KIM DAVIS: Tomorrow is a the release day for ESSENTIALS OF DEATH, the second book in the Aromatherapy Apothecary Mysteries! As I was reading through it for the fiftieth time, hunting for any last pesky typos that escaped the attention of the editor, proofreader, and myself, I starting making note of any food mentioned during the story so that I could come up recipes to share on Mystery Lovers' Kitchen. My protagonist, Carissa, loves to eat and she's dating the patisserie owner which means lots of goodies. One of the treats she indulges in are chocolate pecan brownie cookies. And while the recipe isn't included in the book, I couldn't help but want to create a recipe for celebrating my new book. These cookies are ultra rich and when warm, the good kind of gooey that goes perfect with a glass of cold milk and a good book in the other hand.
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom for a chance to win an audiobook copy of Essentials of Murder.
Chocolate
Pecan Brownie Cookies
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or substitute a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour mix)
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon espresso powder or
instant coffee such as Starbucks VIA
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1-1/2 cups light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips (semi
sweet or dark)
3/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
Instructions
Place the butter in a microwave-safe large bowl, and heat until melted. Stir in the espresso powder or instant coffee until dissolved. Set aside until just barely warm.
Once the butter mixture has cooled some, whisk in the cocoa powder until well mixed.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until smooth.
Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl and set aside.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and stir until just combined.
Fold the chocolate chips and the pecans
into the batter.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
If the cookie dough is too stiff once you remove from the refrigerator, allow to come to room temperature for 20 minutes.
Scoop the dough into golf ball-sized pieces and roll into balls. Place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving at least 2 to 3 inches between the cookies since the cookies will spread.
Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, turning the cookie sheet half way through the baking time. The center should appear slightly undercooked. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, before transferring to a wire cooling rack. Cool completely before eating… if you can wait that long!
Store leftover cookies at room temperature, in an airtight container, layering the cookies between wax paper.
💕 Click here for a free printable PDF of the recipe!💕
Releasing September 23, 2025!
To purchase, click on the book or this title: ESSENTIALS OF DEATH
About Essentials of Death:
After a scandalous arrest in San Francisco, Carissa Carmichael has moved back to her small Southern California hometown to start over as she opens her Aromatherapy Apothecary shop and reflexology services. A tourist destination, Oak Creek Valley, seems the perfect place to put the past behind her, but it seems no one will let her forget, especially her high school nemesis, Lacie. When Carissa finds her frenemy murdered after having a public altercation at the town's playwright conference and festival, she becomes the primary suspect. It doesn't help that the tarot cards she drew earlier in the day foretold the nature of the murder weapon. Despite her father's position as Oak Creek Valley's chief of police, the detective assigned to the case assumes she's guilty.
When tarot death cards begin turning up to taunt her, Carissa not only has to prove her innocence to keep her freedom, she has to make sure death doesn't come calling for her or those she loves. With the suspects acting as slippery as the essential oils she distills, it's up to Carissa to apply pressure and sniff out the truth before it's too late.
Books available at most online retailers
Amazon
* Barnes
& Noble * Kobo
* Apple
Cupcake
Catering Mysteries * Essentials of
Murder
About the Author:
Kim Davis writes the Aromatherapy Apothecary cozy mystery
series, and the award-winning Cupcake Catering cozy mystery series. She has
also written several children’s nature articles published in a variety of
magazines. For ten years she’s written the Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of
Murder culinary cozy mystery blog, in which she features reviews of cozy
mysteries along with a recipe from the book, and photos of the prepared dish.
And now she’s a member of Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen!
Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers
of America, and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
She lives in Southern California with her husband and
rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for
several plotlines. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters or
chasing Missy around, she can be found either writing on her next book, working
on blogs, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats to share.
Click here to sign up here for Kim’s newsletter: Newsletter
Connect with Kim on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Bluesky, Bookbub,
Goodreads,
and website
And now for the giveaway:
To celebrate the release of ESSENTIALS OF DEATH, I’m giving away an audiobook copy of Essentials of Murder.
