Skip to Content

Butterscotch-Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies

I may earn from purchases through links in this post.

Hi there. Things here have been mercifully quiet.

Slowly, we’re getting our new place put together. We reassembled the dishwasher. We put books on the shelves. We determined that we, do, in fact, need more bookshelves. We’re daydreaming about built-ins and a library ladder.

Butterscotch Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies. Delicate buttery coffee-flavored covered in a rich butterscotch glaze. An easy and elegant cookie for the holidays. From Blossom to Stem | Because Delicious www.blossomtostem.net
Butterscotch Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies. Delicate buttery coffee-flavored covered in a rich butterscotch glaze. An easy and elegant cookie for the holidays. From Blossom to Stem | Because Delicious www.blossomtostem.net

We’re learning the rhythms of this new space.

I’ve been listening to the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s Charlie Brown Christmas album and padding around the condo in stocking feet, sliding across the smooth hardwood floors, and generally getting into the holiday spirit.

Butterscotch Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies. Delicate buttery coffee-flavored covered in a rich butterscotch glaze. An easy and elegant cookie for the holidays. From Blossom to Stem | Because Delicious www.blossomtostem.net

I’ve been getting to know the oven, and she and I are getting along pretty well.

I have a new cookie for you.

Butterscotch Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies. Delicate buttery coffee-flavored covered in a rich butterscotch glaze. An easy and elegant cookie for the holidays. From Blossom to Stem | Because Delicious www.blossomtostem.net

It’s a buttery shortbread cookie with finely ground espresso beans. The bitter of the coffee gets balanced with a rich, sweet layer of butterscotch glaze.

It’s a cookie recipe I saw in Food & Wine and clipped out and stuck in my recipe binder in, uh, 2008. Back when I still bothered sticking things in a recipe binder.

Butterscotch Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies. Delicate buttery coffee-flavored covered in a rich butterscotch glaze. An easy and elegant cookie for the holidays. From Blossom to Stem | Because Delicious www.blossomtostem.net

Every December since, I’ve leafed through the thick stack of pages stuffed unceremoniously into the pocket of the binder, stopped when I get to these espresso shortbread cookies and thought “I should make those.”

Butterscotch Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies. Delicate buttery coffee-flavored covered in a rich butterscotch glaze. An easy and elegant cookie for the holidays. From Blossom to Stem | Because Delicious www.blossomtostem.net

And then, somehow, they never made the cut.

I think I thought they looked too fiddly or something. But honestly, these are easy. They’re a simple pat-in-the-pan shortbread bar cookie, and the butterscotch glaze takes about two minutes to make.

Butterscotch Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies. Delicate buttery coffee-flavored covered in a rich butterscotch glaze. An easy and elegant cookie for the holidays. From Blossom to Stem | Because Delicious www.blossomtostem.net

And because they come from the amazing Flo Braker (author of Baking for All Occasions, and other baking books), they taste really freaking good.

I absolutely love the combination of coffee and butterscotch. It’s something I love about these blondies and about Momofuku compost cookies.

Butterscotch Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies. Delicate buttery coffee-flavored covered in a rich butterscotch glaze. An easy and elegant cookie for the holidays. From Blossom to Stem | Because Delicious www.blossomtostem.net

And these cookies take that flavor combination and run with it with a crisp coffee-flavored shortbread topped with a delightfully sticky butterscotch glaze.

I don’t know why it took me eight years to get around to making these. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Make them now.

Butterscotch Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies. Delicate buttery coffee-flavored covered in a rich butterscotch glaze. An easy and elegant cookie for the holidays. From Blossom to Stem | Because Delicious www.blossomtostem.net
Yield: 40 bar cookies

Butterscotch-Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies

Butterscotch-Glazed Espresso Shortbread Cookies

These espresso shortbread cookies are rich but not overly sweet. The coffee flavor is perceptible, but not overwhelming. The sweetness of butterscotch glaze balances out the bitterness of the espresso in the shortbread. The espresso shortbread is a simple pat-in-the-pan job and all it takes to make the glaze is throwing the ingredients into a saucepan, stirring, and boiling for a little over a minute. Braker tops these with chocolate covered espresso beans, which feel, to me, like the wrong scale for these delicate cookies. I topped them with snowflake sprinkles from King Arthur Flour. You can leave them unadorned or top them with any simple sugar or chocolate decoration you like. The glaze on these stays soft, so it’s best to store these cookies in a single layer to avoid a sticky mess.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the cookies:

  • 1 cup (8 ounces, 226 grams, 2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup (132 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 1/3 cups (290 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon (8 grams) finely ground espresso or coffee beans

For the butterscotch glaze:

  • 4 tablespoons (2 ounces, 57 grams) unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup (66 grams) light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon (20 grams) light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a 9×13-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and ground espresso beans. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the butter and sugar, and beat on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the vanilla and beat until combined.
  4. Add the flour mixture, a third at a time, and beat on low speed until just incorporated.
  5. Press the dough into the lined baking pan in an even layer. Press a layer of plastic wrap over the dough and smooth the dough with a flat bottomed glass to even out the bumps as much as possible.
  6. Bake until just lightly golden, about 40 minutes. Place on a cooling rack.
  7. Let cool for about 10 minutes, then, using a sharp chef’s knife, cut the warm shortbread lengthwise into 8 strips, then cut crosswise into 5 rows (leave them in the pan). Let the bars cool completely.
  8. Make the glaze. Add the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and dissolved espresso powder to a small heavy saucepan over medium heat and stir. Bring to a boil and continue boiling until slightly thickened, about a minute and a half.
  9. Remove from heat. Let the bubbling subside and then immediately pour the glaze over the shortbread bars and quickly spread in an even layer with a small offset spatula. If desired, press decorative sprinkles onto each bar.
  10. Using the tip of a paring knife, score the glaze between the cuts, without dragging. Let cool and carefully lift out of the pan and transfer to a serving plate.
  11. The glaze stays soft and a little sticky, so don’t be tempted to stack these cookies, even with a layer of wax paper or parchment between. You can store these in a single layer in an airtight container for up to a week.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

40

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 203Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 52mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Peter

Saturday 14th of May 2022

50 minutes must be a misprint: at 350°F that will get you a blackened cinder. 15 minutes is max, more like 12 mins for a pale golden color. They're very good, but they'd be even better with a topping that set, rather than one which stayed runny.

thewomentalk

Wednesday 4th of November 2015

These shortbread cookies look absolutely delightful. yummy!

Mary

Thursday 5th of November 2015

Thank you!

Jennifer Pierce

Wednesday 4th of November 2015

Wow I would of never thought of making a combo like this but it sounds so yummy. I love butterscotch and I am a coffee fanatic. Definitely adding to my recipe list.

Mary

Thursday 5th of November 2015

Thanks, Jennifer! I love this flavor combination.

honeygirlsworld

Wednesday 4th of November 2015

Totally saved this recipe, this sounds absolutely delicious and I know I'll enjoy it!

Mary

Thursday 5th of November 2015

Thank you!

Ashleigh

Wednesday 4th of November 2015

Ohhh these look so good! I can't wait to start making holiday cookies! I'm not that good at baking but I always give it a go! I will have to use this recipe!

Mary

Wednesday 4th of November 2015

Thanks, Ashleigh! Let me know how they turn out.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Skip to Recipe