “speckles” in the cookies.
Only bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes to ensure they stay soft. The insides will continue to bake and set on the warm cookies sheet after removing them from the oven.
What a happy story! It’s true- as adults, we forget to let loose and be silly just for the fun of it. Thanks for the reminder! And as for those cookies… they look to DIE for!
Thanks Andrea! I think our “comfort zone” narrows when we become adults, which makes it harder to be goofy and silly. But if we’re working at a job we love, it becomes a little easier! 🙂 And ohhh my goodness, these are the most dangerous cookies I’ve ever made. I couldn’t stop at one… Or two… Or three…
Gorgeous cookies, my mom would LOVE these!! I love the story about the kids! I like to think I still have child like energy, and that I am not ashamed to let my laugh roar through the air. I am quite loud when I laugh! 😉
Brittany, you definitely still have childlike energy!! Especially with that adorable video you posted of dancing with strangers. I’m so proud of you for doing that! 🙂 And when we see each other, I’ll be sure to bake a batch of these cookies for you to take home to your mom!
Oooh, toffee and coffee sounds fabulous! I’ve never had luck baking with toffee in a cookie but I’m going to have try these out. They look delicious and I wish I had one now for an afternoon sugar pick me up. 🙂
Thanks Tina! I’d gladly give you a dozen — they’re too addicting for me to keep around the house! 😉 I hope you enjoy the cookies!
So that’s where my fun went, lol. My kid sucked it all up. 😉
LOVE the toffee and coffee combo!
Thanks Dorothy! 🙂 But Jordan’s cute and funny antics are certainly worth it, right?? She’s definitely going to be on stage someday!
An hour of entertainment is the least we can do for all the yummy treats you bring us, Amy! These cookies have two of Brendan’s favorite flavors. Will have to give them a try.
Food for fun with your family is one of the best deals I’ve ever made! I didn’t realize these cookies would be a huge hit at your house. I’ll definitely bring some over from the next batch I bake!
Hey? These look delicious! How come you never brought any of these over for us to taste test? 🙂
Oops, you caught me… These were in my purse the same day I brought over the three different cookies for taste testing! Since they don’t have your family’s official taste test stamp of approval, I’ll definitely bring some by from the next batch I bake. 🙂
What a great recipe, will definitely try it out! And the photos along with it are looking fab as well!
Thank you; you’re so sweet. I really hope you enjoy the cookies! 🙂