These Dark Chocolate Espresso Cookies have a rich chocolate flavor that’s enhanced with espresso powder.
Perfectly chewy, rich and chocolatey cookies – who’s gonna say no to that??
When I make chocolate cake, I always put coffee into the batter. It really helps to bring out that rich chocolate flavor, so I wanted to try the same with these cookies. Chocolate/chocolate chip cookies have a tendency to be extra sweet, so I toned that down a bit by using dark chocolate chips instead of the standard semi-sweet.
The extra darkness of these cookies comes from black cocoa powder, which I love to use. Think Oreo cookie dark. It also gives more of an Oreo cookie flavor, too. If you don’t have black cocoa, you can just use Dutch-processed cocoa or regular cocoa, but the cookies won’t come out as dark. I am certain they will be equally delicious.
I use instant espresso power to really bring out the chocolatey flavor. You can’t really taste the coffee very much, but you’ll get that intense hit of chocolate, which I love.
You can mix it up and add different chocolate chips if you prefer (milk or white chocolate), or even add some nuts if you like.
Really, you can’t go wrong with these Dark Chocolate Espresso Cookies as a base.
If you like extra rich and chocolatey cookies, you will love these Dark Chocolate Espresso Cookies! Perfectly chewy and not super sweet.
Dark Chocolate Espresso Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder sifted
- 1/4 cup black cocoa powder sifted*
- 2 Tbsp instant espresso powder not granules
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cocoas, espresso powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars on med-high until pale and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time fully incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla.
- Reduce speed to low and slowly add flour mixture.
- Add in chocolate chips.
- Chill dough for at least 1 hour in the fridge.
- Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment.
- Using a medium cookie scoop, portion dough into balls and place onto baking sheet at least 2″ apart. Press down on each ball to flatten slightly.
- Bake for 15mins, until edges are firm but center is still soft.
- Cool on pans for 10mins, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Krystel says
Hi there! These sound delicious! I was wondering if it’s possible to make the dough possibly 2 days ahead & keep it in the freezer until ready to bake? Or should it just be kept in the fridge until ready to bake?
Olivia says
Hi Krystel! Either would work fine! I would portion into dough balls before chilling/freezing for ease.
Anita says
Cookies are delicious but I learned that you should use Baking Powder when a recipe calls for Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder. I used 3 tsp of Baking Powder instead of the 1 tsp Baking Soda and it worked out perfectly. The cookies had some rise but we’re very light in texture.
Olivia says
Hi Anita! So glad you liked them. That is not entirely true re: Dutch cocoa powder. You need to use baking powder if there is no acid present in the recipe. Brown sugar is acidic which activates the baking soda.
Doug says
FANTASTIC! These cookies have earned a spot on our permanent Christmas cookie rotation. My mom loves caramel macchiatos so we add caramel chips (and sprinkle with a dash of kosher salt). We triple and quadruple the recipe and still they’re the first to disappear.
Olivia says
Hi Doug! I am so happy that you loved these and that they are on your Christmas rotation from now on!! Love the addition of the caramel chips. I’ll have to try that. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Amber says
These are delicious. I did half dark chocolate chips and half espresso chips and added a mocha glaze.
Olivia says
Hi Amber! I’m so happy you loved these! Your additions sound delicious.
Stacey says
I made these with just the Dutch cocoa and used semi and dark chocolate chips and they turned out great! Was thinking next time to even sprinkle a little sea salt of top to add more texture and taste!!!
Olivia says
Hi Stacey! So happy you loved them. Thanks for the feedback!
Amelia says
Hi! I was wondering if gluten free flour or almond flour could be used and if the rest of the ingredients would remain the same? Or if something would need to be added to the recipe?
Olivia says
Hi Amelia! As long as the GF flour is an AP flour blend it should work fine.
Taryn F says
Hi!! These sound and look amazing! I was thinking about making these into cookie sandwiches using your Mint Chip Buttercream as filling. Do you think these cookies will be a good consistency for this? Or do I try your chocolate cake mix and make more of whoopie pies sandwich?
Thanks so much 🙂
Olivia says
Hi Taryn! I think the cookies would be great for this but the whoopie pies sound amazing too!!