This is an older post where I ranted about hotel rooms without coffee then used some Starbucks VIA in a double chocolate cookie recipe. The preface to the recipe is a bit dated, but the recipe itself is still great! I updated the photos a bit and added notes for anyone interested in making these with espresso powder rather than the instant coffee packets.
One of my pet peeves while traveling is hotel rooms without coffee makers. From the hotel's point of view, there are probably a million reasons not to have coffee makers; but from a traveler's standpoint, it's a huge inconvenience to have to get dressed to go to the lobby and buy coffee or pay $15 for a room service.
This past year, I solved the problem by carrying Starbucks VIA instant coffee packets wherever I go. In airplanes, you can mix them with boiling water, and in hotel rooms you can do the same, provided you also carry around a Hotshot or other water-boiling apparatus.
So I am eternally grateful for tasty instant coffee to get me to the point where I can get dressed and go seek out brewed coffee
Starbucks Via Double Chocolate Cookies
This morning, using one of the packets I've been carry around in my purse, I made a Starbucks double chocolate cookie recipe. As far as coffee flavored cookies go, this was one of *the best* recipes I've tried in a while. I'm sure using high end cocoa powder and chocolate helped, but I also could really taste the Starbucks Via. Perhaps the clean, bold taste of the Italian style blend really did add something to the cookie.
Instant Coffee vs. Espresso Powder
If you want to use instant espresso powder instead of Starbucks coffee, you can definitely do that. Just mix it in with the melted chocolate or with the dry ingredients. Two teaspoons of instant espresso powder will add quite a bit of flavor, or you can keep it subtle and just use 1 teaspoon.
More Tips
- Instead of using bittersweet chocolate, you can melt the equivalent of Ghirardelli bittersweet chips. If you don't have Ghirardelli or Guittard chips, melt bar chocolate and use the chips for the add-ins.
- I've always made these with natural cocoa powder, not Dutch process. Dutch process might work, I just haven't tested with it.
- Measure the flour with a light hand or weigh it. This dough is slightly dry.
- The original recipe makes 36 small-ish cookies that bake at 325F. For large cookies, bake at 375 for 12 minutes or just until the shells crack, then let cool.
Recipe
Starbucks VIA Double Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup bittersweet chocolate, chopped (84 grams)
- 2 packets packets Starbucks VIA or 2 teaspoons instant espresso
- 1 ¼ cups flour (160 grams)
- ½ cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder (40 grams)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (114 grams)
- ¼ cup sugar (50 grams)
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar (70 grams)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ cups extra dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Melt chocolate in a double-boiler over barely simmering water. Stir in the coffee.
- Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
- In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add the melted chocolate to the butter mixture and stir well. Add vanilla and egg to the chocolate mixture. Stir in the dry ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Divide dough into 36 balls and place on a cookie sheet, but don't flatten. Bake at 325 F for about eight minutes. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for five minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack.
- Alternatively, use a medium size scoop and scoop out about 18 generous balls. For the larger cookies, bake at 375 for about 10 minutes or until the surface just starts to crack. Let cool completely.
Mackenzie@The Caramel Cookie says
I agree, hotel rooms without coffee makers to just not cool. I'll have to try baking VIA. I've baked with other brands and it just tastes disgusting! I guess if it makes a crappy cup of coffee, then its going to make crappy tasting baked goods....
Krista says
oh! I have tons of those packets! time to put them to use!
Anna says
Meryl, I'm kicking myself for not measuring, but I will find out for you. My guess is each packet is about 1 teaspoon.
Meryl says
Hi Anna,
Approximately how many Tbsp are in each packet? I may want to use a substitute.
Jen says
We travel with VIAs, too! And because I hate making coffee, if Lenny is out of town for work, I make them at home. I'll have to try these cookies.
Barbara says
Smart of them. Coffee and chocolate are naturals together whether in coffee or baking.
Anna says
Donna (and Louise), I'm not sure this one is on-line yet.
Donna G says
I'm sure I would enjoy these cookies, since the other recipes I have tried with VIA were awesome. I only kept one, though, and it is a real treat (it's a muffin). Is there a place where one can see the recipes? I picked them up at the Starbucks in Target a couple of years ago.
Kristina Vanni says
This satisfies my caffeine AND cookie fix! Hope this means I am allowed to have cookies for breakfast 😉
Lynne says
Love the combination of chocolate and coffee!
Lisa Ernst says
Love this idea, both the Via in the cookies and just the Via itself. Must buy some, as I also have times when the only way to have coffee is instant, and how great that there is a tasty one now. Must try the cookies soon!
karen says
I've been curious to try VIA after reading other bloggers rave about using them in baking. I convinced myself they couldn't be better than good old medaglio d'oro espresso powder, but I think I might have to take the plunge after reading about these cookies!
Jannett says
this looks like a delicious cookie... I have not tried these coffees yet..but maybe I should... ;o)
Fallon says
Yum! I bet the coffee flavor from the VIA really enhanced the chocolate in these cookies. They look so good. For instant coffee the VIAs are really nice. That is smart to carry them around when traveling, hot water is free!
Emily says
Oooh what a good idea! These look delicious. I love those Via packets too. I keep a whole bunch of them in my car. Haha.
Now I see they have different flavors. I haven't tried any of them yet.
Sue says
Not being a coffee drinker using Starbuck's Via in cookies wouldn't have occurred to me either. That said I did purchase a bunch of these last year and included them in some party favors. The coffee drinkers seemed to enjoy them. I love how coffee enhances chocolate in baked good so this makes perfect sense! The cookies sound and look marvelous!!
vanillasugarblog says
I LOVE my Via's! I have or two every morning. Best coffee. I love creating with them. They make the best frosting too. Try that.
Louise says
These look tasty. I'm with you regarding wanting coffee in the room while I'm getting ready for the day. That's an excellent idea to carry a couple VIA packets with you. Are the Starbucks recipes out on the web somewhere? I poked around a little bit without seeing them but didn't spend much time assuming you could point me to them.
Gloria says
These look rich and tasty. I've never put coffee in a cookie, just chocolate cake. I'll bet it makes the chocolate even tastier if that's possible!