Chocolate Icebox Cookies
Chocolate Espresso Icebox Cookies are the perfect bake and slice cookie to share with friends and family. Perfect for holiday baking, they are so delicious that you will want to keep a few rolls of dough in your refrigerator.
Chocolate Icebox Cookies
A simple old-fashioned Icebox Cookies recipe that uses minimal ingredients. These are perfect for preparing ahead of time, storing in your refrigerator, and are ready to slice whenever you have a craving for a cookie. Or three:)
Why are they called icebox cookies?
For those who might not remember, or are too young, a refrigerator used to be called an icebox. Throw out this word along with land line, and fax machine…
But what are icebox cookies? Exactly that, cookies that are stored in the refrigerator until ready to slice, bake, and enjoy!
If these are refrigerator cookies, are there other cookie “types?”
What are the six types of cookies?
These are the “official” types of cookies: drop, bar, rolled, icebox or refrigerator, molded, and pressed.
Ingredients Needed
Butter – I like to use unsalted for this recipe so I can control the salt content.
Sugar – This recipe calls for white granulated sugar. I have not tested it with sugar substitutes or brown sugar.
Eggs – As always, large, and bring them to room temperature before using.
Flour – I use all purpose flour. I have not tested this recipe with other flours.
Cocoa Powder – I like to use Dutch Processed cocoa powder. The higher quality the better.
Espresso Powder – You can find this in the coffee aisle. I like to buy the individual packets so the rest of the container doesn’t go bad before I can use it all.
Salt – I use coarse Kosher salt in all my recipes. Not table salt.
Vanilla Extract – Use your favorite!
Looking for more leftover worthy dishes? Follow LTB on Pinterest and pin to a board!
How to Make Icebox Cookies
First: In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar with a mixer. Add egg and vanilla. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula combine all the ingredients evenly.
Second: Add the cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt. Mix to combine. Let sit 5 minutes to allow the espresso powder to release it’s flavor.
Third: Gradually add the flour to the butter mixture until completely combined. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough gently one to 2 times.
Form a log of dough roughly 2-3 inches in diameter. Roll in sprinkles now if desired.
Fourth: Wrap dough log in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours to chill completely. Dough can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
Fifth: When ready to bake the cookies, preheat oven to 350F. Remove dough from the refrigerator and plastic wrap. Slice into 1/4 inch slices. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake 10-12 minutes or until the edges just start to turn light golden brown.
Let cool on the baking sheet 2-3 extra minutes. Remove and enjoy!
For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
What types of cookies freeze well?
Most cookies freeze well but these are especially great for making ahead and baking later.
What is the best way to freeze homemade cookies?
You can freeze the dough once you have formed it into logs. You can also make the dough, chill it, slice it, and then freeze it between parchment paper.
Once frozen, you can then transfer them to freezer safe containers and save for later.
How do you cut icebox cookies?
If the dough is chilled enough, then slicing with a knife will be easy. You can also use dental floss, wrapped around the dough log, and slice through.
Can you freeze icebox cookie dough?
Yes, you can! Make sure you wrap it tightly and you can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. That’s great for those who like to plan ahead!
Why are my cookies flat?
They are usually flat for one reason: the butter.
If you start with butter that is too soft, or don’t chill the dough long enough, the butter will melt too fast and the cookies will spread. Leaving a flat cookie.
Ways to Decorate Refrigerator Cookies
Decorate the dough logs, before chilling, by rolling in sprinkles or sanding sugar.
After you bake them, you can dip them in chocolate and sprinkle with espresso powder or add a chocolate covered espresso bean.
Tips for No Leftovers
- Shape the dough into shorter logs and then you can decorate each one separately.
- To prevent the dough from getting a flat bottom while it chills, let the dough rest on top of a fluffy towel or something not so stiff.
- Make sure you chill the dough at least 4 hours but it’s best overnight. This allows the dough to get good and solid.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!
These old fashioned icebox cookies are jazzed up with the addition of some cocoa and espresso powder. Enjoy them with a cup of coffee or add some ice cream to two of them and make an ice cream sandwich!
Chocolate Espresso Refrigerator Cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 2/3 cup sugar granulated
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- sprinkles optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar with a mixer. Add egg and vanilla. Mix making sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula combine all the ingredients evenly.
- Add the cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt. Mix to combine. Let sit 5 minutes to allow the espresso powder to release it’s flavor.
- Gradually add the flour to the butter mixture until completely combined. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough gently one to 2 times.
- Form a log of dough roughly 2-3 inches in diameter. Roll in sprinkles now if desired. Wrap dough log in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours to chill completely. Dough can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
- When ready to bake the cookies, preheat oven to 350F. Remove dough from the refrigerator and plastic wrap. Slice into 1/4 inch slices.
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake 10-12 minutes or until the edges just start to turn light golden brown.
- Let cool on the baking sheet 2-3 extra minutes. Remove and enjoy!
Notes
- Shape the dough into shorter logs and then you can decorate each one separately.
- To prevent the dough from getting a flat bottom while it chills, let the dough rest on top of a fluffy towel or something not so stiff.
- Make sure you chill the dough at least 4 hours but it’s best overnight. This allows the dough to get good and solid.
Nutrition
Check out these delicious cookies in all the best forms:
Rolled Cookies:
- Chocolate Dipped Orange Logs
- Grinch Heart Thumbprints
- Spiced Holiday Cutouts
- Pecan Fingers
- Double Pecan Butter Cookies
- Poppy Seed Shortbread
- Linzer Cookies
Bar Cookies:
Drop Cookies:
- Chocolate Bon Bon Cookies
- Monster Cookies
- Maple Sugar Cookies
- Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies
- Holiday Everything Cookies
- Chewy Molasses Cookies
- Honey Walnut Cookies
- Kahlua Mudslide Cookies
- Ginger Molasses Cookies
- Pecan Snowball Cookies
- Peppermint Bark Cookies
- Mocha Sandies
- Mocha Chunk Cookies
- Monster Cookie Bites
- Lavender Snickerdoodles
LeftoversThenBreakfast.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encourages and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Great idea to have a roll in the refrigerator that you can slice and pop into the oven if/when unexpected guests arrive. Love the flavor profile of these cookies.
This sounds wonderful! I’m a big fan of slice and bake cookies and espresso is the perfect touch.
Love the idea of having cookie dough on demand when the craving hits.
Chocolate and espresso in a cookie is so good! I love these rolled in sprinkles!
Chocolate and coffee are two of my favorite things, love that you can have the dough stashed and bake them up fresh with the craving strikes!
Slice and bake cookies are the best!
My favorite kind of cookie…simple and delicious!
Love the idea of icebox cookies! And these would be perfect with a cup of coffee!
These look amazing. PS. I still have a landline lol.
Chocolate and espresso in a cookie! Sounds DIVINE! And those sprinkles are super cute around the edge.
It’s always great to have an icebox cookie on hand. I love the espresso flavor.