I love that Valentines Day is coming up because it is giving me lots of excuses to bake.
But for today, I just want to focus on Valentine's Day morning.
I baked a cookie that I thought would be perfect for the Average Joe. (that's a hint)
And, to be honest, its not my favorite recipe. Why would I even admit that? Well, because I am weird.
See, this cookie has freshly ground coffee in it.
And I just dont like coffee.
There. I said it. Can we still be friends?
But my hubby loves coffee and said he really enjoyed these... so, I dont know. If anyone makes them, please let me know what your verdict is.
I originally wanted to make a heart cookie that would fit on the edge of your coffee mug so I made up these templates not really knowing how it would work.
Does anyone else think that looks like the gingerbread man of death?
My template worked pretty well, except I decided to go back and cut out the slot where it fits on the cup after I had baked the cookie.
*If you do it this way as well, I recommend cutting it fairly soon after the cookie gets out of the oven, when it is still slightly warm and soft. When it hardens its difficult to cut without some cracking or breakage.
So it actually worked pretty well. Except I sorta couldn't get the image of the evil sabertoothe gingerbread man out of my head, so I tried making some plain ole hearts.
This was supposed to be for Valentines Day after all.
I liked them.
But there is a lot of coffee in those suckers. Every single black fleck is a grain of pure caffeine. Or something.
My kids kept asking for a bite.
Um, lets see... pure sugar and coffee in a four year old? Uh, no. I dont think so.
It turns out I could just use a regular old heart shape then cut out the slot after it was baked. No template needed.
Whew. Did I mention I'm slightly terrified of psycho evil revenge seeking sabertoothe gingerbread man?
Just sayin.
So to get back on the Valentines morning theme..
I thought a traditional sentiment might be cute.
But then, as I was looking for a good mug to take pictures with, I came across my hubbies favorite mug of all time.
And I knew I could totally make this special.
Hubby loves him some Tigger.
He also mentioned that he liked to cookies better with frosting on them.
I would have to second that.
This is just buttercream frosting that I had in the fridge.
It was DELICIOUS on these cookies.
I am talking like awesome, why have I never thought of this before its too good to be true delicious.
Here's the recipe. Please let me know if you try it, I would love some feedback from someone other then my hubby. ;)
Coffee Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
2 tbsp. fresh ground coffee (you can also use instant crystals or powder)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt (I prefer kosher when baking)
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
In a small bowl, combine eggs, vanilla, and coffee.
In yet another bowl, add together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Slowly add your egg mixture to the butter mixture until well combined. Slowly add flour mixture until fully combined, do not over beat.
I would chill this dough for AT LEAST one hour, preferably overnight.
When you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges are slightly golden. Allow cookies to cool completely before covering in any icing.
(There is a recipe similar to this in a book by Maxwell House.)
YUMMM
Thanks for the recipe - I loive coffee & frosting - can't wait to try them :)
Cheers
Catie
Posted by: Catie | Jan 07, 2010 at 10:34 PM
I bet my husband would love these. I love that you put them on the side of the mug. I've seen cookie cutters for this purpose and it's a great idea. LOVE that you DIY.
This post made me laugh. Gingerbread man of death!
And as if we didn't have enough in common, I DON'T LIKE COFFEE EITHER!!!
Posted by: Kate | Jan 07, 2010 at 10:55 PM
Oh Em Gee. There's COFFEE in them? Seriously Amanda, will you be my best friend? I don't even know where in Minnesota you are, but I promise it's not too far from me! ;) And how unbelievably adorable to have them on the cup - did you have to make sure they were a little thicker so they'd stand upright? Or the slot is just small enough so that it's snug?
Either way, I HAVE to make these. And shock of all shocks, I actually have all the ingredients for these!! I may have to make them tomorrow!!
Posted by: Mandi | Jan 07, 2010 at 10:59 PM
I don't like coffee either,i drink tea,so yes we can still be friends! and I bet these cookies would be good with some green tea in them.
