Day 7. Wow, the 12 days of Christmas baking are really zooming by. This recipe is all about chocolate, which is a sure hit this time of year. These little Chocolate Butter Cookies are delicious plain or topped with a chocolate glaze. They have both great flavor and great texture that will melt in your mouth.
"Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under a tree." -Charlotte Carpenter
Chocolate Butter Cookies
This is a recipe from Cooks Illustrated Chocolate Cookies. I love using their simple cookie recipes during the holiday gift giving. Their recipes have been tested hundreds of times and they are always a safe bet. I don't ever worry about a poorly written recipe when using their recipes. This chocolate cookie is slightly crisp, yet tender, and packs a big chocolate flavor thanks to the cocoa powder.
These can easily be packaged on a cookie plate. If you are really creative, you could stack them and package them in a decorative plastic with a big bow to give as a gift.
Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter
- Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
- Espresso Powder
- Sugar
- Salt
- Eggs
- Vanilla Extract
- All Purpose Flour
- Bittersweet Chocolate
- Corn Syrup
How To Make Chocolate Butter Cookies
First, in a medium saucepan melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add in cocoa powder and espresso powder. Stir until the mixture forms a smooth paste. Set aside to cool for 15-20 minutes.
In a bowl use the stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix the remaining 16 tablespoons of butter, sugar, salt, and cooled cocoa mixture on high speed for about one minute until well combined and fluffy. At medium speed mix in the egg yolks and vanilla. With the mixer running on low, add flour in 3 additions. Wait until each addition of flour is well incorporated before adding the next. Keep mixing until dough forms into a cohesive ball.
Place the dough onto a flat work surface and dive into three 4-inch disks. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 60 minutes until the dough is firm, yet malleable.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Move the oven rack to middle position and heat the oven to 375°F. Roll out one dough disk between two large sheets of parchment paper until it is of even thickness, 3/16 inch. Peel parchment off one side of the dough and cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter.
Place on a baking sheet about one inch apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies offer slight resistance to touch. Cool for 5 minutes and then use a spatula to transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
How to Make Bittersweet Chocolate Glaze
Melt 4 ounces of bittersweet chocolate with 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter and whisk until smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of syrup and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix until smooth and shiny. Use the back of a spoon to spread a scant teaspoon of glaze up to the edge of the cookies. Allow the freshly glazed cookies to dry for at least 20 minutes. Now they're ready to eat and enjoy!
Special Equipment to Make The Cookies
You want your dough to be of even thickness when rolling out. I like to use a rolling pin with thickness guides to ensure I roll the dough out evenly. I used a simple Christmas Tree cutter for my cookies, but use any cookie cutter you have.
Cookie Tips
- Butter should be soft enough that your finger will leave an indent if pressed into the butter, but not soft enough that your finger can press all the way through.
- Be sure to measure your ingredients properly. Too much flour is a key factor in dry cookies.
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper, or a Silpat.
- This cookie dough freezes well. Wrap your 4" disk well or place in an airtight container and place in the freezer. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator.
- These cookies will keep for about a week in an airtight container for about a week.
If you are catching up on days one through six, here is where you can find all the other holiday recipes. I hope you enjoy this recipe for chocolate butter cookies as much as I do and don't forget to save some for yourself!
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Chocolate Butter Cookies
Ingredients
Cooks Illustrated - Chocolate Butter Cookies
- 20 tablespoons unsalted butter softened to cool room temperature
- ½ cup Dutch processed cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
Chocolate Glaze
- 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Add cocoa powder and espresso powder; stir until mixture forms smooth paste. Set aside to cool 15 - 20 minutes.
- In bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix remaining 16 tablespoons butter, sugar, salt and cooled cocoa mixture on high speed until well combined and fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Add yolks and vanilla and mix on medium speed until combined.
- With mixer running on low, add flour in 3 additions, waiting until each addition is incorporated before adding next. Continue to mix until dough forms cohesive ball.
- Turn dough onto work surface; divide into three 4-inch disks.
- Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate until dough is firm, yet malleable, 60 minutes.
- Line large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375°F.
- Roll out 1 dough disk between 2 large sheets of parchment paper to even thickness of 3/16 inch. Peel parchment from one side of dough and cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters.
- Place on prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Bake until cookies offer slight resistance to touch, 10 - 12 minutes.
- Cool for 5 minutes, then using spatula, transfer cookies to wire rack and cool completely.
Bittersweet Chocolate Glaze
- Melt 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate with 4 tablespoons unsalted butter and whisk until smooth.
- Add 2 tablespoons corn syrup and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and mix until smooth and shiny.
- Use back of spoon to spread scant teaspoon glaze to edge of cookie.
- Allow glazed cookies to dry at least 20 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Here are a few of our favorite holiday cookie recipes:
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Nicole Shillings says
Ooooh these look soooooo decadent! I wish I was a better baker, lol! Maybe I'll convince my mom to make these this year.
serena says
They aren't hard at all. Enjoy!
Carolyn says
These look so decadent! I am going to make some cookies to give to neighbors and friends and these look so good.
Jeanine says
Oh my goodness. These look incredible. I can't eat sweets anymore but my family would LOVE these. I will be making them! So good.
Cindy Ingalls says
These cookies not only look delicious, they are so beautiful. They are also so unexpected which I love. You don't often see chocolate Xmas trees.
Andrea says
Hooray! This is such a timely post for me to read. I was just searching for a new cookie recipe and this looks like a winner. I love chocolate cookies!
serena says
Thanks! Enjoy 🙂
Quirky Homemaker says
They look and sound yummy! And how cute are the ones you made for a cookie exchange. The trees are very cute!
serena says
Thanks so much!
Rachel says
I am always looking for a new cookie recipe. These look great. Thank you for sharing. I love butter cookies and chocolate!
Shoshana Sue says
For someone who isn't that much into chocolate, I will admit that these butter cookies have had me salivating and I just want to stuff my face with them!
serena says
They are pretty tasty and make a great holiday gift.
Jessica T says
These really look delicious. I have never made chocolate butter cookies before. I am going to have to try this!
serena says
They are delicious. Enjoy 🙂
Erica says
These look amazing and I've never had a cookie quite like this. It's been a while since I had a butter cookie, let alone a chocolate butter cookie. What a great idea.
serena says
Thanks so much!
StylishGeek says
This fantastic chocolate butter cookies recipe is just what I need! I was contemplating on what to bake and give as gifts. Thanks for sharing!
serena says
Makes such a great gift. Enjoy!
Krystal Butherus says
I've never heard of chocolate butter cookies before. They look very tasty. Bookmarked!
serena says
Thanks so much 🙂
AnnMarie John says
I never thought there was a way to improve butter cookies and then I saw this recipe! Definitely adding chocolate is an awesome idea!
serena says
Makes them so much nicer! Although I am a chocolate lover 🙂
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
These look so good! I love the idea of making chocolate cookies for cut outs. Fun!
serena says
Quick and easy. Great for the holidays.
Laura @ MommyDearest says
These look so good. I want to reach through the screen and grab one. You had me at Chocolate.
serena says
LOL! Thanks so much 🙂
Angela Tolsma says
Oh these sound so good. I have never had dark chocolate cookies with expresso in it before and it definitely sounds like I need to try it!
serena says
Give them a try. Please share how they turn out. Enjoy 🙂
Kristi McAllister says
Mmmm Mmmm GOOD! These cookies are adorable and you're right, they would make great gifts. Thanks for sharing the recipe! I pinned it for future baking! Merry Christmas!
serena says
Thanks so much!
Tara says
These look amazing and came out so perfectly. I really need to get some shaped cookie cutters.
serena says
They definitely help some with the look. But if you are willing to experiment you can make some fun cookies with simple square, triangle or circle cookies
Melissa Chapman says
Those cookies are making me hungry for chocolate and cookies. I am not a great baker but these look too good to pass up before the holidays
serena says
They are pretty simple and make great gifts 🙂
robin rue says
Mmm, mmm, mmm! These cookies sound so good. I love a good cookie and I actually have a cookie swap coming up next week, so these are perfect.
serena says
These are great for a cookie swap! Enjoy