From Maddie Day:
I'm delighted to be joining this stellar group of author-cooks, and today I share Mocha-Kahlua Valentine's cookies. Please read down for a giveaway!
Since I'm new
here, I'll introduce myself. Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell) is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in
Linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha-nominated and bestselling
author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and
also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau north of Boston, where she’s currently
working on her next mystery when she isn’t cooking up something delectable in
the kitchen.
Today is the
ritual day of love, and it also marks sixteen years since I met Hugh, my tall,
funny beau. I wanted to bake something yummy for him, but also not a tricky
recipe, so all you wonderful readers can try it at home.
So far none of my
cozy foodie mysteries - the Country Store series and the Cozy Capers Book Group
Mysteries - have taken place over Valentine's Day. You can believe I'm keeping
this recipe in reserve for the next one that does.
Mocha-Kahlua Valentine's Cookies
½ cup butter (softened to
room temperature)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
extract
1 tablespoon Kahlua
1 ¾ cups unbleached white
flour (plus extra for rolling)
1/3 cup unsweetened
cocoa powder
1 tablespoon espresso or
dark roast coffee powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Pink and red sprinkles
Instructions
In a medium bowl, whisk
together the flour, cocoa powder, coffee powder, salt, and baking powder. Set
aside.

Transfer the dough to a
lightly floured surface. Press gently into a flat disc shape. Cover the disc in
plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
When ready to roll and
cut, preheat the oven to 375°F. Take out the chilled dough from the
refrigerator. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Transfer
the cookies to cookie sheet, being sure to leave about 1/2 inch between each
cookie. Decorate with pink and red sprinkles.
Bake for about 8 minutes, depending on the thickness. The edges will be slightly firm, and the center slightly soft and puffed. Remove from the oven. Carefully transfer to a cooling rack or brown paper to cool completely.
My next book is Murder at the Taffy Shop, which comes out March 31 in an exclusive paperback deal from Barnes & Noble and is the second Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery. Twenty-five copies of the book are on a Goodreads giveaway from Kensington until February 22!

Lots of people
wanted Beverly gone. But when the police find the murder weapon in Gin’s
garage, the Cozy Capers book group members put their heads together to clear
Gin’s name and to figure out who
killed the woman whom almost everyone disliked. Mac’s bike shop is vandalized
one night, and when the killer later invades her tiny house to finish her off,
Bella, Mac’s African Gray parrot, comes to the rescue.
I hope you'll visit my alter-ego Edith Maxwell and me on our web
site, sign up for our monthly newsletter, visit us on social media, and check our all our
books and short stories.
I'll give away a copy of book one, Murder on Cape Cod, to one (US) commenter here today!
Readers: What's your favorite Valentine's treat?
I'll give away a copy of book one, Murder on Cape Cod, to one (US) commenter here today!
Readers: What's your favorite Valentine's treat?
Favorite Valentine treat would be anything chocolate and these Chocolate Kahlua cookies sound delicious. Otherwise, being taken out to dinner would be my favorite treat.dbahn(at)iw(dot)net
ReplyDeleteI also like being treated to a dinner I don't have to cook!
DeleteThe Chocolate Kahlua cookie recipe sounds delicious. Of course anything chocolate hits the spot with me whether it's Valentine's Day or any day. Thanks Edith Maxwell for sharing the insight into your latest book. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robin!
DeleteThe recipe for Mocha-Kahlua Valentine's Cookies is definitely going into the recipe binder. Sounds like something both hubby and I would love. I love when a recipe is both delicious and easy.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the opportunity to read "Murder at the Taffy Shop". I've shared everywhere and fingers crossed to be the very fortunate one selected.
Happy Valentine's Day! May your day be as full all year as it is today with love, happiness, companionship, a bit of sweetness and some adventure (whether in real life or through the pages of a book).
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Have fun with this one, Kay, and thanks, as always, for sharing!
DeleteMy favorites would be chocolate and books. Thanks for the giveaway. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeletePerfect!
DeleteWhat beautiful and special treats you created. Happy Valentines Day! Wishing you enjoyment and much fun. My favorite treat is fudge which I have rarely but is savored. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks. Fudge is always to be savored.
DeleteI love cookies and those sound great ! Love your books too, so thanks for the chance to own one - trwilliams69(at)msn(dot)com
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Taylor.
DeleteThose cookies sounds great! My favoarite treat would be anything chocolate and peanut butter. Happy Valentine's Day!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great combo.
DeleteWelcome to the Kitchen, Maddie and Edith! Just pass a tray of those cookies through the screen -- right -- got 'em! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Enjoy, Leslie.
DeleteLooking forward to your posts with the group - this is a wonderful site. And I see that I'll be downloading your recipes as well, Kahlua - yummy!
ReplyDeletesallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com
Have fun with it!
DeleteThe cookies would be a hit with my granddaughters. ultimate treat is chocolate mousse. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate mousse!
DeleteHello, Maddie, and welcome to Mystery Lovers' Kitchen! We are all so happy that you've joined us, and we're looking forward to your posts. Those cookies are beautiful. They'd be an absolute hit at any party. Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDelete~ Cleo
Thank you, Cleo! I'm happy to be here.
DeleteThank you so much for joining us, Maddie! We're thrilled to have you here!
ReplyDeleteThanks for smoothing my way, Krista.
DeleteMy favorite valentine treat would be chocolate. Your cookies look yummy.
ReplyDeletebella_ringer@hotmail.com
Thank you.
DeleteWelcome to the MLK family!
ReplyDeleteAll special times call for dark chocolate in my house.
libbydodd at comcast dot net
Thank you!
DeleteYay! I'm so glad you've joined the Mystery Lovers' Kitchen, and what a wonderful recipe to start with! I'm going to make them today ~ bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteThanks, Celia - enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to MLK! These cookies are so pretty & sound tasty too. I don't know that I have a favorite Valentine treat. My favorite treats are cornflake cookies which I enjoy at any time of year.
ReplyDeleteturtle6422 at gmail dot com
Thanks, Jana!
DeleteRed velvet cupcakes because I make them for my neighbors birthday. They are in my house already.
ReplyDeleteThose sound wonderful!
DeleteWarm brownies with vanilla ice cream on top!
ReplyDeleteWendy
clarksrfun at gmail dot com
Indeed delish.
DeleteWhat a wonderful flavor combination! As for Valentine’s, I’m perfectly happy with a card. Although my grown son gave me a Whitman’s Sampler today. Nice surprise!
ReplyDeletepatdupuy@yahoo.com
Surprises are good!
DeletePat, you are the lucky winner! Please check your email.
DeleteIt's so sweet that you and your husband met on Valentine's Day. Happy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Valentine treat is a flourless chocolate cake. I just love dark chocolate and they say it's good for you too.
I'm going to save and print your recipe, the cookies look so yummy.
I can't wait to read this next book in the series.
Margaret: scarletbegonia5858(at)gmail(dot)com
That sounds great!
DeleteMy favorite Valentine treat is chocolate covered strawberries. The movha-kahula cookies look amazing, makes me want to bake.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
I love choc dipped strawberries!
DeleteYour cookies look delicious! My favorite Valentine treat would be brownies or a dark chocolate bar.
ReplyDeletemarypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann
Both perfect choices, of course.
DeleteI love anything chocolate, best time of year for that!
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