Life Made Homemade
From scratch, with joy.
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Brown butter, espresso, and melty chocolate chips all packed into one soft, bakery-style cookie. The espresso flavor is noticeable without being overpowering, and the chocolate makes them even better.
Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies ☕️🍪
Ingredients
½ cup (1 stick) butter
1 tsp instant espresso powder
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
1½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp cornstarch
¼ tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
In a saucepan over medium heat, brown the butter. Once browned, remove from the heat and stir in the espresso powder until fully dissolved. Allow to cool for 15–20 minutes.
Transfer the cooled espresso butter to a large mixing bowl. Whisk for about 1 minute to help it cool slightly more and thicken. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and whisk until combined.
Add the egg and vanilla bean paste. Whisk until smooth.
Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Mix until the dry ingredients are about halfway incorporated, then add the chocolate chips. Continue mixing until a dough forms.
Chill the dough while preheating the oven to 350°F.
Scoop the dough into large 3–4 tablespoon portions and shape into tall dough balls.
Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie for spreading. Bake 4–5 cookies per sheet for 12–14 minutes.
Let cool slightly before enjoying.
Makes: 9 large bakery-style cookies
You can absolutely make them smaller… but these giant cookies are worth it. ☕️🍪🤍
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Bagels
In a small bowl, whisk together 1½ cups warm water, 1½ tbsp active dry yeast, and 1 tbsp honey. Cover and let sit for about 10 minutes, until a thick, foamy layer forms on top.
In a large mixing bowl, add 4½ cups bread flour (or all-purpose), ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg. Pour in the yeast mixture and add 1 tsp cinnamon baking syrup (optional). Mix until a dough forms.
Knead the dough by hand or with a dough hook for 6–8 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 60–75 minutes, or until doubled in size.
Turn the dough onto a clean surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then gently form a hole in the center to shape into bagels. Place each one on small squares of parchment paper.
In a large pot, bring about 6 cups of water, ¼ cup baking soda, and 2 tbsp honey to a boil. Carefully drop in the bagels and boil for 30–45 seconds per side.
Transfer bagels to a parchment-lined or lightly floured baking sheet. Sprinkle each one with a mixture of equal parts brown sugar and cinnamon.
Bake at 375°F for 22–24 minutes, until lightly golden.
Let cool completely, then slice and enjoy—especially with cream cheese and a drizzle of cinnamon syrup. 😋
Why I Create With Joy
I create with joy because food has always been a way to slow down, connect, and make mundane moments feel special. My hope is to inspire simple recipes and routines that bring a little more comfort, creativity, and happiness into everyday life.