Espresso Cookies

I’ve got your next baking project, and it’s these chewy chocolate espresso cookies! These are easy to make, quick to bake, delicious, and they will make your whole kitchen smell like a chocolate factory.

What I love about these espresso cookies is they have that perfect cookie texture; soft and almost gooey at the very center but a slightly crispy diameter.

And as an avid coffee lover, these have such a fun flavor profile as they mostly taste ultra chocolate-y (think velvet chocolate) and a little bit like coffee too.

What does espresso powder do in cookies?

Espresso powder is sometimes added to chocolate baked goods (chocolate cookies, chocolate cake, etc.) to enhance the chocolate flavor.

It both brings it out and adds a depth to the final flavor. It’s a great trick to have up your baking sleeve, so if you are on the fence about buying espresso powder, it won’t go to waste if you enjoy baking.

Can I use instant coffee instead of espresso powder?

While they are not exactly the same thing, you can substitute them in this recipe if needed. But I prefer the flavor of espresso powder.

And like I said, it’s useful for all sorts of baking projects, so it doesn’t have to go to waste if that’s your concern.

There are lots of different brands of espresso powder, but I like this one from King Arthur. But any espresso powder you can find at whatever grocery store you shop will likely work just fine.

If you’re unsure where to look, I normally see this in the coffee/tea area of the store, but it could also be among the baking ingredients.

For these espresso cookies, I like to use chopped dark chocolate instead of chocolate chips because I like how the texture is a little different (and the chocolate gets more distributed throughout each cookie).

But, if you want to use chocolate chips instead, that’s OK, they will still be delicious.

I also like to top these with some melted chocolate and flaky sea salt. This is totally optional, but I think it adds a kind of bakery feel to these.

Plus, it makes them just a little prettier—otherwise they are pretty plain looking. They will be tasty either way, but if you’re making these to gift you might want to dress them up a little, so that’s what I’d recommend.

If you’re looking for more chocolate-centered baking projects:

If you make these espresso cookies, let me know how it goes! You can leave a comment below, or if you share it on social media, tag us so I can see. xo. Emma