I like the long heart cookies, maybe you can cut the slot on the lower side..instead of the direct bottom, so the cookie sits on the mug at an angle? I think it's an awesome idea..mmmm green tea cookies with mint butter cream icing...sigh,now I am hungry.
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1290237181 | Jan 07, 2010 at 11:38 PM
Coffee AND cookies! I couldn't be happier, but considering its after one in the morning and I have to be up in a few hours I should skip making them tonight.... BTW I thought it kind of looked like a molar tooth....
Posted by: ElizaBeth | Jan 08, 2010 at 02:13 AM
Over the years I've learned to like coffee, I still don't drink it though. I got some coffee addicts in my house so the for sure would appreciate these cookies, thanx!
Posted by: Gala | Jan 08, 2010 at 04:26 AM
What another brilliant idea!
Posted by: cookienurse | Jan 08, 2010 at 06:59 AM
Amanda these look phenomenal! I'm definitely going to try them out, as the hubs and I both love coffee (and, not that I'm admitting to giving coffee to my children, but my kids love it too!). Yummy!
I love this site! :)
Posted by: Kami | Jan 08, 2010 at 08:46 AM
Oh, yum...and the "tiggerific" one is just precious! (I'm visiting thanks to a tip from Joyce at This side of the Pond).
Posted by: Rebecca | Jan 08, 2010 at 09:55 AM
OMGoodness!!! Those look fabulous!!! I can't wait to make them!! You are a genius!! :)
Posted by: Hayley | Jan 08, 2010 at 10:54 AM
I love coffee, so these are right up my alley. The little cutout is very clever. They look so adorable perched on a coffee mug. Great idea!
Posted by: Carolyn Jung | Jan 08, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Oh my--we are coffee crazies at our house--like roasting beans in our garage crazy! Hopefully by Valentine's Day, I'll have a replacement oven and we can try these out!!! I really appreciate that you venture into cooking with things you don't even like--you are so thoughtful!
Posted by: Londa | Jan 08, 2010 at 11:13 AM
Thanks so much for this recipe-- I can't wait to try them! I'm not a huge baker, but I love love love anything coffee flavored (especially ice cream!) and can't wait to sink my teeth into these! They look super cute decorated on the mugs! Good job!
Posted by: Jessica | Jan 08, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Amanda...I love coffee. This is a recipe that I'm going to have to try! Thanks for sharing it...and your results.
Posted by: Nancy | Jan 08, 2010 at 07:46 PM
this is so smart, so fun, i am dying to make these.
Posted by: pam | Jan 08, 2010 at 08:04 PM
I am so excited to try this! My husband really likes coffee... he would be so delighted to wake up to these in the morning, or for after dinner. Thanks for the idea!
Posted by: Rachel Watters | Jan 08, 2010 at 09:10 PM
Oh my goodness!!! These are the cutest ever!
Posted by: bridget {bake at 350} | Jan 08, 2010 at 10:22 PM
I love the idea of putting them on the mug like that! I would have never thought of such a thing. You are so creative! Why kosher salt when you are baking...what kind of difference does it make?
Posted by: Jamie @ Six Bricks High | Jan 08, 2010 at 11:25 PM
The "Gingerbread man of death"!!! I couldn't help but laugh. Then I scrolled back up and sure enough, it does look a little scary :-)
A cookie clipped onto a coffee cup, WHAT dear friend will you come up with next??? So cool!
Posted by: Cop Mama | Jan 09, 2010 at 01:42 PM
I can't wait to try them!! I didn't even realize that you had this whole portion to your blog until now... duh! I can't wait, I love to bake, and I love to read your witty commentary!! I'll let ya know how they go over with my coffee-loving hubby too! Thanks! (Oh, and it was GREAT to meet you yesterday and today at the workshop... ;) )
Posted by: jaime | Jan 09, 2010 at 08:53 PM
I think these sound heavenly...but I love coffee. Oh, and I love cookies, too. You have just made me exceedingly happy. :-)
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | Jan 09, 2010 at 10:12 PM
What a cute idea! I have some cookie cutters from William Sonoma that use notches like this to stand up as a 3-d cookie, but this is such a great idea!
