Caffeinated Cookies

Photo: flickr user tehusagent

Ingredients

cup unsalted butter - (1 ½ sticks) room temperatu

cup light brown sugar - (packed)

2 tablespoons espresso powder

(sold at Italian markets and specialty stores)

1 egg

2 tablespoons Kahlua

(or other coffee-flavored liqueur)

cup flour - see * Note

1 teaspoon baking powder

teaspoon baking soda

teaspoon coarse salt

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans

Preparation

* Note: If you want more chocolate flavor, add 1/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa with the flour.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees.

Cream the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy; scrape down the sides of the bowl often. Beat in the espresso powder, then the egg, then the Kahlua. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl and whisk to blend. Gradually beat into the batter. Stir in the chocolate chips and pecans.

Drop the dough by well-rounded teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake until firm around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes. (Do not overbake.) Let stand 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool.

This recipe yields about 48 cookies.

Yield: 48 cookies