Mocha Caramel Pecan Cookies

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Ironically enough when I heard that as part of Foodbuzz’s Tastemaker program I had been chosen to receive free samples of Godiva’s latest coffees, the first thing I thought about was scones. Not lattes. Not blended drinks. Not spiked adult beverages. Scones. It may have been because I’ve been dying to make scones for months now. Or it may have been because the two seasonal flavors–Caramel Pecan Bark and Pumpkin Spice– coupled with rapidly declining temperatures and torrential downpours in DC made me crave something comforting as fall apparently set in. Whatever the reason, I set my sights on making scones that would highlight the flavors of these decadent, limited edition coffees.

Well, folks, as you see from the title of this post, my scone ambitions gently faded into tender cookies (or mocha biscuits?). I am not sure if I used a bit too much flour or if my proportions were just off (this is what happens when you think you can just make recipes up yourself! lol :D), but my scones turned out to be cookies. Yummy, mocha cookies, but cookies nonetheless. I still have my eyes set on nailing scones, but until then, I’ll take a delicious cookie that highlights caramel pecan bark coffee flavors not only in the dough, but also in the glaze and toasted pecans that topped each cookie, any day of the week!

And two more quick things before the recipe… 1. This is one of three recipes I made with the Godiva coffee samples. The other two are coming soon (stay tuned!). And 2. Don’t forget to vote for Como Water as Best Veg Blog on Foodbuzz.com (the ballot closes next week!).

Mocha Caramel Pecan Cookies (Printable Recipe)

Cookies Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup chopped–finely toasted pecans

1 large egg beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup half and half

1/3 cup cold Earth Balance cut into pieces (or butter/margarine)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup double strength Godiva caramel pecan coffee–brewed and cooled completely

Topping (optional):

1 egg lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon of half and half

sugar

Glaze and Garnish Ingredients:

2/3 cup double strength Godiva caramel pecan coffee–brewed

2/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon Earth Balance

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons half and half

pinch salt

finely chopped pecans–lightly toasted

Method:

*Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. Whisk half and half, egg, vanilla, and coffee. Set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Cut in cold Earth Balance using pastry cutter or fork/two knives. Add the pecans and chocolate chips to the dry ingredients-Earth Balance meal. Add the half and half mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix just until the dough comes together.

*Lightly flour counter or other work surface. Add the dough to the floured surface. Add flour to the dough if it is too wet to knead. Knead the dough 2 – 3 times. Shape the dough into a circle about 1/2 inch in thickness. Cut into triangles (I used a round cookie cutter instead). Remove excess flour and add cookies to cookie sheet. Reshape and cut out dough until all dough is used up.

*Lightly beat second egg with half and half. Brush the egg wash on each cookie and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Bake cookies for 11-14 minutes. In the meantime, make the glaze and chop pecan garnish.

*Chop pecans for garnish; set aside. Add coffee and sugar to medium, heavy bottom saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Reduce glaze until it’s thick and syrupy. Remove from heat. Whisk in Earth Balance, half and half, vanilla extract and salt.

*Once cookies are baked and cooled, dip each cookie in the coffee glaze and top with finely chopped pecans. Enjoy!

Written by

Tiffany M. Griffin is the woman behind Como Water, Washington DC’s premiere veg-centric cuisine consulting company. Through cooking classes, demonstrations, catering, and consultations, Como Water gives people the opportunity to learn how to prepare veg-centric cuisine that boasts maximum flavor, with minimal effort. Tiffany is quickly becoming a go-to expert on the future of veg-centric cuisine, and is a regular contributor to Como Water, the blog, as well as to vegetarian and vegan sites across the Internet. For over a decade, this self-taught, entrepreneurial expert has developed a set of tried and true techniques for making simple, delicious, and sometimes decadent veg-centric dishes. Featured on the Steve Harvey Show and other leading media outlets, Tiffany was born and raised in Springfield, MA. She then earned Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Communications from Boston College and a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Michigan. She now resides in Washington DC, where she has worked in the US Senate and at a federal agency on issues around health, food, nutrition, and international food aid/development, and of course, as the owner of Como Water. Tiffany gets culinary inspiration from the food she grew up eating, and from her travels throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Western Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. She is dedicated to sharing her wealth of knowledge on veg-centric cuisine with others and to help others live by her mantra—love life, live long, and eat veg-centric cuisine!

