Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder (can use Starbucks Via)
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Mix-ins and Toppings
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- Nutella (optional, for frosting)
- Sprinkles (optional, for decoration)
- Big, flaky sea salt (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly spray an 8×8-inch brownie pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter with the light brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture, beating until fully combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour, salt, instant espresso powder, baking powder, and baking soda over the wet ingredients.
- Mix Until Just Combined: Beat the mixture only until the dry ingredients are incorporated, being careful not to over-mix to keep the cookies tender.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Stir the chocolate chips into the batter evenly.
- Press and Bake: Press the cookie batter evenly into the prepared brownie pan and bake for 15 minutes. Look for lightly browned edges but avoid over-baking to maintain softness.
- Cool Completely: Remove from oven and allow the cookie slab to cool completely in the pan, which makes cutting easier.
- Cut Shapes: Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out 4 cookies from the cooled slab.
- Decorate: Optionally frost the cut-out cookies with Nutella and decorate with sprinkles and flaky sea salt for a festive touch.
Notes
- Use instant espresso powder for a subtle coffee flavor that enhances the chocolate but can be omitted if preferred.
- Allow cookies to cool fully before cutting to retain shape and prevent crumbling.
- Pressing batter into a pan creates a thick cookie slab ideal for uniform cut-outs.
- Optional toppings like Nutella and sprinkles add extra flavor and festive appeal.
- Ensure not to over-bake; the edges should be only lightly browned to keep cookies soft.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American