Cookies:

Cup of Yum
1. To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large bowl and electric mixer), add the butter, sugars, and beat on medium-high speed until creamed and well combined, about 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the egg, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until well combined, about 2 minutes.
3. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the cream, and beat on medium-high speed until well combined, about 1 minute. The batter may look a little ‘grainy’ and almost as if it’s separated, this is okay.
4. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the flour, cocoa powder, optional but recommended instant espresso granules, baking soda, salt, and beat on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute.
5. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the chocolate chips, and beat on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.
6. Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop or your hands, form approximately 19 equal-sized mounds of dough. The dough is very soft and I find it easiest to use a cookie scoop. Place mounds on a large plate or tray, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, up to 5 days. Do not bake with unchilled dough because cookies will bake thinner, flatter, and be more prone to spreading.
7. After chilling, flatten each mound about half the original height.
8. Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or spray with cooking spray. Place dough mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 8 cookies per sheet).
9. Bake for about 8 minutes or until edges have set and tops are just set, even if slightly undercooked and glossy in the center; don’t overbake. Cookies firm up as they cool.
10. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet completely before frosting. I let them cool on the baking sheet and don’t use a rack. Make sure they’re completely cooled before frosting them or the frosting will melt.

Frosting:

1. To a large bowl (or to the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment) add the cream cheese, butter, and beat with an electric mixer on high-speedy until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
2. Add the confectioners’ sugar, salt, and beat until smooth and incorporated, about 2 minutes.
3. Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of frosting to each cookie, and spread into a smooth, flat layer using a knife, keeping a bare 1/4-inch perimeter.
4. Add sprinkles to each cookie, to taste.