Italian Roast Pudding with Cookie Croutons

Coffee.


Oh how I love thee, let me count the ways.


1. You help people make it to work, chipper.
2. You help make my house clean when disaster strikes.
3. In baked goods you add pizazz
4. You set a mood and are a great fill in for wine.
5. You babysit Indigo when I can’t find a sitter.
6. World Peace is in your sights.
7. 5 &6 are lies
8. I love cheese too.
9. This post will also include browned butter chocolate chip cookies.
9. I am off track let’s see the recipes.


Delightfully lifted & slightly altered the pudding from : Life’s A Feast
Delightfully stole for the 2ND time on the same day from Completely Delicious, she provided the cookies







INGREDIENTS for pudding (serves 6-8)


3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar (I used light brown)
3 Tbs cornstarch
2 individual packs of Starbucks Italian Roast Via Coffee packets
3 ¾ cups half & half or cream







DIRECTIONS for pudding


Put the brown sugar, cornstarch and espresso powder in a small saucepan and whisk to blend. Add about 3/4 cup of the cream or half-and-half and whisk until the coffee is almost dissolved. Whisk in the remaining half-and-half. Cook, whisking frequently, over medium heat until boiling. Boil, whisking constantly, for 1 minute.







Pour into a bowl, cover tightly (touching) with saran wrap. Refrigerate for 4 hours.







INGREDIENTS for cookies (makes about 15)


1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cups chocolate chips







DIRECTIONS for Cookies


In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Once melted, continue to cook until it turns golden brown. You will get a nice nutty smell, with tiny flecks. Remove from the heat and pour into a shallow dish. Store in the refrigerator until it is just solid again.


Pre-heat your oven to 375.







Beat the brown butter, sugar, and brown sugar on medium high speed with an electric mixer until light and creamy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each. Add the vanilla. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix until just combined. Mix in the chocolate chips.


Spoon by the tablespoon on to a parchment lined baking sheet and get your baking on…about 12 minutes.


Remove from oven – cool – dice into small squares and sprinkle on the pudding.


Serve … sit back…there it is….you are now being hailed as the queen and really...you deserve it.