Espresso Crinkles

Lightly coat your hands with flour to make rolling the dough into balls easier. The dough freezes well. Freeze the dough after step 1, thaw in the refrigerator, then proceed with step 2. The powdered sugar coating gives these cookies an appealing cracked finish. Serve with coffee to echo the espresso.

Yield:

2 dozen (serving size: 1 cookie)

Ingredients

1. 4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)
2. 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, divided
3. 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
4. 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
5. 1/8 teaspoon salt
6. 5 1/4 teaspoons canola oil
7. 1 1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
8. 1 teaspoon instant espresso granules
9. 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
10. 3 tablespoons light-colored corn syrup
11. 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12. 2 large egg whites

Directions

1. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; stir with a whisk. Combine oil and chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat; cook until chocolate melts, stirring constantly. Add espresso granules to pan; stir until blended. Remove from heat.
2. Pour chocolate mixture into a large bowl; cool 5 minutes. Stir in brown sugar, syrup, and vanilla. Add egg whites, stirring with a whisk. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, stirring gently just until combined. Cover; chill at least 2 hours or overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350°.
4. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Dredge balls in remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar; place balls 2 inches apart on 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until tops are cracked and almost set. Cool cookies on pan 2 minutes or until set; remove from pan. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Notes