Name: Cappuccino Swirl Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Ingredients: 1 c. butter, softened; 1 1/2 c. sugar; 1 egg; 2 teaspoons vanilla; 1 Tablespoon Bailey's Irish Cream; 2 1/4 c. flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 Tablespoon espresso powder; 1/2 c. sugar; 24 Hershey's Hugs

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Amazing Cappuccino Swirl Cookies have just a hint of coffee flavor paired with a rich, chocolate center thanks to adding a Hershey’s Hug after baking.

Every year when Christmas comes around I make a big list of cookies that I want to make. Usually there are 4 or 5 cookies that I’ve made in previous years and I always try to make 2 or 3 new cookies as well.

I find that of the 2 or 3 I usually find one that I really like and want to keep in my rotation. It’s the perfect time of year to experiment with baking because people are looking to eat all the baked goods.

This year I put these Cappuccino Swirl Cookies on my list. I loved how the center swirl looked and I’m always a fan of coffee flavored cookies.

I couldn’t tell what made the swirl in the middle but I was determined to find out and make them for myself.

Ingredients:

butter
sugar
egg
vanilla extract
Bailey’s Irish Cream (optional)
flour
baking powder
salt
espresso powder
Hershey’s Hugs

To Make the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar. Add in the egg, vanilla, and Bailey’s if using. Mix well. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls. Roll into the espresso powder and sugar mixture and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

It turns out that the middle of the cookie was a Hershey’s Hug. When the cookies come out of the oven a Hug is placed in the middle. It’s then left there for several minutes to soften and melt.

Then a toothpick is used to gently swirl the Hug into a pretty little pattern. The cookies then need to sit until the center hardens.

My cookies spread a bit. How can I make them more circular?

I have a great trick for this. As soon as you take the cookies out of the oven grab a wide mouth glass. Place it over top of the cookie and swirl it around. This will shape your cookie into a perfectly round shape. If you don’t get them all before they start cooling pop the cookies back into the oven for a minute and finish the rest of them.

Can I use something besides a Hug in the middle?

Yes! You can use a regular old Hershey’s Kiss or you can use your favorite kind of Hershey’s Kiss. Just place it in the middle as you would with the Hug.

What can I use instead of the Bailey’s Irish Cream?

If you are looking for an alcoholic substitute you can simply use any coffee flavored liqueur. If you need a nonalcoholic substation you can just use milk or a flavored creamer. I used vanilla creamer one time and it just added an additional hint of vanilla to the cookies.

How do I store these cookies?

Place them in an air tight container with pieces of parchment paper in between each layer. They can be stored for up to 2 weeks.

I don’t have espresso powder, what can I use?

You can use instant coffee in place of the espresso powder but it has more of a bite to it so you may want to use a little less.

I really liked the combination of sugar and espresso powder that the cookies are rolled in. I thought the actual cookies would be coffee flavored but it’s really only the coating so the flavor is subtle.

The Hugs in the middle give the cookies a nice, creamy chocolate flavor. I like the combination of the milk chocolate with the white chocolate. It works well together.

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I love how these cookies turned out. The Hug in the middle was just swirled to make a pretty pattern. The espresso powder and sugar mixture left a nice texture and flavor on the outside of the cookie.

The cookies themselves tasted like a sugar cookie with hints of coffee, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate. I tried to get a bit of the chocolate in each bite and it really was delicious!

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