Deep Chocolate Kahlua Bites ~ The word cookie hardly does these little bits of heaven justice. They’re little mounds of melt in your mouth chocolate shortbread topped with a deep chocolate Kahlua buttercream, and they’re a snap to make, which just adds to their charm.
These Deep Chocolate Kahlua Bites are based on one of my all time favorite holiday cookies ever, MELTING MOMENTS. I think it’s pretty obvious that sometimes the simplest things are the most irresistible. The thing about these cookies is that they literally do melt in your mouth. The consistency is quite unique, really unlike any other cookie. It has something to do with the butter and the cornstarch. But the little blob of fudge frosting on the top doesn’t hurt, either.
Serve these decidedly adult cookies with after dinner coffee for a special treat.
If you prefer vanilla, see the original MELTING MOMENTS, they’re fabulous too.
This is a good recipe if you’re busy because you can easily mix up the dough in the morning before work, and bake off the cookies in the evening. The cookies are small and they don’t spread, so you can fit the whole batch on two trays. The frosting comes together with a few swipes of a spoon in a measuring cup. You can also freeze the unbaked balls of dough; freeze them first on a tray, then transfer them to a zip lock bag.
Get ready to transform a little bit of butter, sugar, flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder and Kahlua into something you, your family, and friends will never forget. Don’t like Kahlua? Substitute vanilla, or any other liquor or liqueur you like. Set these out on a little tray after dinner, sit back, and watch what happens. But be sure to grab a couple for yourself, first.
Here are the other Melting Moment cookie variations ~
- PEPPERMINT MELTING MOMENTS
- COCONUT SNOWBALL MELTING MOMENTS
- CAPPUCCINO MELTING MOMENTS
- CLEMENTINE MELTING MOMENTS
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/3 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup flour
- 3 Tbsp soft unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup sifted confectioner's sugar
- 1/4 cup sifted unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 Tbsp Kahlua
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- milk or cream to thin
- more confectioner's sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Cream the butter, sugar, and cocoa powder together until well blended. Add the cornstarch and flour and mix the dough together until thoroughly combined. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or longer if desired.
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Form small heaps with the dough on a parchment lined baking sheet. I used a 1" scoop. Bake for about 13 minutes. Cool slightly on the pan, and then on a rack. Be careful, these cookies are delicate.
- Mix the soft butter with the cocoa powder and sugar, then add the rest of the ingredients and mix well, until smooth and creamy. Top each cooled cookie with a generous blob of frosting, and dust with powdered sugar.
Don’t forget to pin these Deep Chocolate Kahlua Bites
24 Comments
chell rossi
December 12, 2018 at 1:22 pmHow about freezing without icing and ice later
Sue
December 12, 2018 at 1:29 pmThat should work.
Cheryl
December 9, 2018 at 1:50 pmYou might want to revise the recipe a bit. I can’t imagine why anyone would set the oven at 350 degrees 2 hours or more before baking.
Sue
December 9, 2018 at 3:58 pmPoint taken, I’ve revised the order of things in the recipe :)
Linda Leone
December 4, 2018 at 11:35 pmI can’t wait to make these … I will purchase the mini bottle of Kahlua just to make these! I plan on making the Peppermint ones too!
Sue
December 5, 2018 at 8:18 amThose mini bottles come in so handy for stuff like this. Enjoy :)
Helen Kempers
June 28, 2018 at 1:57 pmHello Sue,
I just wanted to ask if one can replae the Kahlua with anything else? Because I don’t have it at home and simply don’t want to buy a whole bottle just to use one tbsp every one in a while.
Thank you for the great recipes,
Helen
Sue
June 28, 2018 at 2:32 pmYou can literally use any liquer you like in these Helen, whatever flavor appeals to you. I love chocolate with Amaretto.
Diane Murray
December 14, 2017 at 1:10 pmJust wondering the best way to store the Kahlua bites and the peppermint version. Thanks.
Sue
December 14, 2017 at 2:02 pmYou can’t go wrong by keeping them in the refrigerator, Diane. They’ll keep on the counter for a few days, though.
Nancy Long
September 12, 2016 at 5:44 amMight try these with Run Chata or Bailey’s too
Debbie
February 4, 2013 at 2:44 pmThe frosting totally transforms these rich chocolate little bites into something “heavenly”.
Anonymous
December 10, 2012 at 12:32 amHelp! I have the dry ingredients mixed with the butter but there’s no Kahlua amount listed (if that’s the only other ingredient) and I’m making these for a party tomorrow.
Help!
Sue/the view from great island
December 10, 2012 at 12:55 amThe Kahlua in these bites is in the frosting. The cookies are shortbread cookies, and the cup of soft butter binds together with the dry ingredients to make a soft dough. Make sure your butter is soft when you make the dough, and then refrigerate to firm it up before you bake them.
Kathy
November 12, 2012 at 10:55 pmSue, These look totally sinful! Chocolate and kahlua…incredible!
shannon weber
November 12, 2012 at 9:39 pm…and i’m instantly in love with both the virtual cookie box and these cookies. what a great idea!
From Beyond My Kitchen Window
November 12, 2012 at 8:08 pmWhat a easy recipe. Who doesn’t love a good chocolate cookie. One more batch of cookies in the cookie box!!!
grace
November 12, 2012 at 7:31 pmcookies that are that small are dangerous–way too easy to eat! this one’s a keeper for sure!
Military Challenge Coins
November 12, 2012 at 11:56 amYou shared delicious post thanks…..
Helen Sturgeon
November 10, 2012 at 10:49 pmCheck out the Chocolate Comfort Cookies on my blog… Yuuummmmy, too! You will fall in love! http://Www.thesoutherncook.blogspot.com. :)
Averie @ Averie Cooks
November 10, 2012 at 6:31 pmI love your virtual cookie box …this is SO CLEVER, Sue!
And these Kahlua cookies, oh my, they look amazing! At first I thought there were a no-bake bon-bon of sorts with refrigerated chocolate/kahlua that you scooped out until I realized they’re a baked and frosted cookie, all domed up and beautiful!
Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez
November 10, 2012 at 11:54 pmWant ’em. Need ’em. Love ’em! And YES on the kahlua…mmmmmm….
Heidi @ Food Doodles
November 10, 2012 at 10:10 pmOh my, these sound so delicious! Love the shot of the dough, they look like truffles. Mmm :D
l o v e l y t h i n g s
November 10, 2012 at 8:01 pmalways dangerous to come here when I’m so hungry. your photos are amazing, as always!!