Espresso Shortbread With Toffee Chunks (Printable Format)

Buttery espresso-infused shortbread loaded with sweet toffee chunks, ready in under 40 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
02 - 3/4 cup powdered sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
04 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
05 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Mix-Ins

07 - 3/4 cup toffee bits

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar together with a mixer until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
03 - Mix in the instant espresso powder and vanilla extract until well combined.
04 - Gradually add the flour and salt. Mix just until the dough comes together.
05 - Fold in the toffee bits by hand, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
06 - Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with your hand or the bottom of a glass.
07 - Bake 16–18 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
08 - Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The coffee flavor deepens without being bitter or overpowering
  • Buttery shortbread texture meets crunchy toffee in every bite
  • They come together in under 30 minutes with minimal mess
02 -
  • Overmixing the flour makes tough cookies, so stop as soon as it comes together
  • These appear underbaked when you take them out but firm up as they cool
  • Toffee bits melt into sticky pools if baked too long, so watch the edges closely
03 -
  • Weigh your ingredients if possible for consistent results every time
  • Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it feels too soft to scoop cleanly