Posted by: shelly (cookies and cups) | Jan 10, 2010 at 12:07 PM
I love these, and so would my husband. I don't like coffee either, love having stuff in common with you :)
Posted by: Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com} | Jan 10, 2010 at 12:36 PM
Sorry, I can't give you any feedback because I detest coffee. Not for a lack of trying either. I think I've tried every possible flavor of coffee known to man kind and I still hate it. Yes, that's a strong work and completely appropriate for my feelings towards coffee!!
I do love the heart cookies, and the cookies on the coffee cup. I'll have to do that for James!
Posted by: Michelle | Jan 10, 2010 at 06:21 PM
I have to make these for my coffee-aholics at home. My husband who doesn't like anything sweet and rarely tastes any sweet treats said he would like to try these. My daughter is jumping up and down for these.. or maybe its from the caffeine. Lol j/k So I will be putting these on my list to make this month! Thank you for this recipe!
Posted by: Farrah (My KitchenAid Mixer & Me) | Jan 10, 2010 at 07:26 PM
I am passing along a happy 101 award, because it makes me happy every time you blog.
http://createdbydiane.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-101-award.html
Posted by: Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com} | Jan 11, 2010 at 03:39 AM
i'm willing to let your distaste for coffee slide simply because you're so darn clever. and because you used the correct "you're" in your cookie. (what can i say, it's a peeve.) :) nicely done, amanda, as usual. i hope your hubby knows he's got it made in the shade. :)
Posted by: grace | Jan 11, 2010 at 03:56 AM
These look amazing! I love coffee, and I'm sure my hubby would love these, too. Cute for Valentines Day!
Posted by: Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction | Jan 11, 2010 at 08:54 AM
Ah wow, I love coffee, this look so tasty, I especially like the Tigger one!! So cute!
Posted by: Natalie | Jan 11, 2010 at 03:20 PM
these are gorgeous looking and sound incredible. i posted about them here: http://frostedsquare.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-baker.html
Posted by: Erin | Jan 11, 2010 at 11:01 PM
These are so great! I can't wait to make them for my Husband we LOVES Coffee. Very cute too.
Posted by: Eve Piercy | Jan 12, 2010 at 12:53 AM
Thank you Amanda, these cookies taste amazing!! they're right now sitting on my kitchen bench fresh out of the oven. I had actually been looking for a recipe for some little treat to send along with a gift im giving my sister-in-law. I searched but didnt like what i was finding.. until i came across these and your fantastic blog! So thank you. We love coffee around here, and they're just right. I have another half of the batter waiting in the fridge to be freshly baked tommorow morning. Thanks again!
Posted by: Amy | Jan 12, 2010 at 01:07 PM
Love this idea. I don't drink coffee either, BUT I do love mocha and I do love coffee mixed in with other things. So these might be great for me. Cute idea with the heart...I thought the other looked like a molar. ;)
Posted by: Barbara | Jan 12, 2010 at 03:50 PM
You are amazing!!!! Who would have thought? Coffee cookies? Cookies on the side of mugs? Cookies for breakfast. My hubby would LOVE them. Me... not so sure. I'm not a coffee person... though I do love the smell.
God bless you Amanda!
Kari
Posted by: Kari | Jan 14, 2010 at 09:54 PM
Cuttie and Yummy! Very nice. That would be a very nice and early valentines gift! Thanks for sharing that wonderful idea and recipe!
Posted by: Healthy Foods Blog | Jan 18, 2010 at 09:57 AM
OH WOW hubby will love this one! Thanx for sharing such neat ideas!!!
Posted by: Rose | Jan 25, 2010 at 02:14 AM
I don't know where you've been all my life, but you're here now!
Posted by: Liz | Feb 01, 2010 at 10:23 PM
I'm glad I found your website. You really are very talented.