Readers, do you
have a favorite dessert you make to celebrate a special occasion or an accomplishment?
Comment below and include your email (yourname at
yourserver dot com) for a chance to win an audiobook copy of Essentials of Murder, the first book in the Aromatherapy Apothecary Mysteries. (Contest ends 11:59pm on Wednesday,
September 24, 2025, and is open to everyone.)













I love to listen to the Apothecary cozy mysteries
ReplyDeleteThanks you! I have to admit I love listening to audiobooks when I'm doing household chores. P.S. If you'd like to enter the contest, please provide your email address.
DeleteUnfortunately I don't answer with my email. I "won" and received an email from a Paul so and so, but never got anything back. I never received my gift card either. I was so disappointed.
DeleteCongratulations on the release of ESSENTIALS OF DEATH! On my TBR list and can't wait to read and review it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the Chocolate Pecan Brownie Cookies recipe, which I know is going to be a big hit here!
While I know hubby will love these, he's a big pie fan. To celebrate it would more than likely be pecan pie. However, he loves the gooey part. So my pies are made in a deep dish 10 in pie plate. I double all the gooey part and keep the nut amount the same. You have to cook it for about 15 minutes as directed. Then I turn down temperature and cook a lot longer to get it done. I also have to watch the nuts on top and cover with foil the last part to prevent them for getting too dark. Hubby loves it and it means a lot smaller piece for me cause it's SWEET. :)
Passing on the audio because I would rather read a paperback. No real way to listen on audio without bothering everyone else with it.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Thank you, Kay! My husband is also a fan of pecan pie and especially the filling. I'll have to try your method of doubling it and leaving the amount of pecans the same... I'm the opposite in that I'd rather have more nuts and less filling, lol!
DeleteMy boyfriend has an apple cake he makes. sgiden at verizon dot net
ReplyDeleteYum, apple cake is always a great choice! Good luck!
DeleteThank you, dear Kim for givng us yet another recipe to delight our palates, and for continuously writing exciting and clever mysteries one can't put down. Congratulations on ESSENTIALS OF DEATH, which comes out of hiding tomorrow!!! I have been anticipating this second installment in your Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery series, because the first one was immediately put on my list of favorite cozy mystery series!!! These cookies look so rich and beautiful to look at, and surely absolutely delicious. For special occasions?Tropical Carrot Cake, but also other delicious pastries...some kept from your blogs :-) I already own all of your published books, so may the best person win the audio version of ESSENTIALS OF DEATH. We have been listening to audio books more and more because of failing eyesight, so it is especially wonderful to see audio versions of our favorite books being published. JOY! Luis at ole dot travel
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Luis! Tropical Carrot Cake sounds fantastic... I'm assuming pineapple and coconut is added? Yum! I love listening to audiobooks when doing household chores. It makes the work fly by :)
DeleteThis is such a fun series. I read an ARC of this one and it is a terrific read! Nothing really comes to mind as a consistent special treat for celebrations. Almost any tasty treat works around here! Thanks for this one!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marcia, I'm so happy you enjoyed it! I have to agree with you that any dessert is a good dessert!
DeleteThose cookies look amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Valerie! My taste testers gobbled them up :)
DeleteThe cookies look good!
ReplyDeleteThank you, John! Wish I could share with everyone!
DeleteThose cookies look so good! Thanks for sharing and congrats on your new release! We usually celebrate any special occasion with a homemade cake of the persons choice. I usually choose coconut cake for my birthday.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance!
jarjm1980(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks so much and good luck! Coconut cake seems like such a celebratory dessert to me... yum!
DeleteThe cookies look delicious.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rita!
DeleteMy kitchen is the size of a shoe box so when I want something special I go to Hurts Donuts. I have food allergies so have to be careful what I eat. I'd have to do the chocolate brownie cookies without the nuts. cheetahthecat1982ATgmailDOTcom
ReplyDeleteYum... donuts! One of the nice things about some cookie recipes is that you can tailor them to fit your tastes and allergy requirements.
