Coffee Cookies

A bittersweet baked delight made with coffee.

By Rounak Lama

As a child, I always found baking to be one of the more challenging methods in cooking. It was only recently that I got the hang of baking. One of the very first recipes I somehow managed to recreate properly without burning was the coffee cookies. Over time, I’ve improvised the recipe, so as to be able to bake these cookies with ingredients that are easily available at home. The easy availability of ingredients makes it a perfect recipe for the lockdown. Happy baking!

Preparation time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Resting time: 45 minutes

Servings: 15–20 cookies

Ingredients:

· 1 cup of granulated sugar

· ½ cup of unsalted butter (softened)

· 2 eggs

· 2 cups of all-purpose flour

· 2 tbsp of instant coffee

· 1 ½ tsp of baking powder

· ¼ tsp of salt

Method:

1. Take the butter and the sugar in a large bowl. Beat using an electric mixer on medium speed, or a whisk until creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, until the eggs are properly incorporated.

2. Sieve the flour, baking powder, salt, and coffee powder.

3. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients into the butter-sugar mixture, mixing properly to avoid the formation of lumps. Mix thoroughly to a doughy consistency. Avoid over-mixing.

4. Wrap the dough in a cling foil and let rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

5. Preheat oven to 180°C.

6. Once the dough is rested, grease your palms and roll the dough into small balls, about the size of ping pong balls.

7. Grease a baking tray, or line a baking tray with parchment paper. Slightly flatten the dough, pressing it with your palms, and place them on the tray.

8. Bake in the oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown and the edges are set.

9. Cool for about 5 minutes, remove the cookies from the baking tray and place them on a wire rack. Let cool for about 30–45 minutes.

Serve with milk or tea. You may store the cookie dough to be used later for about least 2 weeks. Make sure the dough is properly refrigerated. The baked cookies may be stored for about 2 months. Store the cookies in a dry, air-tight container.