Posted by: Gaerria | Feb 02, 2010 at 07:53 AM
Yummy! Thanks for the recipe. I just tried these the other night, and they were very good. You've inspired me to try adding coffee to some of my other baked good recipes, and made my coffee loving husband pretty happy!
Posted by: Simpleflavor.blogspot.com | Feb 04, 2010 at 09:37 AM
These look delicious. I'm going to have to try them next! See if they're as good as a vanilla bean scone eaten with my caramel macchiato. :)
Did you know that Williams Sonoma has actual cutters for this?
http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2009/10/cup_adorning_cookie_cutters.html
Probably you did. I do kind of like the way their slot is off-center so you see more of the shape hanging on the outside of the cup.
But THEIRS don't seem to have room for sentiments like tiggeriffic :)
Posted by: Adelas (della) | Feb 06, 2010 at 01:45 PM
YOU ARE A GENIUS!!! I just prepared a batch... sort of :) If the cookies are as good as the dough, these will be a total hit!!
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Valerie | Feb 07, 2010 at 04:36 PM
We tried these this weekend at our Worship Team Coffee Fellowship, and they were basically a huge hit!
Posted by: Heather | Feb 08, 2010 at 01:31 PM
I made a double batch of these cookies to take to my daughter's daycare for the teachers. I also pulled out 9 extras to decorate for my clinical group for nursing school. I haven't been back to the daycare yet to find out if they liked them, but my clinical fridnds LOVED them and so did I! I was worried when I tasted them the day they were made, the felt a little grainy, but by the following day they had incorporated or settled or something b/c they were DELISH!!! I blogged all about it, because it was sure an experience for someone like me who really doesn't bake much. If you're interested, you can read it here: http://exploringmommyhood.blogspot.com/2010/02/betty-crocker-im-not.html
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe. I can't wait to make them again!!
Posted by: Jessica | Feb 09, 2010 at 07:27 PM
I made these for my husband and I last week. I used margarine instead of butter, which, I think, made them kind of fluffy. The flavor was wonderful (we are Starbucks lovers in my house, therefore that is the kind of coffee I used). I frosted a few of them and left a few without frosting. I definitely prefer them with frosting. Mmmm. My 4 year old did not like them, which is fine, because really, he shouldn't be eating something with coffee in it, anyway! Thanks for the recipe!
Posted by: Kate | Feb 10, 2010 at 09:38 AM
I am doing these for Valentine treats for my family and friends. Thanks so much for the easy recipe!
Posted by: Mary | Feb 10, 2010 at 12:21 PM
I've done them for St. Valentine's day for me because my hubby doesn't like coffee... :)
They're spectacular! Thank you for the recipe!
Posted by: rossella | Feb 14, 2010 at 02:58 AM
what a wonderful idea and love that they fit on the rim of a mug! I just discovered your blog today and find it so entertaining and inspiring! Looking forward to your future posts, thanks!!
Posted by: mari K. | Feb 16, 2010 at 02:05 AM
I made these cookies for my husband and parents for Valentine's day. I left some plain and frosted some with the buttercream. To be honest, we liked them better without the frosting. It was too sweet. I overbaked the cookies a little, so they were crunchy - but perfect for dunking in coffee!
Later in the day we got creative....My mom had a bar of dark chocolate with chili and cayenne pepper in it. We melted down the bar of chocolate and half-dipped the heart shaped coffee cookies in it. It was PHENOMENAL! The coffee flavor mixed with the spicy, dark chocolate flavor was to die for! We will definitely make these again!
Posted by: Kira | Feb 18, 2010 at 08:43 PM
I made these today to take to a friend's house. Amazing! I put royal icing in squiggles on mine. The icing makes them SO much better!
Posted by: Audrey K. | Feb 26, 2010 at 06:19 PM
I made these for my boyfriend on Valentine's day with buttercream frosting and they were AMAZING..and I don't even like coffee! I made them again with chocolate buttercream frosting and I think I like them even more. I think I found our new favorite cookie. Thank you for the idea. I look forward to following your blog...you are so creative!
Posted by: Suzanne | Feb 27, 2010 at 11:34 AM