Before we begin here today I would like to say that although these might not have the “Perfect” swirl to them they are by far one of the best cookies ever. I have said over and over again that I am a cook and baker but no decorator. I admit my desserts are sometimes seriously lacking in the pretty division but one thing for sure I know how to bake and bake these mocha swirl cookies I did.
As soon and I mean as soon as I saw the picture for Mocha Swirl Cookies I was fascinated by the look and taste. Dainty little cookies with a perfect combination of chocolate, sugar and coffee all “swirled” up into one slice of pure goodness is exactly what I look for in my cookies. We do remember that I am a cookie-aholic, don’t we? The only problem with this recipe is it calls for more time that I typically like to allow for in my cookie making process. You see, I am EXTREMELY slightly impatient and when I realized that I would have to wait for the different layers to almost freeze to perfection then thaw then refrigerate again, I was a little turned off. But not to worry! I persevered in the name of all things cookie or was that all things pregnant?
Either way the result was well worth the patience in training lesson. My gift in the end was a thick, chewy slightly crispy cookie with hints of mocha sprinkled throughout. Its like a sugar cookie meets a tall mocha latte with an extra shot! DIVINE and rather contagious I might add.
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Mocha Swirl Cookies
courtesy of Sprinkle Bakes
Ingredients:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp instant coffee (I used Starbucks’ VIA)
2 oz. Dark chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter until creamy.
- Gradually add sugar to butter while mixer is running.
- Add egg and vanilla, beat well. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl and mix again until incorporated.
- With mixer on low speed, gradually add in flour mixture until just combined.
- Remove dough from mixer and divide into two even portions. Dough should not be sticky.
- Return half of the dough to the mixer and add the instant coffee. Mix until combined and dough is speckled with coffee granules. Use finely powdered instant coffee like Starbucks’ VIA, or you may choose to grind standard instant coffee finer in a food processor. Espresso powder would also work well in this recipe. Remove coffee dough from mixer.
- Return the other half of dough to the mixer and add the melted chocolate. Mix until well combined.
- Roll out each dough separately between two sheets of wax paper – approximately 1/4″ thick. Each piece should be a 9 x14″ rectangle. Chill on baking sheets in the refrigerator, at least 1 hour.
- When dough is thoroughly chilled, top chocolate dough with coffee dough. Gently press together the two dough pieces using a rolling pin.
- Let dough stand at room temperature until malleable.
- Use a knife to even one side (down the 14″ length) of the dough. This gives you a nice even start for the spiral.
- Roll dough tightly, jelly-roll fashion, using the wax paper to guide the dough. The chocolate portion of dough usually tears a little when rolling. When this happens – STOP- and pinch the dough back together before you continue to roll. Remember, this is not a race to see how fast you can roll the dough. Do this slowly and deliberately.
- Cover the dough roll in wax paper, then in a length of plastic wrap. Chill thoroughly, at least 1 hour. Turn the dough halfway through chilling to make sure it doesn’t become flat on one side.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove dough from refrigerator, uncover and slice in half with a sharp knife. Place half of dough back in the refrigerator to keep cold.
- Cut dough into 1/4″ rounds.
- Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for 2-3 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Repeat with remaining dough.
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My hats off to you for your courage and patience for trying this recipe. They look and sound absolutely delicious. I wish we were neighbors so you could share the fruit of your labors with me. I’m not sure that I’m as courageous or as patient as you are, my friend! Have a beautiful weekend!
I am always just a tad bit disheartened when I think I’m about to get cookies in twenty minutes and then I realize the recipe says I need to refrigerate for hours. But now that I know this ahead of time, I can plan when I start to bake around my cravings! As in…i’d better get in the kitchen immediately cause these look great!
I love your swirls—their non-“perfect” look appeal to me, because that indicates hand-crafted goodness. Delightful!
I LOVE chocolate and vanilla swirl cookies (the coffee sounds delish). This recipe sounds fab!
They look fabulous! I especially love #13 in your directions 🙂
I beg to differ! My first thought upon clicking on this post was, “Wow, how did she get that swirl so good?!” Don’t slight your own talents!! 🙂
Oh lordy! Are you sure you weren’t thinking_ that is not a swirl? LOL! Thanks for the support:)
These sound amazing and look beautiful!!!
You so had me at the name and then when I saw the picture I was wanting to take one of those scrumptious looking cookies off that plate and stick into my mouth watering mouth. Yum these look so good an dI think they are pretty you did amazing!
They look amazing, two cookies in one, can’t go wrong.
I think they look wonderful! I’m in a baking mood, so I’ll definitely be making these this weekend!
you’re wrong, the dishes that you cooked and your cakes do not lack the prettiness that you mentioned. Beautiful cookies! i’m really impressed by your work here! they sound really good, i have to bookmark this recipe!
Oh thanks girl, that means alot!
Ooooh these so remind me of my grandma (in a good way). She had a very special recipe for swirl cookies which I may share during the holidays. I love that yours are mocha. So yummy!!!
I think your cookies are very pretty! I’m sure they taste even better too—the dough all rolled up before you baked it? I can see myself gnawing at that, lol. I love cookie dough!
If only I wasn’t prego! I would have tackled that dough and then there would have been nothing left to bake- guess it was a good thing I was pregnant at the time!
Umm, they look pretty perfect to me! And sound delicious! Yum!
