Friday, February 14, 2020

Mocha-Kahlua Valentine's Cookies and #GIVEAWAY

Today the Kitchen welcomes Maddie Day as a regular contributor to the MLK blog!

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 myselfMaddie 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

Ingredients

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.

Beat the butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla, and Kahlua and mix. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Mix until a dough forms, but don’t overmix.


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.

Dust a clean countertop or table with flour. Remove the dough from the plastic wrap and place on the prepared surface. Roll out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into heart shapes. 

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! 

It’s August, full season on Cape Cod, with plentiful sunshine and tourists alike. When Mac Almeida heads out for her early daily walk with her friend, she finds a horrified Gin staring at Beverly Ruchart, an imperious summer person, dead on the sidewalk in front of Gin’s candy shop, Salty Taffy’s.

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?

66 comments:

  1. 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

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    1. I also like being treated to a dinner I don't have to cook!

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  2. The 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

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  3. The 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.

    Can'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

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    1. Have fun with this one, Kay, and thanks, as always, for sharing!

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  4. My favorites would be chocolate and books. Thanks for the giveaway. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com

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  5. What 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

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  6. I love cookies and those sound great ! Love your books too, so thanks for the chance to own one - trwilliams69(at)msn(dot)com

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  7. Welcome to the Kitchen, Maddie and Edith! Just pass a tray of those cookies through the screen -- right -- got 'em! Thanks!

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  8. Looking 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!
    sallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. The cookies would be a hit with my granddaughters. ultimate treat is chocolate mousse. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  10. Hello, 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!

    ~ Cleo

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  11. Thank you so much for joining us, Maddie! We're thrilled to have you here!

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  12. My favorite valentine treat would be chocolate. Your cookies look yummy.
    bella_ringer@hotmail.com

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  13. Welcome to the MLK family!
    All special times call for dark chocolate in my house.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  14. Yay! 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

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  15. Welcome 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.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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  16. Red velvet cupcakes because I make them for my neighbors birthday. They are in my house already.

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  17. Warm brownies with vanilla ice cream on top!
    Wendy
    clarksrfun at gmail dot com

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  18. What 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!
    patdupuy@yahoo.com

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  19. It's so sweet that you and your husband met on Valentine's Day. Happy anniversary!
    My 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

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  20. My favorite Valentine treat is chocolate covered strawberries. The movha-kahula cookies look amazing, makes me want to bake.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. Your cookies look delicious! My favorite Valentine treat would be brownies or a dark chocolate bar.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

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  22. I love anything chocolate, best time of year for that!
    kozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  23. welcome and congratulations on your new book. thank you for this wonderful recipe. yes I agree this must go into a valentines story. :)
    happy valentines. quilting lady 2 at comcast dot net

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  24. Chocolate always chocolate. Your recipe sounds delicious. Can't wait to try making those. I enjoy reading your 📚 books❤

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  25. Thanks Edith. The book sounds good, I love the cover. The cookies look good too and the recipe looks like I could handle it.

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  26. I love anything with peanut butter and chocolate, thanks for sharing the recipe! tWarner419@aol.com

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  27. Thanks for the recipe and giveaway. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  28. It used to be the Godiva chocolate hearts with orange filling, but I can't find them anymore. akurATyahooDOTcom

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  29. You recipe sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing it and thanks for the chance to win! lindaherold999@gmail.com

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  30. I like chocolate caramels. Your recipe sounds great!

    legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  31. Chocolate, either plain or with fruit or nuts or coconut or peanut butter, almost anything with chocolate. The cookies sound yummy and I will have to try them These would be a great Christmas cookie! So festive.

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  32. Anything with kahlua is delicious. Makes a good cheesecake better too.
    browninggloria@hotmail.com

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  33. Welcome, Maddie. We are SO delighted that you are joining the group as a regular. What a delicious recipe! Happy Valentine's day and happy new release in March. ~ Daryl

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  34. Your cookies sound delicious. I love cozy mysteries, especially when there’s food involved. Thank you for the chance!

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  35. Sshhh.. I will copy the Cookie🍪recipe it looks wonderfully delicious.When I bake do I eat or share :-) Bahaahaa
    Your BOOKS are just as delicious. I am eager to get my very own. Library go only so far takes up SO much valuable time -so far away.
    Both series, both names. The writing is so seamless. Thanks for such wonderful seamless reviews and intrview. Exposing pronto fabulous BOOKS. Thanks for giveaway.

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  36. I love chocolate! I am reading Murder on Cape Cod right now! Thanks for the chance!

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  37. Really dark chocolate! Thanks for the chance to win. Renee (mickeymania1@aol.com)

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  38. Cookie recipe sounds interesting. Need to copy and send to my daughter. Her and my son in law would love the cookies.
    a.connolley@gmail.com

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  39. Sounds like a yummy cookies, that would go well with a new mystery to read! Congrats on your new book.
    cmeier2001@live.com

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  40. Love the fun cover. Thanks for the chance.

    positive DOT ideas DOT 4you AT gmail DOT com

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  41. I like chocolate covered cherries. lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  42. My favorite treat is Toffifay. Great recipe. Saamm7(at)msn(dot).com

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