Description
Gilmore Girls Coffee Cake Cookies are a delightful treat combining the soft, cakey texture of coffee cake with the convenience and size of cookies. These cookies feature a tender cinnamon-spiced dough loaded with optional nuts and mini chocolate chips, topped with a sweet, buttery streusel for extra crunch. Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack, they bring the beloved flavors of classic coffee cake into a handheld form.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional, such as walnuts or pecans)
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy cleanup.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, which should take about 3-4 minutes. This step incorporates air for a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract until the mixture is combined evenly.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon to evenly distribute all the leavening agents and spices.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough which could make the cookies tough.
- Add Nuts and Chocolate Chips: Fold in the chopped nuts and mini chocolate chips if using, to distribute them evenly throughout the dough.
- Make Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, combine the 1/2 cup flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Drizzle the melted butter over the mixture and stir until it forms a crumbly streusel topping.
- Scoop Dough onto Baking Sheets: Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Add Streusel Topping: Generously sprinkle the streusel topping over each cookie dough ball to create a sweet, crunchy topping after baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden while the centers remain soft, indicating perfect doneness.
- Cool Cookies: Remove cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely, which helps them set and prevents breakage.
Notes
- For a nut-free version, simply omit the nuts.
- You can substitute mini chocolate chips with dried cranberries or raisins for a different flavor profile.
- Make sure not to overmix the dough once flour is incorporated to keep the cookies tender.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Using parchment paper or silicone baking mats ensures easy removal and cleanup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: coffee cake cookies, Gilmore Girls recipe, streusel topping cookies, cinnamon cookies, nutty cookies, chocolate chip cookies