DeleteKim, these are in the oven now, so they’ll be ready just in time when I pick up the grandkids at the bus stop. They smell fantastic! Big congratulations on Essentials of Death.
ReplyDeleteLucky grandkids! Enjoy your time with them, Ang, and have an extra cookie for me!
DeleteMy family likes banana pudding I like strawberry shortcake Deborah deborahortega229@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI'd vote with you for strawberry shortcake, Deborah, especially when strawberries are at peak season in early summer! Good luck!
DeleteWow! What a great recipe. Thanks, Kim.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Molly! Wish I could share a plateful with everyone :)
DeleteOne of my families favorites is peanut butter pie. Ithas a layer of Smuckers fudge on top.
ReplyDeletePeanut butter and chocolate is such a classic combination and I'm drooling over thinking about it in pie form!
DeleteHere is the recipe. https://www.smuckers.com/recipes/baking/decadent-peanut-butter-pie
DeleteOoo, this sounds wicked good! (Can you tell we're headed for Maine soon?)
ReplyDeleteWe are team chocolate here. Almost anything with dark chocolate.
libbydodd at comcast dot net
Enjoy your trip to Maine, Libby! And I agree wholeheartedly, chocolate is the best!
DeleteCongratulations on your new release. I'm looking forward to reading the book. Also, your chocolate brownie pecan cookies look delicious.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks so much, Dianne! I hope you enjoy both the book and the cookies... wish I could share some with everyone!
DeleteCongratulations on your new book release and thank you for sharing that recipe. I will definitely have to make some in the near future. One of my favorite desserts to make is a batch of regular and chocolate snowball cookies after my birthday in November. It's always the first cookies I make to start off the holiday baking season.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katie, and I hope you enjoy the cookies! I've had regular snowball cookies but not chocolate snowballs. I'm going to have to check it out since anything chocolate is my fav :)
DeleteCongratulations on your book release! Can't wait to try these, they look amazing!! My go-to treat is Whipped Mocha Squares. They're my husband's favorite and a holiday tradition :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Lacey! Wow, Whipped Mocha Squares sound amazing... although I'm not sure I could limit them to the holidays :)
DeleteWe like key lime pie
ReplyDeleteWskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com
That is such a great summer classic!
DeleteFor a special occasion or celebration, usually I like to bake a pan of brownies or a cheesecake. Thanks for sharing your yummy recipe. cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThose are both super yummy desserts, Cherie! It would be hard for me to choose between the two. I hope you enjoy the cookie recipe and good luck!
DeleteThank you for this chance to win a copy of your newest book. pgenest57 at aol dot com
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Paula, and good luck!
DeleteMy family likes root beer float cake for special occasions
ReplyDeleteSue White
Airgalsue@gmail.com
That sounds like a super interesting and yummy cake, Sue! I haven't had a root beer float since I was a kid and now I'm craving one :)
Deleteno fav
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thanks for entering the contest and good luck!
DeleteMy grandmas cheesecake. Faithfully93@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThat sounds delicious and a wonderful way to connect to your grandmother!
DeleteThank you so much for the wonderful opportunity! This series sounds absolutely amazing, and I would like to congratulate you on your newest release in the series. A favorite dessert that I make for celebrations is one that my family loves and encourages more often than special achievements or occasions. It is a recipe that my mom had handed down to me called Damn Good Triple Chocolate Cake. (The triple chocolate is the cake, the chocolate chips, and the chocolate drizzle.)
ReplyDeletetambismith2023@gmail.com
You're very welcome, Tambi! Oh goodness... anything triple chocolate has got to be absolutely decadent and your cake sounds worthy of special occasions!!! And the fact that it's a family recipe handed down would make it even more cherished.
DeleteI make fudge brownies with toasted pecans. So good! 3labsmom(at)gmail(dot)com.
ReplyDeleteChocolate and pecans are a match made in heaven! Yum!
DeleteI make a chocolate angel food cake with dark chocolate frosting
ReplyDeleteThat sounds heavenly! I've never had chocolate angel food cake before and I think I need to make it!
Delete