Description
Espresso brown butter toffee cookies deliver a luxurious blend of rich coffee and caramel-like sweetness. Crisp edges, tender centers, and complex flavor profiles make these cookies an irresistible treat you’ll savor with each indulgent bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 226 grams) unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
Sugars and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Finishing and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup toffee bits
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Transform butter into a rich, golden-brown elixir by gently melting it in a saucepan, swirling periodically until it develops a deep nutty fragrance and amber hue. This process typically takes 4-5 minutes of careful watching.
- Create a luxurious base by whisking together brown and granulated sugars with the cooled brown butter until achieving a smooth, integrated mixture. Incorporate eggs, vanilla extract, and espresso powder, blending until the mixture becomes uniform and glossy.
- Prepare a separate vessel and combine flour, baking soda, and salt through a gentle whisking motion. Gradually integrate these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring minimally to prevent overworking the dough.
- Gently fold toffee bits and mini chocolate chips into the developing dough, ensuring even distribution. Wrap the mixture and allow it to rest and develop flavors in the refrigerator for a minimum of one hour, with up to 24 hours recommended for maximum taste complexity.
- Activate the oven to 350°F, creating a perfect baking environment. Layer baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even heat distribution.
- Portion the chilled dough into uniform balls, approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons each. Arrange these spheres with ample spacing on prepared baking sheets. Bake until edges transform to a golden tone and centers maintain a slightly underdone appearance, typically 10-12 minutes.
- Allow cookies to rest briefly on the baking sheet, permitting initial setting, then carefully transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling and final texture development.
Notes
- Browned butter adds a rich, nutty depth that elevates the cookie’s overall flavor profile beyond standard recipes.
- Chilling the dough develops more complex taste and prevents excessive spreading during baking, creating a perfectly structured cookie.
- Espresso powder intensifies chocolate notes without adding significant coffee flavor, making the cookies more sophisticated and nuanced.
- For gluten-free adaptation, swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, ensuring the same tender texture and delicious results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg