Espresso Martini Cookies

Ahh, the beloved espresso martini. I may be dating myself here, but I remember when these were all the rage in clubs. As soon as I was able to order them at the bar, I was there, feeling super fancy with my coffee-flavored drink. Excited to re-create this recipe and revisit a classic, I wanted to focus on the espresso flavors and how well they complement chocolate. I’m a huge fan of espresso, and I drink my one cafecito daily, so I had a good time really testing this recipe out and putting a twist on my favorite drink. And two failed batches and a big win later, I ended up with these beauties! Tender and rich dark chocolate cookies get a hit of espresso in each bite thanks to instant espresso powder and chopped chocolate-covered espresso beans folded throughout the dough. Finished with a small hit of flaky sea salt, each bite is similar to the sweetness and depth you’d taste in an espresso martini. Personally, I’m not fond of cloyingly sweet desserts, so I really enjoy these cookies, since they're not super sweet—the bitterness from the espresso definitely helps balance things out. I find that these cookies are a great compromise for those who want a little something sweet without fully indulging their epic sweet tooth. I actually enjoyed a cookie with a hot cup of coffee for a quick bite one afternoon, but that’s definitely something optional for those who don’t want to partake in too much caffeine!

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet