Gilmore Girls Coffee Cake Cookies

If you've ever made a cookie recipe from my website, it was likely this one. I originally shared it back in 2020 as part of a series called "Cookies Inspired by TV Shows and Movies," which continues in this chapter. This recipe is still the most popular cookie I've ever shared, with nearly 40 million views across social media. In nearly every episode of Gilmore Girls, Rory and Lorelai Gilmore visit Luke's Diner for a cup of coffee or a meal. Inspired by the Gilmore girls' love of coffee, this coffee cake cookie was born. Like normal coffee cake, this cookie doesn't have any coffee in it; instead, it's meant to be enjoyed with a cup of coffee. Cozy up on the couch with these cookies in hand, and you'll be transported straight to Stars Hollow.

Makes 12 large cookies

Ingredients:

Cinnamon cookies

• 1 cup (215 g) brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (113 g) salted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) neutral oil (vegetable or canola works best)
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups (325 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Streusel

• 1/2 cup (65 g) all-purpose flour
• 14 cup (56 g) salted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup (54 g) brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt

Icing

• 1/2 cup (56 g) powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Make the cookies: Place the brown sugar, butter, and oil in a large bowl. Use a stand mixer or hand mixer to mix until creamy, about 2 minutes.
3. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined, about 1 minute.
4. Add the flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix until just combined.
5. Make the streusel: Place the flour, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Use your fingers or a rubber spatula to mix until a dough forms, about 1 minute. The mixture should stick together when squeezed into a ball but crumble when you run your fingers through it.
6. Use a large (4-tablespoon/2-ounce) cookie scoop to scoop the cookie dough into balls. Place up to six balls onto each baking sheet, spaced equally apart. Use the back of the cookie scoop to indent the top of each ball about 1/2 inch (1 cm) deep.
7. Crumble about 2 tablespoons of the streusel into the indent of each dough ball.
8. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are just starting to set. Let the cookies cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheets and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
9. Meanwhile, make the icing: Whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth, about 1 minute. Drizzle icing on top of each cooled cookie.