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Black Cookies with Black Cocoa, Butterscotch & Espresso

Name: Black Cookies with Black Cocoa, Butterscotch & Espresso
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 cup flour; 1/3 cup black cocoa powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1 tsp instant espresso powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 cup soft butter; 1/3 cup sugar; 1/2 cup dark brown sugar; 1 egg; 2 tsp vanilla; 1/2 cup butterscotch chips; 1/2 cup mini M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces (orange only, plus more for the top); Candy eyes (optional)

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Because it’s Halloween!!

These Black Cookies made with Black Cocoa, Butterscotch & Espresso are more for me than for the kids if I’m honest, but Halloween is for grown ups too! Also, the kids love them anyway which is ok because i do sneak eat a lot of their Halloween candy. 😉

These spooky (or funny) little Halloween treats are fudgy, chocolatey, chewy and they are naturally colored black cookies. No artificial coloring is used and they are super, super dark. They’re also easy to make with no chill time (and you may already know how I feel about chill time). All you have to do is cream some soft butter and sugar, add in egg and vanilla and mix in the dry ingredients and add-ins.

Candy eyes are optional, but highly recommended for Halloween.

Anything special you need to know?

Creaming the butter and sugars very well is the key to not chilling cookie dough as far as I’m concerned. Let that mixer go on medium speed for several minutes until the mixture is super fluffy.

Maybe food scientists would argue with my theory, but that’s what I believe. So there.

What Ingredients do you need to make these Black Cookies?

Flour – All purpose flour
Black Cocoa Powder – not dark, black. Like this. I can always find it at my local bulk food store.
Baking Soda
Espresso – instant espresso powder (can be omitted)
Sea Salt
Butter – softened
Brown Sugar – I like dark brown sugar
Sugar – the regular stuff
Egg
Vanilla
Butterscotch Chips – the best thing ever
Mini M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces – only the orange ones. I’ll leave it to you to explain to your family where they all went.

Anything Special You Need to Know?

Do I need black food coloring for these?

No! Black cocoa powder is super dark and these cookies do look black.

What does black cocoa taste like?

I find it just tastes like dark chocolate. It’s smooth and not at all bitter and can be used just like regular cocoa powder.

Any other ways to decorate these black cocoa cookies?

I was super tempted to make these little mummies with white icing stripes and eyes. Maybe next year…

Recipe-ish…

Let me know what you think!

Black Cookies with Black Cocoa, Butterscotch & Espresso

Fudgy, chewy black cocoa cookies that are super easy, no-chill and are perfect for Halloween. Or anytime.

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup flour
1/3 cup black cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp instant espresso powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup soft butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup mini M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces orange only, plus more for the top
Candy eyes optional

Instructions

Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, espresso powder and salt. Set aside.
In an electric mixer beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
Add in the egg and vanilla and mix very well.
Add in the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Fold in the butterscotch chips and 1/2 cup of the candies.
Drop by scoops onto a greased or lined baking sheet.
Decorate with more candies (see photo).
Bake at 375 for 9-10 minutes.
Add candy eyes, if desired.