Comments

  1. These cookies are amazing, simply amazing!! I love love love love them! *____*

  2. Your “cookies” look like round scones. Trader Joe’s sells round scones. whatever you call them, they look delicious, especially with the pecan glaze.

  3. Well Tiffany, all I can say is bless that awful weather in DC if you end up producing this kind of comfort food (cookies or scones, either look great to me!) I’m glazed over just looking at them, my friend – and with your descriptions of the flavours, the toes are curling.

  4. I wish I could make mistakes that look that good!

  5. They look like lovely little cakes!

  6. These look scrumptious Tiff, and the pictures are so good. Really looking forward to your other recipes and making a mess of my keyboard as I drool over them!

  7. These cookies look so wonderful! I love the glaze… it looks so yummy 🙂

  8. Awesome cookies, and thats a nice sample to receive. I will vote for you, I think you should win:)

  9. What a delicious “mistake”. Although these didn’t turn to be the scones you wanted, they make some fantastic cookies. I would eat them for breakfast, lunch or snack time. : )

  10. I’ve had that happen, I was attempting to make cookies and what I really ended up with was small cake-like muffin tops maybe (?), still fantastic! These look absolutely amazing with such delicious toppings! Yes please!

  11. Whether these are scones or cookies, anything coated in that delicious caramel has got to be a winner!

  12. Congratulations Tiff!
    You got my vote and I am sure you will get your award as best veg blogger!
    I love your recent receipes!
    Please note I changed my domain to http://www.aromaycocina.me
    Best regards.

    Begoña

  13. These look so delicious, what a great recipe! Also, congratulations on your nomination! Already voted for you! 😉

  14. Sometimes mistakes turn out some of the best tasting recipes. After all, chocolate chip cookies were the result of someone trying to use chocolate because they ran out of butter (thinking the fat in the chocolate would take its place)!
    This one does look delicious, great flavor combo here. Good luck with the nomination, you did get my vote!

  15. Looks very tempting! Love them!!

  16. What a great recipe!! Perfect for the Tastemaker program (aren’t they fun to be a part of). Congrats on the nominee – you got my vote!

  17. Tiffany, this is beautiful dessert, all the best flavors:)
    I think you will love this recipe take a look, thanks:)
    http://mywanderingspoon.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/my-moms-stuffed-eggplant-recipe/

  18. Oh my goodness yes please! I love the mocha…it is addicting for me

  19. I want to buzz this a million times…and then eat them.

  20. These look phenomenal…so many of my favourite flavours in one cookie!

  21. Congrats on your nomination, and these look amazing! Yum!

  22. Wow these cookies look fantastic! What a creative recipe!

  23. I love the coffee glaze and chopped pecans….so yummy!!

    • Forgot, voted already and praying that you will win!!!

  24. Mmmm, these look delicious! What a great recipe! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  25. Woo hoo! I voted. Can I have a cookie now? 😉

  26. The non-scone cookies look amazing! Congratulations on your nomination and best of luck!

  27. Ooooh! I can get into mocha cookies! Let’s leave those scones to the English, pass me the cookies!

  28. Oh my goodness! These look amazingly delicious, Tiffany! 🙂

  29. Congrats on your nomination! Those cookies look amazing! Very creative!

  30. The topping really enhance the looks of this yummy treat! Congrats on your nomination…

  31. Mocha? Caramel? Pecan? Oh yes please! These will do nicely – thanks for the recipe!

  32. I simply was enjoying looking at the pics, esp the pecan on top of the cookies, drooling now.

  33. Your scones-turned-cookies look beautiful and tasty, Tiff! It’s true that sometimes, mistakes can produce an awesome outcome! 🙂

  34. These look so delicious (and beautiful!!).. all of the best things in one cookie!

  35. Of course I voted….again CONGRATS!!!! these cookies are right up my alley..I love this combo that you used..yummyyyyy!!!

