Three cheers for Cookie Friday!
Three cheers for finishing my 3rd week!
Three cheers for running 3 speedy miles!
I’ve been itching to make this recipe since it made an appearance at In Praise of Leftovers. After all, they include three of my favorite things: 1) apricots, 2) dark chocolate, and 3) espresso. I finally had an excuse – and the time! – to bake a batch today. After my final class for the week, I made a quick 3-minute stop at the store to buy a bag of $3 choco chips. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night, so I was tempted to take an afternoon siesta, but boy am I glad I decided to turn on the oven and make these babies instead. The recipe was so simple; I had bakery-worthy cookies and washed dishes in <30 minutes.
As Tina would say, “holy yummm!”.
Apricot Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 1 c. all-purpose flour + 3/4 c. whole wheat flour
- 1 3/4 c. rolled oats
- 1 c. brown sugar
- 1/2 c. white sugar
- 1 T baking powder
- 1 T instant espresso powder
- pinch of salt
- 3/4 c. unsalted butter, melted and cooled*
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla
- 2 c. chocolate chips
- 1 c. coarsely chopped dried apricots
In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, sugars, salt, baking powder, and espresso powder.
Add egg, egg yolk, melted butter, and vanilla – stir once or twice, then add chocolate chips and dried apricots.
Refrigerate dough for 10-20 minutes as you clean up the kitchen.
Place balls of cookie dough [small or large – you chose!] onto cookie sheets.
Bake @ 350* for 12-14 minutes.
*Note: I reduced the amount of butter from the original recipe from 2 cups to less than 1 1/2 cups. Though, when combining the wet ingredients with the dry, I decided the dough needed a bit more moisture, so I added 2 T of canola oil – perfect! [You could just as easily add more buttah.]
Make these please please please… and then eat three!
* * *
So, like I said, I decided to forgo my nap and instead, I drank a 24oz. Ball jar of green tea and ate a warm, homemade cookie. Caffeine + glucose and I was ready to run into the weekend! My roommate and I headed to The Resort for some exercise around 5:00pm – what exciting Friday night lives we have, huh? I wasn’t intending to have a great workout [my legs were throbbing last night], but my body surprised me.
Unplanned Speed Workout:
- Mile 1: 9:00
- Strength Training:
- 3 planks @ 1 min.
- random arm exercises + squats
- Mile 2: 8:30
- Mile 3: 7:30!
If all this speed and strength training doesn’t pay off, I’m going to be quite disappointed. Do you think I should be worrying about neglecting my long runs!?
Gotta get back to my exciting [wink wink] Friday night.
xo Hill
I’ll leave you with three:
1) Three things that made you happy today…
1) Braided Hair 2) Cute Boys 3) Sunshine
2) Three favorite cookie ingredients…
1) Chocolate – duh! 2) Oats – yes please! 3) NUTS
3) Three things you’re looking forward to…
1) Pumpkins 2) The Holidays 3) Running Half Marathon #3
Hint Hint
triple chocolate espresso cookies.
browned butter {toasted coconut} chocolate chip cookies.
dark chocolate cherry pistachio cookies.
{vegan} almond apricot quinoa muffins.
Mmm Mmm Mmm! I’ve never baked with expresso powder before but I’ve been meaning to buy some for awhile now. The two of us are apricot + chocolate lovers for life :)
Wow, you certainly were speedy! I’m training for my first half marathon, but haven’t included very much speed training since it’s my first one. I definitely want to incorporate it for my next race — whatever the distance ends up being!
I didn’t do any speed training for my first half either. I was all about the endurance. This is the first time – ever – that I’ve concentrated on speed & strength. I hope it works!
Great times on your miles!
Yay for negative splits!
Yummm, these look great. I love anything coffee/espresso flavor. Can you believe I’ve actually never had apricots, though? Might need to give this a try!
These look absolutely incredible!
Holy yum is right lady…those cookies look AMAZING. And you totally deserve 3 after that speedy run!
What a cute post! Those cookies look scrumptious.
3 things about yesterday which rocked:
1) weekend! 2) making a new recipe 3) lounging on the couch
3 cookie ingredients:
1) cranberries 2) walnuts 3) cinnamon
3 things I’m looking forward to:
1) half TOMORROW 2) pumpkin 3) fall boots
Good luck today! : )
Oh my goodness, you are too cuteee!!! I totally agree with all of your three favorites, especially the holidays and cute boys, heck yes! :)
Okay — you must be the only one who can successfully write about cookies AND working out in the same post. Happy Weekend!
These look insanely good!!
I added walnuts! SOO good :)
Oh, I’m so excited you made them! & walnuts are always a healthy addition — mmmm!
Your blog is my new love obsession! This morning I already made these cookies and the date/chia/espresso energy bites. Thank you!!!
:)
These look delicious! My three things that made me happy today were:
1) cute little kids
2) learning
3) my physical therapist!