Heartbreak Healer Cookies

I'm a huge fan of Food Network!  I love Rachel, Sandra, Paula, the Neely's and Alton, plus all the great competition shows that they have.  One of my new favorites is Ultimate Recipe Showdown.  This season was great!  Not only did all the recipes on every show look fantastic, but it was especially enjoyable since I read the blogs of three of the contestants: Emily of Visions of a Sugar Plum, Jenny of Picky Palate and Julie of Peanut Butter and Julie.  Fun!  I have a stack of recipes to try from Ultimate Recipe Showdowns and tonight I decided to try the  $25,000 winning recipe from the Dessert Show, the Heartbreak Healer cookies. 

I've never quite tasted any cookie like this before and that's a really good thing!  They are chocolate cookie with great combination of cinnamon, maple syrup and espresso.  Yum!

As usual, I made some substitutions: whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose, sugar free pancake syrup instead of pure maple and ground coffee (Triple Chocolate flavor!) instead of espresso granules.  These were what I had on hand, I figured they were close enough and really, that's just how I roll when I cook!  :)  Plus, I only had 1 cup of chocolate chips instead of the two and I baked them for an additional 2 minutes, which is typical since I'm at a high elevation.

 

I think these cookies are delicious!  The combo of flavor is very unique!  I just finished baking them and I've already eaten three.  Enjoy!

   

Ingredients.

 

All mixed together and in the "scooping" process.

 

Cooling on the counter.

Heartbreak Healers by Lisa Roman,  Food Network - Ultimate Recipe Showdown: Desserts

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons espresso granules
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chunks
• 1 1/2 cups walnut pieces

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a mixing bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
3. In a larger mixing bowl combine brown sugar, butter, sugar, maple syrup and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
4. Add in espresso granules and eggs.
5. Mix in dry ingredients until thoroughly combined. Stir in chocolate chunks and walnut pieces.
6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop cookie dough by rounded spoonfuls onto parchment paper.
7. Bake for 12 minutes. After baking, place cookies on a cooling rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Serve with milk.