  36. Everything you put together in this recipe is amazing! I love close up photos, I want to touch them, bite them, grab them and run away , so I don’t have to share!!!!!! Of course I am voting for you. You have a great vegan blog!!! Beijos amiga.

  37. Maybe the scones didn’t work out, but you sure pulled these cookies off, girl! My vote is definitely going to you. 🙂

  38. Congrats on your nomination! These cookies sound fantastic. My first thought would have been to brew the coffee and drink cup after cup of it…but I love where your head went! 🙂

  39. Way to make the best of it!

  40. Biscuit, scone, cookie… I’ll eat it any way! Sounds delicious, and way to be innovative. Great recipe.

  41. Tiffany, your work is beautiful once again it’s Roz from Foodbuzz.
    I haven’t seen Vegan dishes look so coloful, and tasty. I’m not a vegan but I do eat some vegan dishes every once in a while.

    My sister-in-law is Vegan, she does not cook much but she may start cooking now.

    Good luck,
    Roz.

  42. I just bought that coffee and it is so good! So, I know these cookies just have to be so delicious!! And congrats on your nomination, you know you got my vote, girl!

  43. Go Tiff, get busy, it’s ya birthday, Heeyy! Congratulations on Top 9!

  44. This sounds spectacular. Wonderful combination of delicious flavors! I want some. 🙂

  45. Congrats on your nomination Tiffany, so well deserved! These cookies are brilliant. I wasn’t a huge fan of the coffee when it brewed so this is a great way to use it up, the cookies sound amazing!

  46. Brilliant use of the coffee. I am so impressed with your creativity!

  47. What a great idea to use thie coffee for! I don’t care if you call these cookies, scones or biscuits, they look delicious! Congrats on top 9!

  48. love that glaze! congrats on the top 9 – buzzed ya! 🙂

  49. I LOVE delicious mistakes!! I do it all the time you just don’t hear about it. 🙂

    Congrats on Top 9 sweetheart!

  50. Tiffany, Brilliant use of the Godiva coffee product and I love the way you’ve captured the glorious glaze in the photograph. Additionally, congratulations on the Top 9 today AND the Foodbuzz Award Nomination…Brava!

  51. Congrats on Top 9 Tiff!

  52. Congrats on Foodbuzz top 9!

  53. These look sinfully delcious!

  54. Congrats on the Top 9!

  55. Lovely cookies, Tiffany! And congrats, both on your FB nomination and on Top 9 today! You KNOW I voted and buzzed!! 😉

  56. Loving the sound of all these flavors together!
    xo
    http://allykayler.blogspot.com

  57. Oh my goodness these look so delicious!! Congratulations that is just awesome about your nomination!!

  58. I’ve been craving sweets for a couple days and these cookies are not helping! 😛

  59. Not scones, but fabulous none the less! They sound delicious and look so beautiful with the glaze on top!

  60. I love making up recipes as I go along!
    And isn’t it fantastic when you start out with something in mind, but it turns into something else which is equally as yummy rather than a flop – it’s awesome 🙂

  61. Hey congrats for the nomination 🙂 And a sample of Godiva ! that would make me do some dance . Great way to use these and cookies look lovely.

  62. Great recipe, looks so scrumptious! Check us out sometime @ BloomEveryday.wordpress.com. 🙂 Would love for you to check out some of our recipes.

  63. I love it when mistakes become delicious successes! These look delicious, congrats on the nomination :)!

  64. I love the flavor combo here! YUMMY!!

  65. Thanks for all of the LOVE 😀

  66. Tiffany, I think you chose a great way of using the coffee. These look and sound so amazing. They would go perfect with my cup of tea 🙂

    Thanks for participating in the YBR!

  67. P.S. Sorry I was to late to vote 🙁 But I hope you get the award, best of luck.

  68. Tiffany, these cookies look ridiculously delicious!!!