Description
Warm holiday charms fill these delightful Gingerbread Latte Cookies, blending espresso-infused dough with classic gingerbread spices. Festive bites promise rich caffeine comfort that melts perfectly on winter afternoons, inviting you to savor each spiced, coffee-kissed crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (dark or light)
- 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
Spices and Leavening:
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder
Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup molasses
- White granulated sugar (for rolling)
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons espresso or strong coffee
Instructions
- Craft a flavor-packed dry mixture by whisking flour, ground clove, ginger, cinnamon, espresso powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Reserve this aromatic blend for later.
- Transform butter, brown sugar, and white sugar into a light, fluffy cream by beating vigorously for 2 minutes using an electric mixer at high speed.
- Introduce egg, vanilla extract, and molasses to the creamed mixture, blending until silky and uniform in texture.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring minimally to prevent tough cookie texture. Stop mixing immediately once ingredients are just incorporated.
- Utilize an ice cream scoop to portion dough onto a baking sheet. Refrigerate for 1 hour, allowing flavors to intensify and dough to firm up, which ensures optimal cookie shape and depth of taste.
- Heat oven to 350°F. Roll each chilled dough ball in granulated sugar, positioning them 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes until edges become firm and centers remain slightly tender. Rest cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
Notes
- Customize the spice blend by adjusting ground ginger, cloves, and cinnamon to suit personal taste preferences and create a unique flavor profile.
- Swap out espresso powder with instant coffee for a milder caffeine kick or use decaf options for those sensitive to stimulants.
- Enhance moisture and texture by using room temperature ingredients, especially butter and egg, which blend more smoothly and create a softer cookie consistency.
- Make the recipe gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum for better structure and binding.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg