Hazelnut Chocolate Espresso Cookies Recipe
If you are searching for a truly irresistible treat to brighten your baking day, the Hazelnut Chocolate Espresso Cookies Recipe is exactly what you need. These cookies combine the rich nuttiness of hazelnut flour with the bold, aromatic punch of espresso, then melt in your mouth with decadent chocolate chips throughout. Each bite delivers a perfect balance between nutty, bitter, and sweet, making them an unbeatable choice for snack time, dessert, or even a special coffee break. Once you try this recipe, it’s hard not to fall in love with its deep flavors and delightfully tender texture.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering the ingredients for this Hazelnut Chocolate Espresso Cookies Recipe is refreshingly straightforward, yet each one plays a pivotal role in creating the perfect cookie. From the buttery base to the espresso kick, every component contributes unique flavor and texture to the final masterpiece.
- 300 g hazelnut flour (unblanched): This gives the cookies their signature nutty flavor and a wonderfully tender crumb.
- 60 g soft brown sugar: Adds subtle caramel notes and moisture for chewy softness.
- 225 g unsalted butter, room temperature: Essential for richness and achieving that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder: Intensifies the chocolate flavor with a deep coffee aroma.
- ¼ teaspoon table salt: Enhances all the sweet and nutty notes in perfect harmony.
- 100 g mixed dark and milk chocolate chips: For pockets of gooey chocolate bliss with complementary bitterness and sweetness.
- 50 g white chocolate, melted (for drizzle): Adds a creamy, sweet contrast and a beautiful finishing touch.
- ½ teaspoon instant espresso powder (for drizzle, optional): Boosts the espresso flavor and balances the white chocolate drizzle.
How to Make Hazelnut Chocolate Espresso Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Baking Sheets
Start by lining three baking sheets with parchment paper. This simple step prevents the cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup later on, helping your cookies bake evenly to golden perfection.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a medium bowl, cream together the softened butter, soft brown sugar, and salt until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale. This usually takes about five minutes of vigorous mixing and lays the foundation for your cookie’s tender texture and sweet base.
Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients
Gently stir in the hazelnut flour along with the tablespoon of espresso powder until everything is fully combined. The hazelnut flour lends a tender, moist crumb while the espresso powder infuses a gentle bitterness that pairs beautifully with chocolate.
Step 4: Incorporate Chocolate Chips
Fold in the mixed dark and milk chocolate chips evenly throughout the dough. This blend delivers rich, molten chocolate pockets that embed your cookies with texture and bursts of flavor in every bite.
Step 5: Shape Dough into Log
Transfer the dough onto a sheet of cling film and shape it carefully into a log shape. Wrap tightly and refrigerate this overnight or for at least four hours. The chilling step is crucial as it helps the dough firm up, making slicing easier and improving the cookie’s texture.
Step 6: Preheat Oven
When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 160°C (320°F) with a fan setting to ensure even cooking. A slightly lower temperature helps the cookies bake through without burning the nutty edges.
Step 7: Slice and Arrange Cookies
Unwrap the chilled dough and slice it into 0.7 cm (¼ inch) thick discs. Place them spaced out on your prepared baking sheets, giving each cookie room to spread slightly without merging.
Step 8: Bake
Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes or until you see a golden edge forming around each one. The cookies should still be soft in the center when they come out, as they will continue to set while cooling.
Step 9: Cool
Let the freshly baked cookies rest on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking apart and helps preserve their chewy texture.
Step 10: Prepare Drizzle
Melt the white chocolate gently, then stir in the optional ½ teaspoon of espresso powder if you want that extra espresso punch in your drizzle. This luscious topping adds both sweetness and visual appeal.
Step 11: Drizzle and Set
Finally, drizzle the espresso-infused white chocolate over the cooled cookies with a spoon or piping bag. Allow the drizzle to set at room temperature or in the fridge before serving for that perfect finishing touch.
How to Serve Hazelnut Chocolate Espresso Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
To elevate your Hazelnut Chocolate Espresso Cookies Recipe, consider sprinkling crushed toasted hazelnuts or a light dusting of cocoa powder over the white chocolate drizzle. This adds a pretty visual detail and amps up the nuttiness to delight your taste buds even more.
Side Dishes
These cookies are an absolute dream alongside a steaming cup of espresso or rich hot chocolate. They also pair wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or lightly whipped cream for a decadent dessert experience that’s hard to forget.
Creative Ways to Present
Plate your cookies in a circle around a small bowl of dipping chocolate or coffee-infused cream. Alternatively, stack them up with parchment paper in between for a charming homemade cookie gift box. Presentation can add a playful element to sharing this beloved Hazelnut Chocolate Espresso Cookies Recipe.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. This keeps them fresh and maintains their perfect chewy texture, so they’re ready whenever a chocolate and coffee craving strikes.
Freezing
To keep a longer stash, freeze the cookie dough log wrapped tightly in cling film for up to three months. When ready, just slice and bake directly from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time. You can also freeze baked cookies in airtight containers for up to two months.
Reheating
If you want to enjoy a warm cookie, reheat in a preheated oven at 160°C (320°F) for 5 minutes or microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. This revives the gooey chocolate chips and softens the biscuit just right.
FAQs
Can I use regular wheat flour instead of hazelnut flour?
While you can substitute with wheat flour, hazelnut flour is key to achieving the signature nutty flavor and tender texture in this Hazelnut Chocolate Espresso Cookies Recipe. Using wheat flour will alter the flavor and density significantly.
What’s the purpose of espresso powder in this recipe?
The espresso powder adds a concentrated coffee flavor that enhances the chocolate, balancing the sweetness and adding depth. It’s subtle but essential for that classic espresso-chocolate synergy these cookies offer.
Can I skip the white chocolate drizzle?
Absolutely! The white chocolate drizzle is optional and mainly adds a touch of sweetness and visual flair. The cookies are delicious on their own even without it.
How do I keep the cookies chewy instead of crunchy?
Chilling the dough before slicing and baking helps maintain chewiness. Also, don’t overbake—take them out as soon as the edges turn golden but the centers look slightly soft.
Are these cookies gluten-free?
Yes, since the recipe uses hazelnut flour instead of wheat flour and no other gluten ingredients, these cookies are naturally gluten-free, making them a great choice for friends with gluten sensitivity.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have the full rundown on making these incredible Hazelnut Chocolate Espresso Cookies Recipe, I encourage you to pull out your mixing bowl and start baking. These cookies aren’t just tasty—they carry warmth, comfort, and a little bit of magic in every bite. Trust me, once you experience their perfect blend of nutty, chocolatey, and espresso flavors, they’ll become a treasured recipe you keep coming back to. Happy baking!
Print
Hazelnut Chocolate Espresso Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 4 hours 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in these Hazelnut Chocolate Espresso Cookies that combine rich hazelnut flour, robust espresso, and a blend of dark, milk, and white chocolates. Crisp on the edges with a tender, buttery center, these cookies are perfect for coffee lovers seeking a nutty, chocolaty treat with an elegant espresso twist.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 300 g hazelnut flour (unblanched)
- 60 g soft brown sugar
- 225 g unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- 100 g mixed dark and milk chocolate chips
White Chocolate Drizzle
- 50 g white chocolate, melted
- ½ teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Sheets: Line three baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside to ensure the cookies bake evenly and do not stick.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a medium bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and salt until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 5 minutes. This step creates an airy texture for the cookies.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Mix in the hazelnut flour and 1 tablespoon of instant espresso powder thoroughly until the dough is well combined, ensuring the espresso flavor is evenly distributed.
- Incorporate Chocolate Chips: Stir in the mixed dark and milk chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the dough for consistent bursts of chocolate in every bite.
- Shape Dough into Log: Transfer the dough onto a sheet of cling film and shape it into a log. Wrap it tightly to maintain shape and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to firm up the dough for easier slicing.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 160°C (320°F) with the fan setting to ensure even baking and a perfect crisp edge.
- Slice and Arrange Cookies: Remove the chilled dough from the fridge, unwrap, and slice into approximately 0.7 cm (¼ inch) thick discs. Arrange these on the prepared baking sheets, spaced slightly apart.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes or until they turn golden around the edges, signaling they are perfectly cooked.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, preventing sogginess.
- Prepare Drizzle: Melt the white chocolate gently, and optionally stir in ½ teaspoon of instant espresso powder to infuse a subtle coffee flavor into the drizzle.
- Drizzle and Set: Drizzle the white chocolate espresso mixture over the cooled cookies with a spoon or piping bag, then allow the drizzle to set before serving for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Refrigerating the dough for several hours or overnight helps develop flavor and makes slicing easier.
- You can substitute hazelnut flour with finely ground blanched hazelnuts if preferred.
- Use a fan-assisted oven to achieve a uniformly baked cookie with perfectly crisp edges.
- If you prefer, omit the espresso powder for a classic hazelnut chocolate cookie without coffee notes.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: European