You are nuts these are beautiful. I know mine would not even come close to these beauties.
Hey, I think you did just fine with the swirl! The cookies look great to me. And trust me, I’m extremely impatient as well. That quality doesn’t really bode well with baking, ha!
What a pretty cookie, Jessica.
Jessica, you are kidding, this swirl looks perfect to me! You don’t want to see my swirl (if I ever make this)….people might confuse it’s a random design (messy style). I wish I was pregnant and have all the good excuse to eat these delicious looking cookies. I believe you, these look REALLY delicious. Have a great weekend and enjoy being pregnant! 😉
Another scrumptious coffee recipe??? YAY!!
I actually called Ryan this morning to ask if he could bring home mocha powder so that I can make banana mocha bread… I’d love to use it in this recipe too… as an addition to the VIA (which of course we have in our pantry :)).
banana mocha bread. now that sounds fantastic! I bet you could do that with roasted bananas and it would be even more delish! What recipe are you using? Would love it
OH Jessica these are just perfect!!!!! The swirls…. God these looks awesomely beautiful and delicious!!!!
I am seriously craving these…
Hats off to you, being pregnant and a toddler mommy and still making these amazing cookies with so much patience. You Rock.
P.S I just saw your fish nugget recipe, on kids blog… totally bookmarked.
I love cajun seasoning , so I am sure it will be awesome.
Take care,
Have a great weekend.
They look great to me, wouldn’t change a thing! Well, maybe I’d put a few more on my plate.
I’ve seen a version of this cookies with butter and cinnamon, and mocha flavour sounds even better. I’m just about to make some cookies for my daughter, thanks for the idea!
Butter and cinnamon swirl cookies- now that sounds even better than mine! I must find that recipe- do you have it?
Jessica, those look delicious!
Jessica, u kidding me here! They look just so beautiful and neatly swirled. You have done a great job here dear. I am loving those completely.
Swirls intimidate me because I have no patience. 🙂 But since these sound so good with the coffee and chocolate in them, I think I’ll have to at least try. Cookies are my most favorite thing to bake, and cooler weather calls for a warm oven! 🙂
No way! These look so professional! I’m not too good at cookie baking. They usually taste good but they come out looking so bad- I’m scared to try these 🙂
If i can do it you can. I have seen your baked good on your site before- they are always fabulous
These look beautiful! You are a better decorator then you think!
Oh you are much better than I am but thanks! How are you doing these days?
These are such delightful cookies! You did a great job with the swirl! Looks delicious too!
I had to smile at the patience thing. I don’t have much patience either and I’m not pregnant. I think your cookies are lovely and I would be proud to present them to company, even the queen.
Sam
even the queen? That is saying alot! Thanks sweet friend but I am sure you could do better than I did
Patience is not one of my virtues, so I think I will have to hand this recipe off to my lovely wife because these cookies look/sound fantastic! Have a great weekend.
Yeah, patrick wouldn’t last one minute making these cookies. He is less patient than I am when it comes to cooking
I like the way your swirl turned out–it looks like a little heart in the middle! And these sound like the kind of cookie I would have to make and then give away, because I’d eat so many of them if I didn’t!
They look perfectly swirled to me…almost signature style. Can’t wait to bake some.
God Bless You
paul
Thanks Paul! I really appreciate it considering I was not happy with my decorating skills in the end:) Glad you stopped by
These look like the prettiest things ever. You are WAY too hard on yourself. There’s no way I could make anything that perfect looking. I’m a complete klutz when it comes to making pretty cookies and cakes. Definitely gonna have to try these. Soon.
What are you talking about? These look so delicious and love the swirl.
I too am extremely or no sorry slightly impatient but these cookies are well worth the wait! I think they are perfect!
Have a super Sunday.
🙂 Mandy
Hello! Just discovered your blog. These cookies look so pretty! -Karla
LOL! I’m in the same boat as you – I can bake (and cook for the most part), but ask me to decorate something and forget it. I think you’re right – it’s a patience thing and that’s something I certainly lack. 😉
My MIL makes these every Christmas, and I always love them! I may attempt it this year with my new mixer!
Oh yeah- your new mixer- do I need to come show you how to use it? LOL! Just an excuse to get over to your house so you can fill me in on your life and make me laugh
I think these look absolutely perfect!! I love the swirl! I too lack patience and completely bow to you for pulling this off! Because they look soo good I just may have to “force” myself to try this out!!
force yourself- i know you will do better than i did
Your swirls are beautiful!
That is exactly why I have never made my favorite cake- pumpkin roll cake. I just can’t do the swirl thing:)
Fantastic. A great looking cookie and I love the mocha flavor incorporated into it!
Swirl cookies happen to be one of my favorites but never added the coffe flavor Tibetan before so this should be quite interesting and simply delicious:)
hopped over from a friends blog – the pictures do speak a 1000 words! marvelous! Happy I stopped by
also, I write a veggie food blog and there is my first blog anniversary giveaway happening now – do check it out – Cheers, priya
Just beautiful and just the kind of cookie I love!
I have attempted swirl
Cookies before and they were not so good. Shall try your recipe next time!
I love these cookies. i think you did a great job. Trying them soon
Love it! Enough said! Love them, and must make them- or you could just send me some:)
New to your site. Love everything but especially these cookies! Amazing
so can I use regular brewed coffee if I don’t have instant espresso?