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Home » Recipes » Cookie Recipes

Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

Published: January 6, 2023 Modified: Jan 6, 2023 by Cambrea Gordon. This post may contain affiliate links.

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espresso chocolate chip cookies pinterest pin.
espresso chocolate chip cookies pinterest pin.
espresso chocolate chip cookies pinterest pin.

These espresso chocolate chip cookies are a grown-up version of a classic chocolate chip cookie! Made with browned butter, espresso grounds, and packed with chocolate, they are the best cookies for coffee lovers!

espresso chocolate chip cookies topped with flaky sea salt.

I never thought I would love an espresso-flavored dessert more than my espresso brownies and coffee chocolate cake, but these espresso chocolate chip cookies have become my newest obsession!

I started with my favorite brown butter chocolate chip cookie as the base, add ground espresso, and they turned into these delicious little coffee cookies!

The browned butter and espresso bring a gourmet richness to the cookie dough that makes them super addicting and perfect for any occasion.

For more coffee-flavored recipes, try Coffee Chocolate Cake, Coffee Chocolate Chip Blondies, and Coffee Banana Cake.

Jump to:
  • why you'll love this recipe
  • ingredients & substitutions
  • recipe instructions
  • expert baking tips
  • storage & freezing
  • faq's
  • more cookie recipes to try
  • Recipe 📖
  • Reviews
a coffee cookie topped with chocolate chips with a bite taken out of it.

why you'll love this recipe

  • Chocolate and coffee are a match made in heaven! Coffee intensifies the chocolate flavor and also balances the bitter and acidic qualities it has.
  • Every bite is buttery, chewy, chocolatey, and full of espresso flavor.
  • No mixer is required! This recipe uses 10 simple ingredients and comes together without a stand mixer.

ingredients & substitutions

Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card below!

ingredients needed to make espresso chocolate chip cookies.
  • Espresso: Espresso grounds or espresso powder is best for this recipe. I don't recommend coarsely ground coffee or it will taste gritty when you eat them. My favorite trick is opening up an espresso pod from my coffee machine and using that!
  • Butter: While this recipe calls for unsalted butter, salted butter can be used in equal parts. You may need to eliminate half of the salt from the recipe to prevent them from being too salty.
  • Chocolate chips: You can use milk, dark, semi-sweet chocolate chips (as used in this recipe), or a combination! You can also play with using chopped chocolate or chocolate chunks for big pools of melted chocolate.
a stack of espresso chocolate chip cookies cut in half to show the melty chocolate.

recipe instructions

Before you start, line two baking sheets with parchment paper. You will need a standard (two tablespoons) cookie scoop, a large mixing bowl, and a whisk to make the cookie dough.

STEP ONE: Brown the butter. In a stainless steel pan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat stirring occasionally until browned. The time can vary, 9-10 minutes is perfect in my kitchen!

Once the color is amber brown, scrape all of the butter into a mixing bowl, mix in the espresso, then set it aside to cool to room temperature. This takes about 20-30 minutes in my kitchen.

STEP TWO: Whisk in the sugars. Whisk in the light brown sugar and granulated sugar for one minute until well combined.

a process collage of the steps for making espresso cookies.

STEP THREE: Mix in the wet ingredients. Whisk in the room temperature egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until just combined.

STEP FOUR: Mix in the dry ingredients. Fold in the all-purpose flour, baking soda, chocolate chips, and salt until just combined.

espresso chocolate chip cookie dough balls on a baking tray.

STEP FIVE: Scoop and bake! Scoop the dough onto one of the prepared baking trays. Chill the tray in the freezer for at least 1-2 hours, overnight is best!

When you are ready to bake them, preheat the oven to 350 F/180 C. Space the cookies 2-3 inches apart and bake the trays one at a time for 10-12 minutes.

Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with flaky sea salt if desired. Let the tray cool on a wire cooling rack before removing.

expert baking tips

  • Use a kitchen scale. Baking with a scale is much more accurate than cup measurements. To convert this recipe, click the "metric" button next to the ingredients title on the recipe card.
  • Chill the dough overnight. I know it is so tempting to bake them the same day, but the magic happens overnight! The cookies will have a better texture and flavor with an overnight chill.
  • Scoot the cookies after baking. Sometimes the cookies will bake lopsided. As soon as you take them out of the oven, place a round cookie cutter around the cookie and scoot the edges to make them perfectly round!
  • Use good quality espresso/coffee. You will have the best results and cookie flavor with high-quality ground coffee.
espresso chocolate chip cookie with flaky sea salt on a baking tray.

storage & freezing

  • Room temperature: Store the baked espresso cookies in an airtight container or ziplock bag for 3-4 days.
  • Freezer: Once scooped and frozen, transfer the cookie dough balls to an airtight container or freezer bag. They will stay fresh for 1-3 months!

faq's

Can I use instant espresso powder instead of ground espresso?

Definitely! Make sure to stir it well into the hot butter so it dissolves properly.

Are coffee cookies caffeinated?

Because these espresso chocolate chip cookies use espresso, they do contain a small amount of caffeine. Use decaf coffee beans if you are sensitive to caffeine!

What are espresso grounds?

Espresso grounds are very finely ground coffee beans that are used for making shots of brewed espresso.

Can I use a different-sized cookie scoop?

Yes! You can use a large 3-tablespoon scoop for about large 14 cookies. Add at least 1-2 minutes to the baking time!

Can I use instant coffee instead of ground espresso?

I have not tested this recipe with instant coffee but would love to hear how they turn out!

more cookie recipes to try

  • Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
  • Cookie Dough Crunch Bars
  • Birthday Cake Cookies
  • Pop Tart Cookie Bars

If you tried this or any other recipe on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below, I love hearing from you! Also, please leave a star rating while you're there! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can check it out!

Recipe 📖

espresso chocolate chip cookies sprinkled with flaky sea salt.
5 from 13 votes
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Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

These espresso chocolate chip cookies are a grown-up version of a classic chocolate chip cookie! Made with browned butter, espresso grounds, and packed with chocolate, they are the best cookies for coffee lovers!
Servings 23 cookies
Prep 2 hrs 50 mins
Cook 10 mins
Total 3 hrs
Course : Dessert
Cuisine : American
Author : Cambrea Gordon

Equipment

  • standard two tablespoon cookie scoop
Need Metric Measurements?Use the button options below to toggle between US cups and Metric grams!

Ingredients 
 

  • 14 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon ground espresso
  • ½ cup + 2 tbsp light brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk room temperature
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 â…” cup + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate or mini chocolate chips

Instructions

  • In a stainless steel pan, cook the butter over medium heat until the butter solids at the bottom are an amber brown color. (For me this takes about 10 minutes!) Scrape all of the butter into your mixing bowl.
    14 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Stir the espresso grounds then set the bowl aside to cool to room temperature. (In my kitchen, this takes about 20-30 minutes!).
    1 tablespoon ground espresso
  • Whisk in the sugar and brown sugar for one minute until combined.
    ½ cup + 2 tablespoon light brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar
  • Whisk in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla.
    1 large egg, 1 large egg yolk, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Fold in the flour, baking soda, salt, and chocolate until just combined.
    1 ⅔ cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, ¾ cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate or mini chocolate chips
  • Scoop the dough onto a parchment-lined baking tray. Then chill the tray in the freezer for a minimum of 1-2 hours (overnight for the best flavor and texture!).
  • When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 F/180 C. Bake the cookies spaced at least two inches apart for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden but the middle is still pale and puffy.
  • Let the tray cool on a wire cooling rack and enjoy!

Notes

Step-by-step process photos are provided above, in the body of this post.
 
  • Use a kitchen scale. Baking with a scale is much more accurate than cup measurements. To convert this recipe, click the "metric" button next to the ingredients title on the recipe card.
  • Chill the dough overnight. I know it is so tempting to bake them the same day, but the magic happens overnight! The cookies will have a better texture and flavor with an overnight chill.
  • Scoot the cookies after baking. Sometimes the cookies will bake lopsided. As soon as you take them out of the oven, place a round cookie cutter around the cookie and scoot the edges to make them perfectly round!
  • Use good quality espresso/coffee. You will have the best results and cookie flavor with high-quality ground coffee.
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 181mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 371IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1mg

The calorie information provided for the recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the calories listed is not guaranteed.

This recipe was originally published in June 2021. It has since been updated with new photos and an improved recipe in January 2023.

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Reader Interactions

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    Recipe Rating




  1. hajra says

    March 26, 2023 at 4:35 pm

    5 stars
    we enjoyed these a lot, thank you so much for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Cambrea Gordon says

      March 27, 2023 at 10:15 am

      So glad to hear that Hajra! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Kaileigh says

    March 21, 2023 at 8:11 am

    5 stars
    lovely recipe grate with a glass of coffee!

    Reply
  3. Dana says

    August 10, 2022 at 6:26 pm

    5 stars
    My god these cookies are SO. FREAKIN'. GOOD. I can't get over how well they turned out! So gooey and perfect!!

    Reply
  4. Elizabeth says

    August 10, 2022 at 6:13 pm

    5 stars
    The pictures have me drooling! These look delicious and I can't wait to try them.

    Reply
  5. Holley says

    August 10, 2022 at 5:54 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my gooey goodness are these cookies delicious! Can't get enough of these!!!

    Reply
  6. Amy says

    August 10, 2022 at 5:51 pm

    5 stars
    These cookies are amazing! The texture is perfection and they were so easy to make!

    Reply
  7. Sisley White - Sew White says

    August 10, 2022 at 5:29 pm

    5 stars
    Coffee and a cookie is my go-to favourite thing at the moment but now I can have cookies with coffee inside! So delicious.

    Reply
  8. Luseidy says

    April 12, 2022 at 2:14 am

    How many ounces are each cookie before baking? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Cambrea Gordon says

      April 12, 2022 at 3:27 pm

      Each cookie is just less than 2 ounces, about 48 grams each! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Mariah says

    June 29, 2021 at 9:57 pm

    5 stars
    WOW the espresso flavor of these cookies was incredible. We loved the graham cracker crumbs it made the cookie a nice honey flavor and we added extra chocolate chips to ours!

    Reply

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Hi friend, I'm Cambrea!

As a professionally trained pastry chef, I'm sharing bakery-worthy treats both sweet and savory that are unique twists on classic recipes. My reliable recipes are sure to impress any crowd and make all of your dessert dreams come true!

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