When it comes to my interests I love cooking and baking second to reading. I love to read. I have a book with me at all times... no, really. I even bring a novel to my sons football games and track meets, to mention always having one when traveling. I have to read every. single. night. before bed. It's how I wind down and get to sleep.
So... my love of baking and reading go hand in hand and this recipe comes from both. While I don't really love 'culinary mystery' novels, I do love new recipes. This recipe is from The Key Lime Murder Mystery by Joanne Fluke - worth reading if you like that sort of book, but worth reading for new recipes if you love cooking and baking. I've added this one to my collection but haven't made them yet as they take a whole pound of butter and I'm just not ready to invest that much butter until after the next grocery shopping trip! LOL.
Cappuccino Royals
2 c butter
1/4 cup instant coffee granules
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons brandy or rum extract
3 cups white (granulated)
3 beaten eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups milk chocolate chips
5 1/2 - 6 cups flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. rack in the middle position. Melt the butter either in a pan or microwave. In a large bowl, mix in the instant coffee powder, vanilla and rum or brandy extract. Stir it until the coffee powder has dissolved, and add the sugar, beaten eggs, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well. Stir in the milk chocolate chips. Add the flour one cup at a time, stirring after each addition. Mix until the flour is thoroughly incorporated.
Form walnut-sized dough balls with your hands and roll them in a small bowl with granulated sugar. Place the dough balls on greased cookie sheets, and flatten the dough balls with the back of a metal spatula, or the bottom of a glass. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 9 to 11 minutes. Let them cool on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes and then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to complete cooling.