Tuesday, August 31, 2010

TWD - Espresso Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

I love, love, love shortbread cookies. The sandy, buttery, melt in your mouth goodness that shortbread cookies are all about. And, since finding Dorie's cookbook, I have learned to bake my own crumbly, crunchy shortbread cookies. This week, Donna of Life's too short not to eat dessert first (which is one of my motto's btw!) chose Dorie's Espresso Chocolate Shortbread Cookies. And, what a wonderful choice it was. Thank you so very much Donna! Not only was it a big hit for me, I shared it with the gang at Starbucks and even with a couple of favorite regulars and everyone who tried one Loved! them. Can you say Christmas presents? :)

Super easy to put together. I even made it easier on myself by using mini chocolate chips. I used two packages of Via, Starbucks instant coffee (really good to drink and great in recipes) (And, no, I don't get commission!). The hardest part for me was leaving the dough in the fridge for several hours to chill. Oh, and waiting for the wonderful smelling, as they baked, cookies to bake.

The finished product was a perfect shortbread cookie with a strong coffee flavor and just a hint of chocolate, in spite of how loaded with chips each cookie looks. The espresso was definitely the dominating flavor. Which was fine with me. The only person who really wasn't crazy about these was the hubby. He is not a big coffee drinker and found the flavor to be too strong for his tastes. But, he was in the minority. :)

So once again I would like to send out a great big thanks! to Donna for her choice. This recipe would lend itself to indefinite variations and I can't wait to try some other combinations.  Like cinnamon and apple bits. Or chocolate and peanut butter chips. Or pecans and chocolate chips. Hmmm, wonder if it's too late to start a batch now. :) If you would like to see what the other TWD'ers did, go here.


I will leave you with a couple of pictures of my last two cakes. The mermaid cake was for my Starbucks boss's little girls. They were having a combination birthday/pool party Saturday. And the presents cake was for a co-worker of my daughter. A baby shower cake for the soon to be mom.

21 comments:

  1. These look fab Susan! And those cakes are amazing! I really like the bow detail on the baby shower cake...so much work! :)

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  2. Gosh, I could not come up with a cute way to display the cookies so I just piled them up and shot a photo...don't go see it. Yours are so cute this way...so creative. LOVE LOVE LOVE those cakes...more of that creative thing going on over there. Very nice!

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  3. Your cookies look wonderful! And those cakes are amazing! Very well done!

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  4. Ciao Susan ! I love the photos and even more love your mermaid: it's such a nice design !! Great cakes !

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  5. Your cookies look wonderful! IM glad the Starbucks crew liked them too! I used a Hersheys cookie and cream candy bar in mine...they melted in your mouth..so yummy!
    Your cakes are cute!

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  6. Gorgeous cakes and cute cookies! Your post has officially made me crave something with sugar. The cookies actually remind me of a Starbucks drink!

    Thanks for the mini Via review, I've been debating on whether or not to buy it. :-D

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  7. Your cookies look FABULOUS!!

    And the cakes are too darn cute!

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  8. These shortbread look wonderful! So good with a delicious cup of Starbucks coffee.

    Hope you are doing well.

    Love the cakes!

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  9. I agree the cookies were fabulous. Your cakes are so cute!
    Mimi

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  10. The cookies look good, and the cakes are adorable!

    Mary

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  11. Oh! Those cakes are so fantastic!! Great job. I really liked these cookies, and I'm not a fan of coffee. I agree about including them on the cookie trays come Christmas, too.

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  12. Great-looking cookies. I love shortbread, too, in any flavor combination, but coffee & chocolate? yummy

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  13. great job - they look delicious.

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  14. Your ideas for variations all sound yummy. And it wouldn't have occurred to me to use Via in place of the espresso powder--I'll have to remember that.

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  15. What a perfect cookie to bring to Starbucks! Really cute cakes too!

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  16. Your cakes are phenomenal. They are on target with the topic and beautiful.

    I didn't make the cookies. I think, I needed a break. Your cookies make me sorry that I skipped it. I guess, I still could make them.

    Susan, you are quite a baker.

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  17. Susan,
    As always your photos are great. The cookies look fantastic, but those cakes!!!! Thanks for baking with me this week.

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  18. Hey, great cake work!
    I loved these cookies, too. I used hazelnut flavoring instead of coffee with dark chocolate that had a touch of sea salt. They were flippin' good. I can't wait to try other combos, too!

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  19. GREAT looking cookies. I am sure everyone did love them.

    Your cakes are adorable. Not easy doing the detail you did.

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  20. What adorable cakes! I wish I had the patience to decorate like that. The presents cake is just gorgeous!

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  21. Seeing these cookies again makes me want one! But those cakes...those cakes..they're works of art!

    I hope everything is OK with you. We miss you!

    xo'Leslie

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Please feel free to comment. I love hearing from others.