Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread

Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread is the perfect buttery cookie with the flavors of espresso and chocolate! This recipe is egg free.

espresso chocolate chip shortbread

Our friends Eric and Kathleen invited us over to their home for dinner this weekend. Kat is an amazing cook and has such a talent for design. She puts together the most beautiful tables, and Saturday night was no exception! The food was incredible, and I just sat in awe trying to soak up every little detail of the gorgeous place settings and artfully arranged appetizers and desserts. I will definitely be hounding her for some recipes (salted caramel ice cream anyone???)  

They recently started a dessert table business, Sweet Table Chicago. I had never heard of these before, but apparently they are big in New York, and Kat is the first in Chicago! If you live in the Chicago area, you should definitely check her out. Yes, she’s my friend and she’s one of the sweetest people in the whole world, but I recommend her based on the work I’ve seen personally and the incredible table samples she has on her website! If we were staying in Chicago you can bet I would be hiring her for parties in the future!  

espresso chocolate chip shortbread

UPDATE: Check out the Bridal Shower Dessert Table I made for my sister’s Bridal Shower!

The Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread Recipe

I have been wanting to make these shortbread for a long time, so I decided I would take some to Eric and Kat since they both love chocolate and coffee. Bob and I snuck a few, and we thought these were great! The espresso flavor really comes through, and the mini-chocolate chips provide the perfect amount of chocolate.

espresso chocolate chip shortbread

This recipe is from Dorie Greenspan’s Baking: From My Home to Yours. I loved her Almost Fudge Gateau so I was excited to try another one of her recipes. The dough is so simple to make; it doesn’t even require eggs! Because of the optional overnight chill time, you can split it into 2 days of minimal work. These are a great little cookie that I plan to serve again!

UPDATE: I made these Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread cookies into name cards for a Kids Tea Party! They also were a great addition to my daughter’s Starbucks birthday party.

Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies on a white plate

LOVE SHORTBREAD COOKIES? Check out these Iced Vanilla Shortbread Cookies!

Gluten Free Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread

I haven’t tried it myself yet, but I have good luck substituting Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour in place of all purpose flour in baked goods.

Other Coffee Desserts

Mocha Cheesecake
Mini Mocha Cheesecakes
Mocha Cream Cake
Easy Dalgona Whipped Coffee
Homemade Pumpkin Latte
Ina’s Outrageous Brownies
Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Coffee Buttercream

Looking for More Cookie Recipes?

Check out some of my favorites:
My Grandma’s Butter Cookies
My Grandma’s Oatmeal Cookies
Citrus Glazed Butter Cookies
Iced Vanilla Shortbread Cookies
Santa’s Whiskers Cookies
Starfish Cookies
Painted Watercolor Cookies
Painted Rainbow Cookies
Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
Thick and Chewy Double Chocolate Cookies
Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
Triple Chocolate Biscotti

espresso chip shortbread cookies

Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread

Meghan
The perfect buttery shortbread cookie with the flavors of espresso and chocolate!
5 from 7 votes
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 42 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
  • 1 tablespoon boiling water
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions
 

Make the dough:

  • Dissolve the espresso powder in the boiling water and set aside to cool to tepid.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter on medium-high until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until the mixture is very smooth. Add the vanilla and the espresso and mix until incorporated.
  • With the mixer on low speed, add the flour and mix only until it disappears into the dough. Fold in the mini chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.
  • Transfer the dough to a gallon-sized plastic bag. Place the bag on a flat work surface, leaving the top open. Roll the dough into a 9 x 10 1/2-inch rectangle that is about 1/4-inch thick. As you roll, turn the bag occasionally and lift the plastic from the dough so it does not cause creases. When the dough has reached the desired size and thickness, seal the bag, pressing out as much excess air as possible, and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days.

Bake the cookies:

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Put the plastic bag on a cutting board and slit open; discard bag. Using a ruler as a guide and a sharp knife, cut the dough into 1 1/2-inch squares. Transfer the squares to parchment-lined baking sheets and carefully prick each one twice with a fork. Bake for 18-20 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through baking by 180 degrees and from top to bottom. The cookies shouldn't take on much color while baking.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the pan for 5 – 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.

Notes

Source:  Adapted from Annie’s Eats, originally from Smitten Kitchen and Baking: From My Home to Yours
You’re Gonna Bake It After All
bakeitafterall.com
Keyword cookies, dessert


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